814 North Franklin Street

814 NORTH FRANKLIN STREET

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horowitz-Matthews

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1891

STATISTICS
4 Stories
24,000 GSF

This adaptive re-use project converts a former bicycle factory into a stylish office and retail space. The exterior is a union of three elements: an existing, highly-detailed façade repainted in colors that relate to neighboring buildings; a gridwork of glass and aluminum set back from the façade to maximize lower level exposure and a highly painted column joining the building’s two facades. The interior consists of three principal spaces: the entrance lobby, whose small rotunda is a setting for the interplay of forms, surfaces, and color; the office of the architect, a space that conveys conservative imagery within the loft context; and a free-form office for an expressive and adventurous developer. The latter office features work stations and other office functions designed to create a playful and colorful interior streetscape.

AWARDS
Citation of Merit for Interior Architecture from the American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter

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BMT Design 1

BMT DESIGN 1

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
BMT Design

STATISTICS
1 Stories
10,000 GSF

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photos© Wayne Cable (.com)

First seen through a seamless glass storefront within the shell of an existing loft building, the studio and headquarters of this preeminent toy design firm is articulated in a profusion of differently colored and textured spaces that establish the theme of a “secret workshop”. Visitors encounter support offices connected by a suspended model train and defined by iridescent glass panels and a backlit glass door. The elegance of the partners’ conference room, with its orthogonal relationship to the building grid, inviting black leather chairs and fabric paneled walls, provides a sensory respite from the creatively contorted and skewed plan. A translucent gate swings into the terrazzo-floored room, where rolling chairs can be pulled up to a round table for game-storming sessions.

AWARDS
Citation of Merit for Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter

Professional Office Design Award

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Bradley Business Center

BRADLEY BUSINESS CENTER

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Centrum Properties

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1956

STATISTICS
3 Stories
187 (new) Parking Spaces
355,600 GSF
21 Acres

Located on Chicago’s North Side between I-90/94 and Wrigley Field, Bradley Business Center is a 21-acre commercial redevelopment surrounded by some of the city’s most popular retail and residential districts. The project will include site work and alterations and construction for shell and core improvements to an existing 1950”s era warehouse/manufacturing plant relative to speculative office and light industrial space. Also included are plans to expand the building with a 45,000 sq. ft. greenhouse for commercial farming.

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Pappageorge Haymes Partners

PAPPAGEORGE HAYMES PARTNERS

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Pappageorge Haymes Partners

STATISTICS
13,000 GSF

The architectural firm transformed the fourth floor of a nondescript former automotive sales building into a new studio space. Clearly organized within the existing structural framework, the design features low partitions, large “teaming” tables and bold paint colors. The exposed mechanical and structural systems are revealed between floating acoustical “clouds” which organize the ductwork, sprinkler and lighting systems while helping to control noise within the highly interactive studio environment. The “open studio” design utilizes eco-friendly features that include light fixtures on daylight sensors that dim lights according to available sunlight, sustainable carpeting, energy efficient lighting fixtures and controls, an innovative mechanical system designed to eliminate supplemental heating, “cradle to cradle” gold certified seating and sustainable office systems furniture, LED task lighting, and day-lighting available to every office and workstation.

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Source, Inc.

SOURCE, INC.

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Source, Inc.

STATISTICS
3 Stories
14,000 GSF

This office and studio space for a prominent product and packaging design firm is located in the top three floors of a renovated sixteen-story vintage Michigan Avenue office building. Consideration for the duality of the business versus creative aspects of this company and the ease of communication between floors prompted its architectural solution. Sophisticated corporate imagery meets “loft” like studio space with a common theme of white translucent panels in an industrial metal frame. Two new stairways of open steel construction provide dramatic counterpoints and lead users and visitors to mystical “idea rooms” situated beneath skylights thrusting through the roof.

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BMT Design 2

BMT DESIGN 2

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
BMT Design

STATISTICS
1 Stories
18,000 GSF

Originally used as a commercial photography studio, the existing bowstring truss building offered a large, open and light-filled space for the playful and inventive build-out for preeminent toy designer, Big Monster Toys (BMT). Entered through a large translucent glass door, a galvanized steel clad “egg” shaped presentation room illustrates the key function of the company as an incubator of ideas. Inside the “egg”, a round conference room table anchors one end of the room where projects are demonstrated for clients. The glass-enclosed partner offices ring the perimeter of the open studio space, enlivened by an eclectic mix of elements and finishes, including a full size mock-up of a caboose that functions as a kitchenette, a suspended model train, stained concrete floors and custom workstations that are festooned with the designers’ inventions.

