March 2015
| Business World
215
Hammer explains that their plan was to re-
tain the historic aesthetic of the architec-
ture, while fully retrofitting the interiors to
achieve their goal of being a leader in energy
efficiency once again.
“Our basic premise was that it’s going to be
a historic building on the outside,” she says.
“But on the inside it’s going to be like a brand
new building. And that’s exactly what we got
from the mechanical systems, to the elevator
modernization, to the lighting in the com-
mon areas and the toilet rooms. Everything
was as good, if not better, than a brand new
building.”
The strong focus on sustainability and seek-
ing out energy efficiencies is not a new con-
cept for AMA Plaza or its General Manager.
In her more than 30 years of experience in
property management, Hammer has worked
at many buildings aroundChicago, affirming
that attention to the environment is some-
thing of a necessity in commercial real estate.
“This is not a new thing for us or for me per-
sonally for that matter,” she explains.”I think
that part of my personality and my business
sense, as well as the real estate industry in
Chicago, is very environmentally conscious.”
“It has evolved from simply recycling,” she
continues. “To if you do not have an energy
or sustainability consciousness, you’re not
going to be able to compete in the real estate
world.”
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EFFORTS
Improvements made to AMA Plazaranged
frommechanical system and electrical distri-
bution upgrades for the tenant office floors,
to a redevelopment of the executive parking
garage, a fire alarm retrofit, a new café and
fitness center, and an elevator moderniza-
tion. This also meant upgrading the ventila-
