Home

Articles

AEC Listings

Archtionary

Design Happenings

Building Directory

Scholarships

Architecture In Motion

Competitions

Arch-Tunes

Featured Friends

Message Board

Colleges & Universities

Architectural Sites & Blogs

Sightlines

Tours & Venues To Visit

Store

Archives

About Us

Contact Us

Employment & Internships

Play Sudoku!

Web Poll

DESIGN HAPPENINGS

Commercial  Civic  Residential  Landscape  Educational 

COMMERCIAL

CHICAGO-JUNE 15, 2008 / Another architecturally-stylish neighbor has moved in among the trendy spots lining the avenues of Bucktown and Wicker Park. Chocolate Grape, a premier wine and chocolate cafe designed by Joel Berman of Chicago-based Berman Architecture & Design who has an impressive portfolio of similar projects throughout the North Side, is simple, elegant, and is designed to appeal to women. The point of sale stained oak millwork, including wine and chocolate display, is refined and custom built. The wall colors, furniture, and lighting reinforce the aesthetic. Chocolate production is on view to the public; larger batch production occurs in the kitchen.  Chocolate Grape has high-end temperers and other equipment to produce the absolute highest quality product.  In addition, The Truffle Box, a private room, is available. The extensive menu includes full meal service. Chocolate Grape is located at 2113 W. Division, Chicago.

Developer, community closer on Fed Ex site

Chicago Gazette / Update

The months-long debate over the proposed redevelopment of the former Fed Ex site at 1260 and 1300 W. Madison St. has achieved some progress after the developer and community residents reached an agreement addressing at least some of the residents’ concerns, yet...

                                                                                                  photo: Steven Johnson

CHICAGO-May 26, 2008 The interior of L2O, designed by Chicago architect Dirk Denison, which features low-slung brown leather Le Corbusier-inspired banquettes and dividers made of tensioned wire that you wanna get up and pluck as if they were a guitar, is redefining. The trend has been to build restaurants in converted residential spaces, which, in theory, capture the intimacy of a real house. The reality is that these spots, with their limited ceiling heights and narrow city-lot-wide floor plans, are confining and make you aware of your neighbors. The soaring scale of the L20 dining room and the clever use of architectural elements to divide the room create real and imagined separation that feels more intimate and inspiring.

Excerpt of review from newcitychicago.com

CHICAGO-May 19, 2008-Having opened April of this year on Chicago's North side, the unique dining experience of the new Big Jones restaurant is making its presence known among Andersonville's more established eateries.  Big Jones, located at 5347 North Clark Street, specializes in contemporary coastal Southern cuisine hailing from New Orleans and the American South. The dining area is infused with warm colors and soft lighting enhanced by rich mahogany furnishings contrasted with lighter hardwood tones on the floors and framing around the wall sconces. The architectural design was handled by Joel Berman of Chicago-based Berman Architecture & Design.

Daily Herald | Shopping center proposed for Lincolnshire corridor

Chicago Daily Herald
Preliminary architectural plans -- reviewed during an architectural review board meeting -- call for freestanding buildings that would house a grocery store ...

Centrum switches to apartments for Lakeview project
Crain's Chicago Business
The six-story project, designed by Chicago architecture firm Hirsch & Associates LLC, now will include 130 apartments and 90000 square feet of retail space ...

Fifield lands investment partner for West Loop tower
Crain's Chicago Business
The 601 W. Monroe building was designed by Chicago architecture firm DeStefano & Partners and is to have 26000-square-foot floors, according to Fifield’s ...

Chicago's CBS affiliate says it plans to begin broadcasting from its new studio on Block 37 in July, as what was for a generation a vacant lot begins to fill up with buildings housing journalists and financial analysts and eventually gym rats,...

One Chicago Place Gets a "Do-Over"

Chicago, Sept, 18 2007-Chicago Place at 700 N. Michigan Ave. is about to undergo a long overdue "extreme makeover." The perennially struggling vertical mall in the heart of Chicago's Magnificent Mile locale is being reconfigured to the tune of $20-$25 million by its New York-based owners. Some of the major changes in store for Chicago Place are the elimination of the mall's center atrium as each floor's space is fully maximized to the tune of 150,000-square feet compared to the current 100,000-square feet; the creation of separate entries replacing the one central revolving door leading into the mall off Michigan Ave.  One of the mall's first new major retailers is scheduled to be Zara's of Spain which specializes in cheap, chic clothing.  

Beitler wants back into the loop
Crain's Chicago Business
... a proposed 2000-foot-tall broadcast tower and restaurant-observation deck, a project Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin flogged as "loony. ...

Historic Inn of Chicago becomes boutique-style hotel
Hotel & Motel Management Magazine - Cleveland, OH
"We were fortunate to work with a celebrated Chicago building with unmistakable architectural character – so we knew there was potential to create the same ...

