MULTI SPORT FACILITY INCLUDING REGULATION SOCCER FIELD , OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOL, MULTI-PURPOSE GYMNASIUM, BASEBALL TRAINING, AEROBICS AND WEIGHT TRAINING. LIMITED SITE SIZE CALLED FOR PLACING THE SOCCER VENUE , BY FAR THE LARGEST ELEMENT OF THE PROGRAM, ON TOP OF OTHER FUNCTIONS, THUS MINIMIZING THE BUILDING`S FOOTPRINT. PLANNING REQUIRED TWO POINTS OF ENTRY DUE TO SHARED VISITOR PARKING ACROSS STREET TO THE NORTH AND MEMBER PARKING TO THE SOUTH. CONSTRUCTION IS CONCRETE AND STEEL COMPOSITE WITH LONG SPAN STEEL TRUSSES OVER THE SOCCER FIELD AND CUSTOM PRECAST PANEL FACADES.

VOLUNTEER FIRE STATION IN RURAL INDIANA, SERVES TOWNSHIP AND ADJACENT INTERSTATE-65. THE DESIGN INCORPORATES SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES OF PASSIVE SOLAR HEATING AND SOLAR HOT WATER, GEOTHERMAL HEATING AND RADIANT FLOORS, AND WIND-ACTUATED VENTILATION.

PROTOTYPICAL DESIGN TO BE LOCATED ON MISCELLANEOUS SITES IN INNER-URBAN CHICAGO, DESIGN DOUBLES AS SECURE TOOL SHED FOR OVERNIGHT STORAGE OF FARMING TOOLS AND A PLATFORM FOR EDUCATION ABOUT INNER-URBAN FARMING PRACTICES. CLOSED BUILDING "OPENS UP" WHEN IN USE TO FORM AN OPEN-AIR PAVILION BY MEANS OF TWO COUNTER-WEIGHTED WALLS THAT BECOME ROOFS WHEN IN OPEN POSITION.

RENOVATION OF AN EXISTING SPORTS APPAREL STORE TO ACCOMMODATE AN ALLIED BRAND OF SPORTSWEAR AND RUNNING SHOES. DESIGN SOUGHT TO CREATE A BALANCED MIX BETWEEN "HIGH-POLISH" IMAGE OF SPORTSWEAR COMPANY AND RUSTIC CHARACTER OF EXISTING TIMBER-FRAME AND MASONRY CONSTRUCTION.

A TRAVELLING PROMOTIONS BOOTH FOR EVOLVING ART, LLC, A START-UP COMPANY THAT MANUFACTURES FLAT-PANEL LCD SCREENS FOR THE DISPLAY OF ARTWORKS. THE CLIENT WISHED TO HAVE A BOOTH THAT EVOKED THE COMPANY'S IMAGE, BOTH HIGH-TECH AND TRADITIONAL, COULD BE ASSEMBLED BY 2 PEOPLE IN LESS THAN 90 MINUTES AND THAT COST LESS THAN $25,000. OUR DESIGN IS A SERIES OF INTERLOCKING SERPENTINE PANELS THAT GUARANTEES STABILITY, AND THUS SAFETY, AT ANY POINT IN THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. THE PANEL FRAMING IS MADE OF LIGHT-GUAGE SHEET METAL COVERED IN THIN-GUAGE PLYWOOD. VENEER MATERIALS ARE STAINED CHERRY AND PRINTED PLASTIC LAMINATE.

CHICAGO BASED PURVEYOR OF TEA AND TEA DRINKS. EACH CAFE PROVIDES A CONTEMPORARY SETTING FOR USERS TO INTERACT, WORK OR JUST STOP BY TO PICK UP THEIR DRINK OF THE DAY. STORES ARE DESIGNED AROUND ARGO'S BRANDING PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES LIGHTING AND FURNITURE SELECTIONS. SPECIAL DESIGN FEATURES ARE CENTRAL "TEA-OSK" CONCEPT TO CREATE A HIGH-FINISH FOCAL POINT OF RETAIL SERVICE COUNTER AND "WALL OF TEA" THAT SHOWCASES THE MANY TYPES OF TEA AND TEA FLAVORS AVAILABLE.

