Arlington Heights, IL (July 10, 2013) — Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a nationally recognized proponent of innovative environmental initiatives, has issued a supportive welcoming letter to the September 9-11, 2013 events, BUILDINGChicago and Greening the Heartland.

The program features more than 65 sessions, workshops and keynote addresses. All sessions will offer AIA CES and GBCI credits and will focus on sustainable design, building information modeling (BIM), hospital and education-sector construction projects, and more. BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland will be held at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, North America’s largest LEED Gold Certified hotel.

Mayor Emanuel notes that the events run parallel with the city’s “Building a New Chicago” initiative, which includes retrofitting buildings, revitalizing bridges, repairing roads and renewing parks. The events’ educational program also reinforces the city’s “Sustainable Chicago” plan, which sets 24 specific goals and identifies necessary key actions to realize those goals by 2015.

The 10th Annual Midwest Greening the Heartland expo and conference, sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council chapters from the 12 Midwest states, opens the schedule on September 9 and continues on September 10. The inaugural BUILDINGChicago expo and conference runs September 10-11. Scranton Gillette Communications and SGC Horizon, publishers of Building Design+Construction, own BUILDINGChicago.

For attendees or exhibitors to register, or find more information on conference seminars, visit www.buildingchicagoexpo.com; or contact Harry Urban at hurban@sgcmail.com; 847.954.7928.