A Designer's Delight

Bluprint Opens with Flair in Merchandise Mart

CHICAGO-July 30, 2007 / The southern edge of River North just got a bit edgier. The sleek newly opened Bluprint restaurant & lounge inside the Merchandise Mart has just turned what was once a loading dock area into an exciting, contemporary space seeking to delight the palettes of the center's design trendsetters.  On a recent warm July evening, Blue Plate-a catering and event specialist of Chicago's top corporations, cultural institutions and non-profit foundations in the West Loop-introduced the third of its local culinary experiences to the city. Park Grill at Millennium Park and Rhapsody at Symphony Center are Blue Plate's other two restaurant locations. Wowing the crowd of invites both young and old, married and single, professional and skilled workers, was the Chef's imaginative offerings of the top shelf American cuisine and drinks found on its the diverse menus.  The restaurant's atmosphere was brought to life not only by the sizable crowd present but by the pulsing sounds produced by the in-house DJ spinning raucous beats.

Designed by the internationally-renowned firm of VOA Associates, Inc., whose award-winning projects typically involve health care facilities and educational institutions, Bluprint exhibits innovative contemporary interior design at its best. In a recent interview with Ewa Kolacz one of this projects lead designers, she shared that the aim was to "create a space where someone could bring clients and be in an inspiring atmosphere." "Here, we are trying to tell a story, only in a different way. We wanted to not only create a trendy space but a holistic one. The objective  also was to create some drama, conveying emotion by forms and colors and geometry, creating a space that would energize this area of the Mart," says Ewa.  In her effervescent way, she also stated that much of the inspiration for the minimalist language of the restaurant was found in the Bauhaus school of design.

As one passes through the North Lobby of the Mart off Kinzie Street, you may look up to notice the sky-blue hue which has been added to the hanging light fixture at the restaurant's entrance. Upon entering, the eye can quickly discern the the theme right-angled geometry announces throughout this space. The focal point is a triangular bar, with serving areas on all three sides. The bar sports a steely metallic finish which contrasts a lowered ceiling of dark walnut wood creating a feeling of intimacy among its patrons. Large flat-paneled monitors hang at the bar and several other locations throughout the space serving as a kind of energetic sculpture as scenes of sharks swimming about enhance the mood. This area with its soft, architecturally-sourced light represent but one of several "zones" throughout this space to serve the needs of patrons transitioning to different modes throughout the course of a day or evening. To the left of the entry point is what can be described as a "chatty," casual dining zone distinguished by the section of zebra wood flooring beneath it and the tying of the bench seating to the paneled-sectioned walls interspersed with light, illuminating the contrasting white areas in-between.  Immediately adjacent to this zone is a line of square tables extending front to back upon a terrazzo floor speckled with elements of blue and crystalline chips defining this strip as another, perhaps, bit more formal section while still "creating a dialogue with the blue glass panels" enclosing a private dining area to the far right of the entrance. This defining area is distinguished by the composition of blue colors created by its movable, overlapping doors. Inside is a long, elbow-high table which can be utilized as another "bar-like" social zone or a more formal dining space. The idea here was to produce a "kind of communal area with the type of tables and seating utilized." Huge windows in this space bring natural light into the room. This space was a well-populated area of the restaurant on its opening night along with the space immediately at the entrance. "I'm looking forward to coming back and bringing some of my clients here," commented one patron from a contracting firm within the Mart.

Toward the back area of the restaurant is a lounge-zone featuring a comfortable deep blue sofa extending along a horizontally-emphasized wavy-glass wall dividing this area from the restroom areas behind it. This area though small looks to be a space which will be in popular demand as it lends to probably the most casual atmosphere in the place. Overall, all the zones compliment and contrast exceptionally well giving the sense that everything and everyone present are parts of a dynamic whole on any particular evening.  "The ultimate effect is that of a boutique hotel bar or restaurant that caters to a design savvy clientele," said Nick Luzietti, Interior Designer and Principal of VOA Associates Incorporated. Bluprint is available for lunch, dinner or cocktails Monday through Saturday.

For more information, visit www.bluprintchicago.com

Development teams present final plans to council
Chicago Suburban News - Batavia, IL
Builders would use three different architectural styles, combining red brick and gray stone. In the coming months, Elmhurst aldermen will evaluate the three ...

Lombard Opens a Contemporary-Styled Sushi Restaurant

LOMBARD, IL July 9, 2007 – RA Sushi of Scottsdale, Arizona will open its third restaurant in the Chicago area as the Lombard location prepares for its debut this month. The 6,000 square foot restaurant and bar located at 310 Yorktown Center at the Shops on Butterfield will seat nearly 200 patrons. According to chicagosuburbannews.com, regional manager Mike Cruickshank commented on what he saw as a void in this particular area of local cuisine offerings; '“The neighborhood and the town in that area really needs a sushi bar,” Cruickshank said. “We’re not a typical restaurant. We’re a great, high-energy Japanese sushi bar.” Company officials describe Ra Sushi as an “unconventional dining concept that blends fresh sushi, hip music and contemporary decor rolled up into one flavorful experience.”

Cruickshank said the music is loud rock ‘n roll. A news release describes the restaurant’s interior as sleek and contemporary with hints of Japanese architecture, with backdrops of deep red stained wood with stainless steel detailing, bamboo canopies and red light fixtures that look dramatic at night.'