A STREET LEVEL FACADE TREATMENT STUDY FOR A HIGH RISE BUILDING IN CHICAGO'S STREETERVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD. CLIENT WANTED TO TEST SEVERAL SCHEMES AIMED AT DIFFERENT TYPES OF TENANTS WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING A VISUALLY STRIKING STREET PRESENCE USING MINIMAL RESOURCES.

COMPETITION SPONSORED BY BLOOMINGTON COMMUNITY ARTS COMMISSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH BLOOMINGTON TRANSIT. THIS DESIGN STARTED WITH THE INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE ACCOMMODATION OF THE STREET-SIDE BENCH, COMPLETE WITH ITS WOOD SLAT SEAT AND ADVERTISING/ SIGNAGE BACK, AND SOUGHT TO FURTHER THIS SENSE OF ACCOMMODATION TO INCLUDE IDEAS ABOUT SHELTER. THROUGH THIS IMPROVEMENT, WE SOUGHT TO CREATE A FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING GESTURE WITH THE WHOLE. IN ONE SENSE, THIS "BENCH" WRAPS ITSELF AROUND YOU IN ITS EFFORT TO PROVIDE BOTH PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SHELTER FROM THE ELEMENTS. IN THE SAME GESTURE IT REACHES UP TOWARDS THE SKY, AS IF TO HAIL THE ONCOMING TRANSPORT ON YOUR BEHALF. ALL OF THE MATERIALS USED HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR THEIR STRENGTH, DURABILITY AND RESISTANCE TO ACTS OF VANDALISM AS WELL AS THEIR RECYCLED CONTENT AND/ OR RECYCLABILITY.

DESIGN COMPETITION SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF CHICAGO. WASTE RECEPTACLES CONSTRUCTED OF RECLAIMED WASTE BICYCLE COMPONENTS TO PROMOTE RECYCLING EFFORTS WITHIN THE CITY. DESIGN "WEAVES" DISCARDED 26" BICYCLE TIRES (OTHERWISE UNRECYCLABLE) TO FORM TUBES THAT CAN BE USED AS TRASH BARRELS. TIRES ARE CUT SO THEY CAN BE WOVEN AND THEN FASTENED TOGETHER WITH POP RIVETS. TRASH CAN LID IS MADE FROM SIDE WALLS OF VARIOUS SIZES OF CAR TIRES.

PROJECT WAS SELECTED AS A FINALIST AND 3 PROTOTYPICAL RECEPTACLES WERE BUILT FOR EXHIBITION.

DESIGN COMPETITION BY NASA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION. A MEMORIAL OUTSIDE VISITORS CENTER AT CAPE CANAVERAL COMMEMORATING ASTRONAUTS AND PILOTS WHO DIED SERVING THE SPACE PROGRAM. COMPETITION BRIEF CALLED FOR PLACEMENT IN OR NEAR EXISTING POND. DESIGN MIMICS SUNDIAL IN SHAPE, CASTING SHADOWS THAT ANNUALLY MARK THE EVENTS IN TIME. THE VERTICAL COMPONENT, POINTING DIRECTLY AT POLARIS (NORTH STAR), IS A METAPHORICAL STAIRWAY SYMBOLIC OF THE JOURNEYS THAT MEMORIAL COMMEMORATES. WATER FROM POND IS PUMPED TO TOP OF VERTICAL AND ALLOWED TO CASCADE DOWN STAIRS WHICH ACTS TO CLEAN AND OXYGENATE THE POND.

PROJECT WAS INCLUDED IN TRAVELLING SHOW OF TOP 50 SUBMISSIONS.

EXPANSION AND RENOVATION OF ARCHITECTURE LIBRARY LOCATED IN HISTORIC CRWON HALL, THE HOME OF THE COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AT THE ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. HOUSES ALL COLLECTIONS AND MEDIA SERVICES FOR THE COLLEGE. PROJECT CONSISTED OF EXPANDING THE EXISTING LIBRARY IN TO ADJACENT CLASSROOM SPACES TO ACCOMODATE GROWING ENROLLMENTS AND ASSOCIATED PRINT/ MEDIA ALLOCATIONS.

