'Aqualand is about fun'

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By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Kane County Chronicle

ST. CHARLES -- Aquascape has done a booming business selling low-maintenance, naturally balanced ecosystem ponds.

So perhaps it is not surprising that Aquascape's new $16.5 million headquarters in St. Charles will feature a 240,000- square-foot sloped grass roof that will handle the building's stormwater runoff.

The new complex, dubbed "Aqualand," is the brainchild of 34-year-old Wayne resident Greg Wittstock, founder and chief executive officer of Aquascape.

"Aqualand is about fun, and what we do is fun. That's why we are doing what we are doing," Wittstock said Wednesday in breaking ground for the complex.

The new complex is at 2N3222 Kautz Road, St. Charles, across the street from DuPage Airport. It is set to open October 2005.

Wittstock started the business in 1991, and Aquascape Designs Inc. formed a year later. With $43 million is sales last year, Aquascape is the country's leading manufacturer and innovator of water gardening systems.

Sales are expected to hit $50 million this year. Inc. magazine from 1999-2002 recognized Aquascape as one of the 500 fastest-growing privately held companies.

Aquascape employs 145 people.

The new complex will give Aquascape much needed space. The company is cramped for space in its 103,000-square-foot building in Batavia.

"This will keep us centrally located for our employees, who live in the general area," said Aquascape executive vice-president and general manager Jack Luedtke, who lives in St. Charles.

He lauded Wittstock for his vision.

"He has impressed me with his ideas and the strength of his convictions," Luedtke said.

The complex is expected to be one of the most technologically and environmentally advanced buildings in North America. Designed by Artisan Design-Build of Monroe, Wis., the sloping roof will feature a prairie meadow of purple coneflowers, black-eyed susans and creeping sedum.

Along with being attractive, the green roof will serve several functions as well, cooling and insulating the building and handling stormwater runoff.

"The building will not add any more water to the storm water system," said Terry Martin of Artisan. "And the building's lighting and energy load will be reduced by 50 percent."

As part of Wednesday's groundbreaking, professional contractors and distributors from across North America competed in a waterfall building contest.

The 12th annual Chicagoland Parade of Ponds will be Saturday and Sunday. The tour includes the Aqualand site and newly built waterfalls along with 200 Chicagoland water gardens open to ticket holders.

Tour sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Parade of Ponds tickets are $15. Admission for children 12 and under is free.

Tickets are available by calling (630) 326-2400.