New Office Tower Proposed Along the Chicago River

Houston-based Hines Interests  LP has revealed its plans for a $400 million 50-story office tower to be situated at a site bordered by the river, Canal and Lake streets downtown Chicago.  The building complex is to encompass approximately 111,205-square feet of this site and will add another 1 million square feet of office space to the already bulging downtown real estate market. The unique design by Pickard Chilton Architects Inc. of New Haven, Conn. features a parabolic-type bottom and top feature on a cylindrical-like tower and will employ a glass and steel facade. One of Hines' first order of business is to land an anchor tenant, one which would ideally make the building at 200 N. Riverside Plaza their corporate headquarters. Hines also has another project under construction at 300 N. LaSalle St. and a recently developed one at 1 South Dearborn St.  

Elizabeth Peterson Joins VOA Associates as Vice President

CHICAGO, June 14, 2007 – VOA Associates Incorporated, a Chicago-based architecture, planning and interior design firm, today announced that Liz Peterson has joined the firm’s Washington, DC office as a Vice President.  “We are delighted that Liz has joined us in a senior leadership role.  As a seasoned architecture professional, she will help us expand on our tradition of great work and great client service,” said John Jessen, VOA Principal and managing director of VOA’s Washington office.

Peterson joins VOA with over 25 years of experience in architecture and interior design, most recently as Practice Leader of National Accounts and Director of Interiors for Hellmuth, Obata, & Kassabaum, where she was responsible for business development, project management and leadership for the firm’s Washington, DC interiors practice.

Peterson earned both her Bachelor and Master of Architecture degrees from Tulane University.  She is a registered architect, a registered interior designer and a LEED accredited professional.

VOA Associates Incorporated, founded in 1969, is a leading national architecture firm organized around Areas-of-Excellence practice groups strategically located in Chicago, Washington, DC, Orlando, Columbus, Highland, IN and Sao Paulo, Brazil.  The firm offers comprehensive services embracing the disciplines of architecture, interior design, landscape and master planning.  VOA’s designs have received over 160 local, national and international design excellence awards from clients, peers and publications. 

New Halsted Center Opens to Serve Northside Community

June, 2007-A new 175,000-square-foot facility planned to serve Chicago's GLBT population in the Wrigleyville community commonly referred to as "Boys Town" is officially opening its doors to the public this month. The building was designed by Gensler, a global architecture firm, is the first of its kind in the country. The exterior boasts a neo-art deco facade expressed in the context of tinted glass featured primarily on the center's upper level. Within the facility is a soaring lobby, multiple meeting rooms, computer labs, lounge areas, gymnastic space, and a 175-seat theater. Also, a significant portion of the ground-level has been leased to Whole Foods. Some of the services to be provided by the center are vocational and computer training, counseling, health counseling, legal assistance, an HIV/AIDS hotline and recreational activities.

Luxury Boutique Hotel Comes to Naperville
PR Newswire
With interiors and exteriors designed by the award-winning architectural firm of Lohan Anderson, this full-service hotel will offer 20 king suites, ..

Downtown Evanston Rising

Evanston, IL-Recently developers Jim and Marc Klutznick of Klutznick-Fisher Development Company and Tim Anderson of Focus Development went public with a condominium tower that would crack the 500-foot barrier and become the tallest building in Chicago's suburbs. The plan calls for tearing down a two-story retail building on a triangular block surrounded by Church Street, Orrington Avenue and Sherman Avenue then to replace it with a sliver-thin 49-story condominium tower sheathed in glass and metal. At 523 feet, the skyscraper would soar nearly twice as high as two neighboring towers that are in the Evanston skyline. If built, skyscraper, named Fountain Square Tower, could lay claim to being the tallest building between Chicago and Milwaukee. The skyscraper would have a triangular, or flatiron, shape formed by the surrounding streets. It would rise five stories on a podium that would contain two levels of shops and, above them, a three-level parking garage with 230 spaces. Further back from the street the glassy condominium tower would contain anywhere from two to seven units on each of its floors. Price estimates range from $350 to $400 per square foot. The building is slated to be completed by 2010. Laurence Booth is the principal architect of the project.

Swissotel Chicago Plans Expansion

PRNewsFoto/Swissotel Chicago

CHICAGO, IL-The Swissotel Chicago recently announced a $47 million expansion project to add 50,000 square feet of meeting space and a state-of-the-art 15,000 square foot ballroom. The 632-room property is located at 323 East Wacker Drive and expansion is slated for the Lakeshore East development downtown a rapidly expanding community growing the city eastward. According to Thomas Klein, Swissotel's vice president of business development, "The expansion will essentially change the entire dynamic of the hotel by doubling the amount of meeting space, allowing the property to compete for extensive business meetings." The new facilities will be designed without pillars for unobtrusive viewing according to www.PRNewsire.com  Swissotel Chicago (http://www.swissotelchicago.com) is a AAA Four Diamond hotel offering 632 luxuriously oversized guestrooms and suites.
Designed by noted Chicago architect Harry Weese, the all-glass triangular hotel is wedged into the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.

Near Southeast Side to Receive a Major Commercial Development

CHICAGO, IL-An $87 million retail and condo development is in the works for the area of Cottage Grove Ave. and 47th Street. The project known as The Shops and Lofts at Forty-Seven is being developed by Mahogany Ventures out of Columbus, Ohio as a joint venture with another developer from the same area. The project  part of a larger plan of development which is to include 161 condominiums, 28 townhouses, professional office space, and at least 20 retailers. Some of these establishments are restaurants, coffee shops, a deli, and fashion retailers. The housing will consist of market rate one, two, and three-bedroom units along with townhouses ranging from $190,000-465,000. Various news sources are reporting that the developers are seeking $12 million in tax-increment financing incentives. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2008 and be completed in 18 months.

VOA Associates Announces Indiana Presence

CHICAGO, April 17, 2007 – VOA Associates Incorporated, a leading architecture, planning and interior design firm, has acquired The Bachman Partnership, PC and established an office in Indiana. 

            “This new partnership is great news for our clients because it expands our already notable expertise in healthcare and higher education and our ability to serve our clients in the Midwest,” said VOA Chairman and CEO, Michael A. Toolis.

            As a result of acquiring this venerable 68-year-old architecture and engineering firm, Phil Bachman, AIA, NCARB, joins VOA as the managing director of the Indiana office along with his entire architectural staff.  Bachman reports that his colleagues and clients are excited about the benefits provided by the new alliance.

Palmer House Hilton Hotel Slated for Renovation

Chicago, IL-The Historic Palmer House Hilton, one of the Grand Dames of Chicago hotels, is about to be fitted for some "cool new threads".  The design firm of ForrestPerkins has been tapped to work with the architectural firm Loebl Schlossman & Hackl to lead a renovation of some select areas of the hotel's interior commissioned by the property's new owners-Thor Equities-according to www.hotelinteractive.com.  The $150 million project is being reported to include the redesign of guest rooms, bathrooms and corridors to reflect a more "contemporary design aesthetic" while respecting the rich architectural legacy of style and grandeur of this 83-year old landmark.

The site also reports that "Loebl Schlossman & Hackl’s designs will restore the hotel’s historic entries and façade, which include its famous landmark-designated peacock gates. The firm is updating the building’s retail façades and revitalizing the hotel’s internal shopping arcade. To coordinate the entire restoration plan, the firm has developed bridging designs to renovate the hotel’s majestic lobby and ballrooms, conference spaces, and guestrooms to complement the Palmer House’s preeminence as an attraction within Chicago’s historic fabric." The renovation is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2008.

South Bend's Downtown Revitalization to be Lead by KeyBank Project

Press Release

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The City of South Bend announced today a new downtown revitalization effort that includes the investment of more than $7 million in the KeyBank Building and the relocation of one of the city’s largest law firms to the renovated building.

The 14-story KeyBank Building and plaza at the corner of Michigan and Jefferson streets will soon undergo an extensive interior and exterior renovation. Baker & Daniels LLP has signed a 15-year lease for the top four floors of the building, and is joining the building’s owners, The Hinman Company, and KeyBank in investing between $7 million and $8 million to renovate the building.

South Bend Mayor Stephen J. Luecke is pleased with Baker & Daniels’ decision to remain and reinvest in the city’s downtown. “I’m excited that this landmark to our downtown skyline will benefit from a revitalization effort that will transform the building all the way out to the street level,” Luecke said. “Our downtown is an important indicator of the economic strength of our local economy, and this renovation and Baker & Daniels’ long-term commitment to the downtown illustrates that downtown South Bend is the business center of our community.”

“KeyBank and Baker & Daniels have made a long-term commitment to their growth in the business district,” added Rich MacDonald, The Hinman Company’s chief operating officer. “This renovation will help preserve the KeyBank building as one of the premier venues in the downtown area and bring additional value to all of the tenants in the building.”

Brad Toothaker, managing director of CB Richard Ellis | South Bend, was integrally involved with facilitating this project. CB Richard Ellis is a tenant in the KeyBank Building in addition to professionally managing and leasing space for The Hinman Company. CB Richard Ellis also will be relocating within the building and expanding its operations in response to increased activity within the market.

The lobby of the building will be renovated at the same time KeyBank reconfigures and improve its ground floor retail operation. Changes include enhancing the accessibility to the building by moving the entrance to the middle of the building’s west side. The City of South Bend is supporting the project by making parking available to building tenants, supporting a real property tax abatement and assisting with entrance and plaza renovations.

“Along with a renovation that will allow us to create an even better experience for KeyBank customers, we are pleased to welcome Baker & Daniels to the building,” said Jeff Stone, KeyBank district president.

Baker & Daniels signed its 15-year lease for the top four floors with options on additional space to meet future growth needs. The law firm has outgrown its existing space in the First Bank Building, 205 W. Jefferson St., where it has been a tenant since 1990.

