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A renovated Chicago landmark manufacturing building is now called the Green Exchange Building and has become home to a number of companies that are working on environmentally sustaining projects. The Arbor restaurant is housed within this building in an unique manner.
This building once housed a couple of manufacturing companies. The Vassar Swiss Underwear Company and later the Cooper Lighting Company. The renovation added many state of the art energy conservation techniques and was Certified to be Leeds Compliant to the platinum level.
The rear driveway, behind the building, was renovated by removing 15 feet of contaminated soil and was replaced with clean soil. Raised beds with new soil was selected appropriate for the particular plants it supported.
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The Arbor Restaurant garden occupies approximately 1/2 acre of land and is adjacent to the Metra commuter railroad embankment the leads to downtown Chicago.
The rooftop area, between two wings of the building, provide a secluded and and environmentally compliant area where our Sunday buffet was served on August 25th. Note, the grass is synthetic turf and does not require any maintenance other than a vacuuming or shampooing on a periodic basis.
The picture above shows our menu for the buffet we attended with about 35 other people.
The first course included Blintzes with Pesto sourced from the Arbor Garden.
Chef Leonard Hollander preparing the main course items on Hibachi type grills adding to the picnic atmosphere on an beautiful 70 degree day in Chicago.
Buffet attendees are pictured selecting items for their main course option.
Sweet Mace Tapioca Jelly dessert as served at the buffet.
The Clock tower houses a fire protection water tank for the Green Exchange building sprinkler system and is a historic landmark for the neighborhood.
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