PROJECT USES A RADIANT PANEL COOLING SYSTEM, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE INSTALLED COMMERCIALLY IN THE U.S., IN THE FORM OF 14 RECTANGULAR "CLOUDS" THAT ARE SUSPENDED JUST BELOW THE STRUCTURAL CONCRETE SLAB. THIS HIGHLY EFFICIENT SYSTEM PROVIDES ALL OF THE NECESSARY COOLING FOR THE SPACE. LIGHTING FIXTURES ARE HUNG BELOW EACH CLOUD, SHINING UPWARDS TO PROVIDE EVEN ILLUMINATION THROUGHOUT THE SPACE. THE CLOUDS ALSO ACT AS ACOUSTICAL DAMPENERS FOR NOISE CONTROL.

CLUBHOUSE AND CENTRAL MANAGEMENT/ MARKETING FACILITY FOR A LARGE APARTMENT COMPLEX IN SUBURBAN CHICAGO. TIGHT TRIANGULAR SITE NECESSITATED THE BUILDING PROGRAM BE "STRETCHED" AROUND THE NEW POOL, THUS MAXIMIZING VIEWS OF THE POOL FROM NEARLY ANYWHERE IN THE BUILDING. BUILDING CAN BE SUB-DIVIDED WITH SLIDING WALLS TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT MODALITIES. AMENITIES INCLUDED A NEW FITNESS ROOM, A COMMONS AREA WITH ADJACENT COMMUNITY KITCHEN, A 24-HOUR BUSINESS CENTER AND A LAP POOL.

A SERIES OF RENOVATIONS, RESTORATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO HISTORIC ATHLETIC AND SOCIAL CLUB. WE WERE HIRED AS ARCHITECT FOR ALL PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED UNDER ONGOING CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS BUDGET FOR NEARLY A DECADE. MAJOR PROJECTS INCLUDED RENOVATION OF BALLROOM, REPLACEMENT OF COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, INSTALLATION OF SPORTS BAR, ADDITION OF FITNESS ROOM, DINING ROOM RENOVATIONS AND DESIGN OF A PARKING STRUCTURE.

MISCELLANEOUS RENOVATIONS AND PROJECTS FOR ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY'S MAIN CAMPUS LIBRARY. PROJECTS INCLUDED: RENOVATION OF CENTRAL STAIR HALL, TRANSFORMATION OF PORTION OF EXISTING STACKS INTO STUDENT READING ROOM, DESIGN OF EXHIBIT SPACES FOR NEW MEDIA, DESIGN OF DISPLAY CASES FOR NEW ARTWORKS AND DESIGN OF INTERACTIVE GAME ROOM.

MISCELLANEOUS RENOVATIONS AND PROJECTS FOR SEVERAL CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL CHARTER SCHOOLS CAMPUSES INCLUDE BUILDING RESTORATIONS AND ADDITIONS, ACCESSIBILITY UPGRADES, LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND MASTER PLANNING. WE HAVE EXECUTED PROJECTS ON NEARLY ALL OF CICS' 16 CAMPUSES. MAJOR RENOVATIONS INCLUDE, LLOYD BOND CAMPUS, IRVING PARK CAMPUS, NORTHTOWN CAMPUS AND BUCKTOWN CAMPUS. ALL PROJECTS HAVE STRICT BUDGETS AND RESTRICTED SCHEDULES SINCE ALL WORK MUST BE COMPLETED OVER THE SUMMER BREAK WHEN STUDENTS ARE NOT PRESENT.

A SERIES OF PHASED RENOVATIONS TO THE MAIN LIBRARY AT THE ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. PHASE ONE INCLUDED A NEW TECHNOLOGY TEACHING CLASSROOM, LOBBY RENOVATIONS AND ASSOCIATED LIGHTING AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT UPGRADES. PHASE TWO RENOVATED THE MAIN CIRCULATION DESK, ENTRY LOBBY AND UPGRADED SECURITY EQUIPMENT. PHASE THREE INCLUDED RENOVATIONS TO THE MAIN LEVEL STACKS AND READING AREAS AND INSTALLED 40,000 SF OF SUSTAINABLE CORK FLOORING. ASSOCIATED PROJECTS INCLUDED A NEW REFERENCE AND TEACHING ROOM FOR GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS, A NEW REFERENCE DESK AND A NEWLY RENOVATED, DONOR-NAMED READING ROOM.