Baker & Daniels’ plans call for completely redesigning the floors it will occupy, including the creation of a multimedia meeting room and the construction of a new internal stairway connecting its floors. To design its new office space, Baker & Daniels has retained the nationally recognized, Chicago-based architectural firm of Gary Lee Partners, which also has offices in New York and San Francisco. Gary Lee Partners has designed numerous award-winning residential and commercial projects in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. The firm also designed the Indianapolis, Fort Wayne and Washington, DC offices of Baker & Daniels.

Source: Baker & Daniels LLP

Michigan City’s Skyline to Change Dramatically

Michigan City, IN-Boyd Gaming announced that the Blue Chip casino, in Michigan City, will break ground on a $130 Million hotel that will be 22 stories high and have roughly 300 rooms. Rob Stillwell, vice president of corporate communications for Boyd Gaming, said customer demand calls for the new hotel due to the casino's recent $170 million expansion. By comparison, the existing hotel at Blue Chip offers 184 rooms in an eight-story building. No building in Northwest Indiana comes close to the height of the proposed hotel. The Twin Towers office complex at the Star Plaza in Merrillville is only seven stories tall. The unnamed hotel will offer lake views and include a fitness and spa facility, convention space, show space and more dining and nightlife options. The new casino faces stiff competition from the Four Winds casino in New Buffalo, Michigan and the Horseshoe casino in Hammond. Completion is slated for late for late 2008.

Opening of the LaSalle Bank Theater Bldg's Hampton Majestic Hotel

According to Hotel and Motel Management online, the 135-room Hampton Majestic hotel located in the historic LaSalle Bank Theater building will open in Chicago's Theatre District April 4, 2007.  The re-opening comes after an 18-month renovation totaling $20 million which "updated the classic decor and style of the building."  In a quote from Hampton's senior vice president, Phil Cordell, "This hotel is in a wonderful meticulously restored historic building, connected to one of the city's most prominent theatrical venues-The LaSalle Bank Theatre (formerly the Shubert Theatre)." The hotel which occupies the top 17 floors of the theater building was renovated by Anderson/Miller, Ltd. 

Expansion in Coffee Creek is Brewing

A new shopping mall is being proposed for the 40-acre piece of land located at the southwest corner of 1100N and Indiana 49 in Chesterton, Indiana. Coffee Creek is a fairly new community built on the ideals of sustainability concepts. The property, for sale bye John Ameling on a contingency offer, rejected the proposed GK mall last year. The concept plan, submitted on Feb.26, is also owned by John Ameling who lists I 80 Partners LLC as the developer. The concept plan called for then buildings under business zoning uses, which includes the exception of a special indoor theater. A schematic drawing shows three anchors to heights of 126,000, 44,000, and 76,000 square feet in addition to four buildings ranging in size from 500 – 15,000 square feet located along the 1100N side of the 640-acre property. The remaining three buildings will range in size from 14,000 – 20,000 square feet. PBR Development has proposed a 36,000 square feet mall to be called the Coffee Creek Center, but hasn’t returned to Northwest Indiana to finalize the plans. The Coffee Creek Center would be located about a half mile down Indiana 49. When completed, Coffee Creek will contain up to 2,000 residential units and over three million square feet of commercial, office, and retail space.

(PRWEB) March 5, 2007 -- Leopardo Construction, a leading construction services firm, completed Lakeside Tower and topped off Vision on State, both of which are 20-story condominium projects in Chicago's South Loop. The two projects - Lakeside Tower and Vision on State - are poured-in-place concrete structures with a combined size of 644,000 square feet and 397 units.

Located less than one mile apart, both condominiums are steps away from the South Loop's rapidly expanding restaurant and retail offerings, as well as Grant Park's southern-most edge, which provides access to Chicago's museum campus, Soldier Field and the lakefront.

Lakeside Tower

Lakeside Tower, located at 1600 S. Indiana Avenue, is a 20-story, 144-unit condominium totaling 243,000 square feet. The units feature upscale finishes with hardwood floors and granite countertops. Private terraces or balconies are also included.

Unit sizes range from 683 to 1630 square feet with one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include a fully-equipped fitness center, an outdoor landscaped plaza with terrace, grilling area, spacious sunning deck and a 163-space indoor parking garage. The project also features a contemporary façade with floor-to-ceiling windows and 10-foot ceiling heights throughout. The street level of Lakeside Tower features 4,300 square feet of retail space.

The owner/developer is a joint venture of Central Station and New West Realty. Leopardo Construction served as construction manager and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture served as project architect.

Vision on State

Vision on State, located at 1255 S. State Street, is a 20-story, 253-unit condominium totaling 401,000 square feet. The units feature upscale finishes with hardwood floors and granite countertops. Private terraces or balconies are also included.

Unit sizes range from 610 to 1,600 square feet with one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include an on-site fitness center, business center, hospitality room, individual storage units, a bike room and an indoor parking garage that can accommodate approximately 300 automobiles. The street level of Vision on State will feature 14,000 square feet of retail space.    

The Vision on State project team is headed up by Renaissant Development Group. Leopardo Construction is general contractor and Pappageorge/Haymes is project architect. Construction will be completed July of 2007.

