Staying true to the prairie state’s namesake, the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center’s award-winning landscaping has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness. Through conservation design, over 7.5 acres of ponds, wetlands and prairie surrounding the hotel and convention center provide ecosystem restoration and protection.
The design utilizes a natural plant palate of forbs and grasses such as switch grass, big bluestem, Indian grass, Canada wild rye, purple coneflower, wild bergamot, purple prairie clover among others. “The addition of native plantings provides numerous environmental benefits,” says Todd Wenger, the landscape planner at the Renaissance Schaumburg, “These plantings help trap pollutants, clean storm water and reduce runoff. As the native plantings have taken hold and established themselves the use of herbicides, water use and maintenance hours have all been greatly reduced.”
Besides providing year round aesthetics, the unique landscape provides a habitat for native insects, songbirds, reptiles and amphibians. The hotel is also the 2010 recipient of The Conservation and Native Landscaping Award for the sustainable landscaping practices.
Source: The Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel
