Evanston, Illinois borders Lake Michigan and is home to Northwestern University and Rotary International. Lying just 12 miles from the historic sights of downtown Chicago, the suburb features its own blend of thriving arts and cultural and food scenes. The city allows residents to escape the hustle and bustle of Chicago by retreating to the numerous nature scenes around the area. The Shakespeare Garden or the Northwestern Lakefill gives some of the best views of the Chicago skyline (without the use of a helicopter). Of course, the summer weather gives an individual a great reason to check out the local beaches bordering Lake Michigan.
1555 Ridge, now known as Maeve on Ridge, is a 68-unit, 5-story LEED Gold building that replaced an underutilized parking lot with a luxury residential building. The apartments feature open floor plans with high ceilings, private buildings, and plenty of natural light. Other apartment features include a chef’s kitchen, complete with quartz countertops and stainless-steel appliances, hardwood flooring, custom built-in closets, modern bath fixtures, and an in-unit washer/dryer.
On-site amenities include heated garage parking and a fitness center. Plus, it has an incredibly high walkability and biking score, making it ideal for those wishing to commute without producing carbon emissions.
Synergy Construction Group oversaw the construction of the apartment, and in 2022, the complex was fully open and ready to move into. The architects, Space Architects and Planners, designed this building to reach LEED silver levels (for LEED V4 BD+C HOLR); however, the team was able to achieve LEED Gold through simple but thoughtful sustainability concepts implemented into the building design.
In 2023, the State of Illinois passed legislation (Public Act 103-0510), which will require general contractors to abide by statewide building codes effective 1/1/2025. For 2021, Synergy, when constructing Maeve on Ridge, had to abide by the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC).
One particular issue the team encountered during construction phase 2 was long laundry exhaust lines. According to chapter 15, section M1502 CLOTHES DRYER EXHAUST, part M1502.4.5.1 “Specified Length” states:
“The maximum length of the exhaust duct shall be 35 feet (10,668 mm) from the connection to the transition duct from the dryer to the outlet terminal. Where fittings are used, the maximum length of the exhaust duct shall be reduced in accordance with Table M1502.4.5.1. The maximum length of the exhaust duct does not include the transition duct.”
As a result, the laundry duct exhaust lines from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floor would need a helpful “boost” to achieve this code. Otherwise, the owners would be subject to fines.
The project manager of this job, Eric Green, saw this to be an issue and acted accordingly. He told us,
“The [laundry duct exhaust] lines running from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors were roughly 35’-55’ above each floor. Because Code states we can only have a maximum exhaust line of 35’, we had to do something about it.”
As a result, Eric and his team chose to incorporate a DBF 4XL in each of the 68 laundry lines. Otherwise known as a duct boosting fan for 4-inch-diameter ductwork, this product was perfect to help boost the exhaust air from the dryers to the exterior roof of the building. Additionally, the DBF 4XL helps keep the laundry lines free of lint—avoiding clogs and the build-up of lint, which is the most common factor of residential dryer fires.