Developers Set to Give Downtown Aurora an Extreme Makeover

Sho-Deen's proposed development for downtown Aurora

Crain's Chicago Business is reporting a proposed expansion of developers already ambitious plans to re-make and re-vitalize Aurora's non-descript downtown. According to chicagobusiness.com Geneva-based Sho-Deen Inc. had already presented city officials with its plan to construct 125,000 square feet of commercial space on a 26-acre at the south edge of Aurora's downtown near Route 25 with 650 condominiums. Now, Sho-Deen Inc. is proposing at least 18 additional buildings across 34 acres consisting of 2,000 condos, 225,000 square feet of stores, a hotel and a new commuter train station. Hoping to break ground in 2008, the total cost of the project is now approaching $600 million.

Vanstrand Group's Condo Development in Aurora

Additionally, the Vanstrand Group Inc. which already is near completion of its downtown condo towers of approximately 100 units priced from $200,000 to $375,0000 in Aurora. Reportedly, the developer-buoyed by the movement of many of these units to date-is seeking to construct a third building with another 100 units and a 300-room hotel containing convention space on an adjacent lot comprising a nearly $200 million investment commitment.

 Canyon Ranch Selects Chicago and LR Development for Nation’s First Urban Lifestyle Community

Canyon Ranch Living - Chicago at 680 N Rush.

Chicago-Spa and wellness pioneer Canyon Ranch and Chicago’s LR Development Company are joining to create luxury condominiums, a hotel and a combination spa and wellness center in a 67-story tower overlooking the Magnificent Mile. Canyon Ranch Living - Chicago will be the first urban application of Canyon Ranch’s innovative hotel-residence-wellness center concept.

“Our two companies have emerged as the recognized leaders in our respective industries — Canyon Ranch leading the way in creating the wellness lifestyle and LR setting the standard for upscale urban living,” said Thomas Weeks, president of LR. “Working together, we will do nothing less than introduce an entirely new lifestyle concept, centered on healthier living, for discerning urban residents.”

The high-rise will include 256 residential condominiums, 128 hotel condominiums, a world-class 65,000-square-foot health and wellness center, a 100-seat gourmet restaurant featuring fresh healthy food, and parking. Located adjacent to St. James Cathedral, the new tower also will house 48,000 square feet of offices for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.

The development appeals to buyers seeking sophisticated urban living combined with a healthy lifestyle. A team of highly credentialed Canyon Ranch wellness professionals, including leading physicians with access to famed Cleveland Clinic, will offer residents an integrated approach to well-being through exercise and fitness activities, medical evaluations, nutrition and stress management consultations, spa treatments, body therapies, and an ongoing lecture series.

Architect DeStefano and Partners has created a sleek, contemporary tower, which will feature a curved glass curtainwall rising from an elliptical footprint. LR’s in-house Synthesis Architecture and Design group, leveraging its extensive experience with customized private residences, will create the interiors. Robert D. Henry Architects will design the hotel and wellness center.

The development site, at Huron Street and Rush Street, is steps from the North Michigan Avenue retail corridor, in the heart of a neighborhood that combines some of the city’s most desirable residences with a thriving hospitality and entertainment scene. “In recent years, Chicago has emerged as a major tourist destination and the country’s fastest growing residential downtown,” Kelly added. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to introduce our concept to this market with a partner that shares our commitment to innovation and quality.”

A Planned Development (PD) ordinance governing development of the Chicago site passed City Council in February 2006. As part of the PD, LR will contribute over $1.5 million to the City of Chicago Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund. Sales of the residences are slated to begin in fall 2006, with completion projected for 2010.

Source: Press Release http://www.canyonranch.com

 Commercial  Civic  Residential  Landscape  Educational 

CIVIC

Board approves New Hospital Pavilion that promotes expansion, as ...
University of Chicago Chronicle
... University Medical Center’s New Hospital Pavilion—a 21st-century technological and architectural tour de force, designed to accelerate ...

Rush construction moves forward as East Tower approved

By Susan Fong / Chicago Gazette

After recently receiving approval from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board, Rush University Medical Center will proceed with Phase II, the largest component of its Rush Transformation, by starting on its East Tower in July.

Winning Wind + Architecture installation along North Michigan

CHICAGO-May 19, 2008 Solomon Cordwell Buenz received the Best in Show award for its “Windy Folly” sculpture promoting the complex power of the wind. Selected among Chicago’s top names in architecture, the kinetic art sculpture is part of an exhibit along Michigan Avenue, showcasing architecture and the environment. 

The exhibit, sponsored by the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, challenged prominent Chicago architecture firms to capture the imagination of visitors and residents with moving sculptures designed with sustainable materials.

“The ingenuity and execution of all of the sculptures included in the exhibit far exceeded our expectations,” said Lynn Osmond, president of the Chicago Architecture Foundation and one of the judges on the panel who evaluated the sculptures.  “Although it was a tough decision, Solomon Cordwell Buenz’s ‘Wind Folly’ stood out from the other sculptures for its originality, creativity and overall reception by the public.”

