Dominion Properties’ Milwaukee Development Captures LEED Platinum

By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer

Milwaukee, Wisc.—Milwaukee-based residential real estate developer and property investor Dominion Properties has announced its 20-unit Sage on Jackson apartment community in Milwaukee is the recipient of the Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

This is the first time a LEED for Homes multifamily development in the state of Wisconsin has earned the LEED Platinum certification.

Sage on Jackson represents not only Dominion Properties’ first new construction development project, but the launch of its sage brand, a new model for environmentally sustainable design, development and building construction.

“What is Sage? Sage is a green color,” Michael O’Connor, who along with Christopher Adams is a principal and co-owner of Dominion Properties, tells MHN.  “A Sage is a wise person. Sage is smart, green living.

“In this ‘Sage’ series we will be providing sustainable living at affordable rents, [and] LEED certified apartments—hopefully all at Platinum level—that allow people to live with a very low impact on the environment. We feel that people of all ages are asking for this type of lifestyle change, especially as these units are so luxurious no one has to rough it to live green.”

Located at 1509 N. Jackson St., Sage on Jackson features ground source heat pumps linked to 18 geothermal wells, each drilled more than 300 feet under the building. It has a 19.95-killowatt solar array that generates electricity, and an extensive green roof ballasting the solar array. Also included is a rainwater cistern that, paired with the green roof, diverts almost 10,000 gallons of rainwater from the sewer during each rainfall. It features eight-foot thick exterior walls packed with mineral wool insulation, which is a greener option than fiberglass.

“The floors are up-cycled gymnasium floors from Wisconsin schools,” O’Connor reports. “These floors average 40 years old and are wonderfully select maple hardwood . . . There are no MDF or formaldehyde woods used in any of the building materials. The special green water-based wood sealant on the full hardwood floors is particularly very low odor. I can tell you after seeing hundreds of wood floors done I couldn’t believe the lack of odor in the process.”

With each new LEED-certified building, USGBC moves a step closer to its vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation, says Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of the USGBC.  “As the newest member of the LEED family of green buildings, Sage on Jackson is an important addition to the growing strength of the green building movement,” he adds.

“We are excited and proud to be starting the new brand sage in my hometown of Milwaukee with the exceptional rating of LEED Platinum,” observes O’Connor. “We were surprised to find that no other developers in the entire state were attempting to build as sustainably. And to achieve Platinum is a bit like being the first person to summit Mt. Everest.”