RESURRECTION OF AN IMPORTANT SOUTH-SIDE INSTITUTION WHICH SUFFERED A FIRE IN APRIL OF 2001. THE PROPERTY IS OWNED BY INTERNATIONALLY-KNOWN ARTIST AND ACTIVIST DAN PETERMAN. IN ADDITION TO HOUSING HIS OWN STUDIO SPACE, PETERMAN HAD BEEN OPERATING AS A LOOSE COLLECTIVE OF ARTISTS AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT PROGRAMS IN THE REMAINDER OF THE BUILDING. THE RENEWAL SCHEME SALVAGES ONLY THE EXTERIOR WALL OF THE OLD FACILITY AND PROVIDES A TIMBER-FRAME STRUCTURE WITHIN. THIS, IN TURN, IS BRACED AT ITS CENTER BY A CINDERBLOCK TOWER ELEMENT. THE TOWER HOUSES TOILETS AND MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT ON ITS FIRST FLOOR AND A LARGE MEETING ROOM ON THE SECOND. THE PROGRAM OF ARTIST'S STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS IS THEN ARRANGED AROUND THIS CENTRAL HUB. SLIDING WALLS ALLOW STUDIOS TO BE OPEN TO THE CENTER OR CLOSED OFF. ENTIRE ROOF HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE AN INTENSIVE GREEN ROOM AND AN EVENTUAL GREENHOUSE.

THE CLIENT SOUGHT TO CREATE A GREEN ROOF WHICH WOULD NOT ONLY REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT IN THE CITY, BUT WOULD ALSO SERVE AS AN ICONIC ELEMENT WHICH WOULD FURTHER THE CAUSE OF SUSTAINABILITY IN CHICAGO. THE IMAGE FORMED BY THE PLANTINGS IS A PIXELATED ABSTRACTION OF A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE CLIENT'S DAUGHTER. GREEN ROOF WAS ACHIEVED USING MOSTLY RECYCLED MATERIALS AND NO BRAND-NAME PRODUCTS.

THIS PROTOTYPICAL HOUSING DESIGN SEEKS TO ENGAGE THE ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD SURROUNDING WRIGLEY FIELD IN CHICAGO. EIGHT RESIDENTIAL UNITS SIT ON NON-CONFORMING LOTS ADJACENT TO BROWN-LINE "EL" TRACKS. CAREFULLY DESIGNED BUILDING SECTION ALLOWS FOR REAR-FACING GARAGES, OPEN-PLAN FAMILY LIVING AREAS, A GENEROUS BASEMENT DEN AND AN OFFICE/ PLAYROOM ADJACENT TO A ROOFTOP DECK. PRINCIPAL BEARING WALLS ARE FINISH-GRADE INSULATED CONCRETE MASONRY UNITS, REMAINDER OF STRUCTURE IS A COMBINATION OF STEEL BEAMS AND OPEN-WEB WOOD TRUSS-JOISTS. INSULATED REAR WALL AND DOUBLE-GLAZED ANGLED WINDOWS MINIMIZED NOISE FROM ADJACENT TRAIN TRACKS.

THIS PROJECT IS AN ADAPTIVE RE-USE OF AN EXISTING TWO-STORY CONCRETE AND MASONRY COACH HOUSE, LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC HYDE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. ANTICIPATING THE DEPARTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN, OWNER COUPLE WANTED TO CONVERT THEIR TOWN HOUSE TO RENTAL APARTMENTS FOR UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO STUDENTS AND MOVE INTO THE COACH HOUSE. BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE ARE AVID GARDENERS AND WANTED A ROOF-TOP GREENHOUSE TO ALLOW FOR GROWING PLANTS YEAR-ROUND. GREENHOUSE ALSO SERVES AS A PASSIVE SOLAR COLLECTOR THAT PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL HEAT IN THE WINTER AND PASSIVE VENTILATION IN THE SUMMER.

THREE-STORY ADDITION TO AN EXISTING 2-FLAT RESIDENCE. OWNERS RENTED OUT FIRST FLOOR APARTMENT AND LIVED ON SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS, WANTED TO CREATE ADDITION FOR GROWING FAMILY THAT RECONNECTED THEM TO THE BACK YARD VIA A COVERED PLAY SPACE. ADDITION IS OFFSET HALF A LEVEL FROM MAIN FLOOR OF OWNER'S APARTMENT FOR EASE OF ACCESS TO NEW BEDROOMS. PROGRAM IS TIED TOGETHER WITH AN OPEN STAIRWELL.