Solomon Cordwell Buenz’s sculpture is located in the tulip bed at 605 North Michigan Avenue, and was built by the firm’s model department to promote the complex power of the wind. As the wind blows, each piece of the sculpture comes to life through individual pinwheels, adding sound and movement to the entire piece. Made of stainless steel and copper, the pinwheels are mounted to a painted acrylic structure forming the sculpture’s shape. Each pinwheel was individually constructed by hand and the “fin” shape of the sculpture operates as a weathervane completing the piece.

“This competition was made for Chicago,” said Ted Strand, principal at Solomon Cordwell Buenz.  “We jumped at this unique opportunity to create a sculpture that incorporated our design capabilities, creativity, in-house modeling aptitude and our strong belief in sustainability.”

Coming to the lineup: Metra stop at The Cell
Southtown Star
 

Oak Park leaders to developers: Get it (W)right
By Tempo
 

Ford-funded center coming to Hegewisch
nwitimes.com - Munster, IN
 

Chicago's Union Bus Depot - Reborn
PR Newswire
 

The Museum Of Science And Industry Gets A Green Neighbor
PrairieMod
 

Firm tabbed to revitalize Lockport
Joliet Herald News
 

Bartlett's new Prairie-styled Metra Station

Metra's shelter from the storm opens in Bartlett
Chicago Daily Herald
 

Lincolnshire looks for an identity
Chicago Daily Herald

Shedd building project to ease space crunch
Chicago Sun-Times

Oak Park seeks 'green' credit for new public works facility ...

Chicago Tribune

Loyal Elgin residents decide to stay put as city blossoms

Chicago Tribune

Salvation Army plans big center on South Side
Chicago Tribune
Main Street Corridor plan gets OK from Bloomington, Normal
Bloomington Pantagraph - IL
Green light for pilot  residential development at former U.S. Steel site

Chicago Tribune

Disagreement over the Future of Hyde Park's 42-yr-old Harper Court

Chicago Tribune

Business, cultural district proposed for Austin
Austin Weekly News - Oak Park, IL
Logo gets star treatment
Chicago Tribune
Greek museum might get new home
Chicago Sun-Times
New Green Roof Opens On Magnificent Mile Building
(CBS) CHICAGO

Cicero, IL-Aug 12, 2007-The village of Cicero has recently released its plans for the re-development of the now dormant Sportsman's Park at 3301 S. Laramie Ave.  The 89-acre site proposal is for 6 acres of retail space which would include 3 big-box stores, a 10-acre park, and an outdoor fairground containing a band shell and theater.   The John Buck Co. has been slated to construct what is to be named Fountain Square at Laramie Park.  Town officials have stated their desire to see the development completed by the first quarter of 2010. The project is still subject to approval by the Cicero town board.

New Rosemont water park plan is dead
Chicago Daily Herald
When Landmark failed to meet the village's deadline to present architectural drawings, Stephens said the village was forced to cut ties. ...

Old County Hospital May Get $140 Million Rehaul
CBS2 Chicago
(CBS) CHICAGO There are new plans for the old Cook County Hospital. As CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports, Board President Todd Stroger is behind a plan to ...

"Universal Design" Debuts in River North

Chicago-July 2007 / Access Living’s four story, glassed faced office along the Chicago Avenue skyline is one of the first ever to incorporate both universal and green design, and stands as a testament to the independence and empowerment embedded within Access Living’s mission.  Universal design creates spaces that are usable for the most number of people.  Everything about the new office – the entrance, the workstations, the lighting – was designed with the most number of users in mind.  This is not to say that accommodations will not be needed, but Access Living now has... click to read rest of story at accessliving.org  

Chicago's First New LEED Platinum Certified Building

Glenview, IL-July 2007 / This past spring, the Evelyn P Tyner Interpretive Center in Glenview became the first newly constructed building to receive a LEED Platinum Certification. Designed by the architecture firm of Wight & Company, the 3000 square foot center which is the main point of entry to the 32-acre Air Station Prairie in the northwestern suburb, educates visitors about the history and ecology of the local Illinois prairie ecosystem.

The Tyner Center utilizes a green roof where 2/3 of its surface is covered by the same prairie grass found on the acreage outside the building. The structure also contains a geothermal heating and cooling system and photovoltaic tiles which are expected to provide the building with up to 1800 kilowatt hours of electricity per month.

CHICAGO South Loop Metra station work to begin next week
Chicago Tribune
The station will boast architectural enhancements that complement Grant Park's beaux-arts style, officials said. The existing station will remain open ...

Orland Park Looking to  Make Downtown a Destination

The city of Orland Park has recently completed a $3 million Victorian-style Metra train depot near 143rd Street and Southwest Hwy which it hopes will be the launching point for defining urban renewal. The transit structure, a part of an area to be known as the Main Street Triangle, is linked to additional development which would include condominiums, retail and recreational space with restaurants and offices. According to a Chicago Tribune story, the architectural style of the condominiums and commercial buildings would mirror the train station which is a tribute to the town's founding in 1892 along a new railroad link between Chicago and St. Louis. The station itself has a 1,600-square-foot interior waiting area with a covered outdoor waiting area with two 465-foot platforms.

