Leopardo Completes Randy Zweiban’s New Province Restaurant

Eco-Friendly Restaurant Aims to be First in Downtown Chicago to Earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certification

CHICAGO, Illinois (November 3, 2008) – Leopardo, one of the nation’s premier construction companies and a recognized leader in sustainable building practices, recently completed the 4,200-square-foot interior build-out for the new Province restaurant. Randy Zweiban is the executive chef and owner of the modern American restaurant with cuisine influenced by South America and Spain.

The eco-friendly, 140-seat restaurant is the first in downtown Chicago to seek Gold LEED-CI (commercial interiors) certification. It features cork flooring and tabletops, recycled leather chairs, PVC-free vinyl booths, organic concrete stain, floor-to-ceiling windows, highly-efficient heat pump mechanical and lighting systems, environmentally-friendly paint and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood that is from this region and formaldehyde free. The kitchen has a poured floor which is more durable and earth-friendly than standard quarry tile.

Aside from sustainable building materials, Province restaurant also incorporates green equipment and farm-to-table cuisine such as shrimp and organic grits, braised Heritage Farms lamb and slow roasted Gunthorp Farms pork.

The restaurant is located in the West Loop at 161 N. Jefferson St. in the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) building, which itself is certified Gold LEED-EB (existing building). The CTA building was the first in the State of Illinois to receive the LEED Existing Building certification.