EcoLocalizer

As the environment continues to gain more and more attention, so does the need to stay green and environmentally friendly. We’re seeing these qualities become more and more relevant and important in a variety of fields; from automotive to architecture.

The latter has long been a focus of the green development. One need only look at the mass of stories coming out of the Middle East and Asia to see that a green focus on design and architecture is now more important than ever.

Another spot where this is exemplified is in Chicago, specifically thanks to a survey by architectural firm RMJM Hillier. The firm compared U.S. cities with populations over 500,000 with 10 design-related categories, and managed to find a top 10. Categories included number of buildings featured on the National Historic Register, quality and quantity of public transit systems, architectural and design awards won, but also the number of green buildings and the level of sustainability throughout.

When RMJM Hillier got it down to a list of 10, pollster Zogby International conducted interviews with residents of each of the 10, asking them to describe the quality of life and creative atmosphere. In number three spot was Boston, thanks to its high percentage of design schools. Second spot, in a tight race with first spot, was New York. And though it has received a number of awards, it lost out due primarily to number ones “sustainability, environment-friendly initiatives”.

Who was Peter Schubert, RMJM Hillier design director, referring too? Chicago of course, which came in at number one spot!

It is a good thing, I think, that Chicago beat out New York, mainly because it showed a focus on the environmental friendliness of the city over, for example, New York’s transit system. According to the survey, 63% of Chicago residents found their city “well-maintained and attractive.”

credit: Christopher & AmyCate at Flickr under a Creative Commons license

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