Commercial  Civic  Residential  Landscape  Educational 

RESIDENTIAL

Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Completes $36 Million ...
Hotel Interactive, Inc.
Soaring 46 stories above Michigan Avenue, the landmark Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile reveals the stunning results of a $36 million property-wide ...

New developments
Chicago Sun-Times
A 107-story building combining condominiums with a Waldorf-Astoria hotel at the northeast corner of North Water and New streets near the Sheraton Chicago ...

Diverse Recipients Populate the 2008 Good Neighbor Award Winners

Oakwood Shores in Kenwood garnered a top honor

among this year's 2008 Good Neighbor Awards

CHICAGO, JUNE 15, 2008-The Chicago Association of Realtors has announced its list of winners for this year's Good Neighbor Awards at a recent Palmer House Hilton ceremony. The awards honor "the rehabilitation and new construction efforts by local homeowners who have made a positive impact on a neighborhood." Additionally, the awards recognize successful efforts in taking on the rescue and restoration of historically significant and buildings. Nominations for these awards are open to the public and are then evaluated by a panel of CAR real estate professionals based on their positive community impact. 2008 Winners include the following:

340 on the Park, 340 E. Randolph: This premiere green building by Related Midwest is at the edge of Millennium Park and is the first residential tower in the Midwest to receive a Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The glassy 62-story building has 344 condos.

627 West Buckingham Place, 627 W. Buckingham: LakePointe Development received the award for transforming a run-down three-flat in Lakeview into a four-unit condo building that blends peacefully with the neighborhood's vintage architecture. The brick Victorian's facade boasts a stack of Old World-style open porches across the front.

2663 N. Ashland: When LakePointe Development first approached the owners of this West DePaul neighborhood property, the 68-foot-wide lot housed a single two-flat. Working with an architect, attorney and local alderman, LakePointe created eight wide, spacious condos. The four-story building has elements of the Prairie School of Architecture and features front and rear balconies and deck space.

Clybourn Point at Larrabee, 1322 N. Clybourn: This four-story, modern, glass-and-brick mixed-use building is now one of the most prominent buildings in the changing area of Cabrini Green. The unique, eco-friend building developed by RADA Architects and RADA Development has six residential condos, with a parking garage and commercial space.

University Commons, 1000 W. 15th (left): An Enterprise Companies project, built within the historic walls of Chicago's South Water Market, University Commons is a 926-unit loft conversion featuring six former warehouses.

3816 N. Fremont: Ronan Investors maintained the historical graystone facade with new construction that included two levels and rear addition. The four-story building now contains three simplexes and one duplex condo.

3946-48 N. Marshfield: Originally built in 1896, the vintage brick building was rumored to have once been used as a horse barn. Chicago Properties & Investments purchased the property in 1995 when it contained four two-bed, one-bath apartments with a vacant attic and basement. Today, the four-story brick building has four condos.

Deming Place, 466-468 W. Deming: With curved bay windows, stained-glass elements and a private brick entry, these four condos reflect their historical context with a new, contemporary twist on the inside. The section consists of four duplex condos by the 460-462 W. Deming Building Corp.

Converge Condominiums, 744 W. Fullerton: After closing in 2005, the Parkway Tavern was left vacant and dirty. PEAK Development purchased the property, and with the help of Hartshorne and Plunkard, developed the five-story, modern, brick-and-glass building featuring 16 condos.

4154 W. Berteau: An old Catholic church reincarnated into two luxury condos was the award-winning criteria for Zbigniew and Beata Banas. The couple bought the 8,000-square-foot church in the Old Irving Park neighborhood. Today, the church contains 10,000 square feet of living space within two three-level condos. The couple incorporated the 25-foot-tall cathedral ceiling, and the church's belfry tower, its bell intact, was fitted with skylights. The Banas plan to sell or rent one of the units and live in the other.

South Loop gains momentum as a vibrant and livable destination
Chicago Tribune
In its 11th year, students attend classes in a building that has won several architectural awards, said Zack Duffy, communications director for the school. ...

Friedman building ‘green’ parking structure
Crain's Chicago Business
... structure in Chicago but expects Mr. Friedman’s could be the first of many. "This isn't a fad. This is the way architecture in America is evolving. ...

Location key to R+D659’s appeal
New Homes Magazine
The building design is the handiwork of award-winning Chicago architecture firm Brininstool + Lynch, which is credited with designing some of Chicago’s most ambitious residential developments in recent years. ...
New Homes Magazine - http://yochicago.com/magazine

Geneva Chateau model-Harris Custom Builders

Harris Custom Builders showcases a $3.3 million gem
Chicago Daily Herald
A brick, stone and stucco exterior offers low maintenance and durability, while inside, Old World charm and unique architectural features take center stage. ...

Waldorf-Astoria Still Moving Forward

Best Chicago Condos
And finally, some say the DeStefano and Partners design incorporates a few of the flattering Chicago Spire architectural elements. In any case, this project even has the support of the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents. ...

Condo Proposal For Bucktown Lacks Curb Appeal
Best Chicago Condos