RESIDENTIAL ADDITION PROVIDES A LIBRARY AND OFFICE TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF AN ACTIVE SENIOR CITIZEN. PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN ALLOWS FOR 180 DEGREES OF VIEW INTO EXISTING GARDENS. "WIDOWS WALK" BALCONY PROVIDES SHADING FROM SOUTH AND A PLACE FROM WHICH TO VIEW NATURE CONSERVATORY IN THE DISTANCE.

POTTERY STUDIO AND GUEST QUARTERS FOR AN ARTIST COUPLE WHOSE EXISTING WINTER HOME OCCUPIED THE ONLY LAND ELEVATED ABOVE THE FLOOD PLAN. THUS, THIS ANCILLARY STRUCTURE HAD TO BE DESIGNED TO ANTICIPATE AND WITHSTAND MINOR FLOODING. REINFORCED CONCRETE BLOCKS FORM THE BASE AND SUPPORT A TIMBER FRAME CONTAINING ALL NECESSARY FUNCTIONS A STORY ABOVE GRADE. ALSO MEANT TO SERVE AS QUARTERS FOR HOUSE-SITTER WHEN OWNERS ARE AT THEIR SUMMER LOCATION.

PRINCIPAL RESIDENCE OF A COUPLE OF "EMPTY NESTERS" IN NORTH SHORE SUBURBAN CHICAGO. HOUSE FORM DERIVES FROM PYRAMIDAL PROGRAM WHERE MOST ROOMS NEEDED TO BE ON FIRST FLOOR. PLAN IS ARRANGED AROUND A CENTRAL SERVICE CORE WITH A "DONUT" OF CIRCULATION ATTACHING ALL THE MAJOR SPACES INTO A LOOP. FAMILY ROOM, LIVING ROOM AND BREAKFAST ROOM ARE LOFTED TO ALLOW FOR BETTER DAYLIGHT PENETRATION AND A READABLE HIERARCHY AMONG THE PRINCIPAL LIVING SPACES.

ORIGINALLY BUILT IN THE 1920'S, THIS "NORTH SHORE" HOME UNDERWENT A SERIES OF ILL-CONSIDERED ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING DECADES. WHILE MORE THAN DOUBLING THE SIZE OF THE ORIGINAL HOUSE, THE ADDITIONS ALSO CREATED AWKWARD SPATIAL CONDITIONS AND LOTS OF MATERIAL COMPROMISES. THIS PROJECT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO ERASE THE UNFORTUNATE DECISIONS FROM ITS PAST, TO ENGAGE THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT CHARACTER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO BRING A UNITY OF DESIGN INTENT AND STYLE TO THE WHOLE. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE 1980's FAMILY ROOM AND THE RECENTLY RENOVATED KITCHEN, THE HOUSE WAS GUTTED AND REHABILITATED FROM BASEMENT TO ATTIC TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROGRAMMATIC NEEDS AND STYLISTIC SOPHISTICATION OF ITS NEW OWNERS.

THREE SEPARATE SUPPORTIVE AND INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES IN SUBURBAN CHICAGO FOR A LOCAL DEVELOPMENT/ MANAGEMENT CORPORATION RANGING IN SIZE FROM 61 TO 91 UNITS AND 13 TO 18 MILLION DOLLARS IN COST. EACH PROJECT OFFERED UNIQUE CHALLENGES BUT WERE PRODUCED ON TIME AND VALUE-ENGINEERED TO BE WITHIN THE CLIENT'S BUDGET.

LOCATED IN THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS, THIS WEEKEND RETREAT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE MAGNIFICENT VIEWS OF HUNTER MOUNTAIN. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOUSE TOOK PLACE OVER AN EXISTING STRUCTURE AND WAS DESIGNED AS A "HOUSE WITHIN A HOUSE". ALL MECHANICAL SYSTEMS ARE MONITORED BY A CENTRAL COMPUTER WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED BY A PHONE.