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Washington Square

WASHINGTON SQUARE

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horwitz & Company

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Joseph C. Llewellyn

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1910

STATISTICS
6 Stories
96 Parking Spaces
28,000 SF Retail/Commercial
200,000 GSF

In its conversion to a first class office building, the eastern façade of the antiquated warehouse is entirely reconstructed. Translucent capitals crown over-scaled masonry columns on a field of blue-green glass as the building’s orientation shifts towards Chicago’s Loop. Directly adjacent, a three-level addition contains retail and parking. A translation of the original structure, its skin replicates perimeter rhythm and masonry as an arcade. The entry procession commences through a colonnade of stone and lighted glass block columns. Passing through the cross axis of a skylight galleria demarcating old and new, one ascends to the centralized lobby. The composition of masonry stone, terrazzo, brass and glass presents historical familiarity and yet enticing surprise.

AWARDS
International Illumination Design Award, Edwin F. Guth Memorial Award of Excellence, Illuminating Engineering Society (IES)
Honor Award, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties Design Awards

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The Law Offices of Bartlit, Beck, Herman and Palenchar

THE LAW OFFICES OF BARTLIT, BECK, HERMAN AND PALENCHAR

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Bartlit, Beck, Herman and Palenchar

STATISTICS
4.5 Stories
40,000 GSF

The progression from the elegantly proportioned traditional envelope to the inner core, which is reduced to geometric forms and materials, reveals the firm’s emphasis on a streamlined, interactive method of practice. The exterior shell of the building was left untouched, while historic references were simplified or completely stripped away on the interior spaces. Common brick record storage vaults were exposed and rendered in a contemporary manner at the center of the plan, reinforcing the image of strength, stability and permanence at the core of the company. Central to the concept is the “forum” space which simulates a regulation size basketball half-court, creating an informal atmosphere conducive to creative thinking. An exercise room and a full size mock-courtroom, complete with a jury box, were program elements added as the firm expanded.

AWARDS
Citation of Merit for Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architecture, Chicago Chapter

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420 North Wabash

420 NORTH WABASH

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Horwitz-Matthews

ORIGINAL ARCHITECT
Julius and Oscar P. Spever

ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION DATE
1905

STATISTICS
7 Stories
110,000 GSF

The total renovation and remodeling of this existing heavy timber, mill-constructed loft warehouse into a first-class office-retail building included the relocation of stairs, elevators, and new mechanical systems. The integration of the corporate office imagery with that of a converted loft building was achieved with a glass curtain wall cut into the building’s masonry facade. A new vertical slice of the exterior wall dramatizes the relocated entry and leads visitors to the axial, processional Art Deco style lobby. The sequence is further developed with aluminum reveals, marble flooring, and chrome ductwork. A glass enclosed stairwell connects the retail spaces on the street levels.

AWARDS
Citation of Merit for Interior Architecture, American Institute of Architects, Chicago Chapter

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Lind-Waldock & Co.

LIND-WALDOCK & CO.

LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois

CLIENT
Lind-Waldock & Co.

STATISTICS
260 Units
34 Stories
309 Parking Spaces
9,000 SF Retail/Commercial
420,000 GSF

This rehabilitation of an existing heavy timber and masonry building for use as a new company headquarters and brokerage facility incorporates two trading floors, an expansive computer room, an executive board room and employee dining facilities, in addition to the office and support functions. Building Improvements include two high-speed passenger elevators, new plumbing and HVAC systems, and new electrical service, including a 200KW emergency generator and battery back-up system for telephone and computers. The façade of the building is given a new limestone cladding at the first two floors, following a classical motif. The building interior is highlighted by a terraced lobby running the length of the building with an observation area overlooking a trading floor. Mahogany paneling and terrazzo flooring are continued on the seventh floor executive reception area which terminates below a pyramidal skylight.

AWARDS
The Chicago Lighting Award of Merit

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