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12.19.2018
Fannie Emanuel Apartments Featured in Architect Magazine

Holabird & Root's transformation of the Chicago Housing Authority's Fannie Emanuel Apartments, which provides 181 new units for Chicago’s seniors, was recently featured in Architect Magazine!

It was a privilege working with our long-time client, the CHA, on such a great project!

Check out the article here:  https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/fannie-emanuel-apartments 

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03.1.2018
Monroe Hall Featured in New Orleans Magazine

Holabird & Root's transformation of Monroe Hall on the Loyola University New Orleans Campus was featured in New Orleans Magazine as a Best New Architectural Project.  It was a privilege working with the University on such a great project!

Read more about our addition and renovation to Monroe Hall here.

03.1.2018
Risinger + Associates, Inc. Merges With Holabird & Root

Holabird & Root is pleased to announce that it is merging with Risinger + Associates, Inc.

This merger continues to add strength, ability, and value added services to our collective clients.  Eric Risinger, AIA started his career at Holabird & Root, and he and his team leaders, Barb and Mike, are looking forward to the merger. Building upon its historic reputation, Holabird & Root continues to position itself in the market place to deliver outstanding design and exceptional client service. Holabird & Root’s storied past offers a continuing legacy of design excellence, enduring commitment to architecture, and experienced based leadership to our clients. The merger represents our continuing evolution to meet our clients' current and future needs.  Market trends demand firms to be creative, nimble, entrepreneurial, and flexible, and we are committed to providing a work place environment that attracts and retains talented professionals to meet these demands. We will do all this while bringing forward over 135 years of professional practice for our clients’ benefit.

Holabird & Root will be launching a K-12 School Design Market Sector to complement its current Higher Ed Market Sector, as well as a Real Estate Services Market Sector through the merger with Risinger + Associates Inc.  R+A is excited about the Multi-family | Student Housing Market Sector and the Senior Living Market Sector that Holabird & Root has been exceptional at delivering to their clients.  In addition to Interior Design and Planning, both firms look forward to providing Strategic Planning and Programming services to our clients.

Learn | Work | Live | Play 

We are excited to share such a talented and committed team to our clients, co-workers, friends, and family.

This merger will bring the following expertise market sectors to our current and future clients:

K-12 Schools Public | Private 

Higher Education 

Student Housing

Multi-Family Housing 

Senior Living | Memory Care

Private Club | Hospitality

Community Collaboration Development Services

Data Driven Strategic Planning and Programming

Real Estate Services

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11.20.2017
Drake Univ. Opens Science Connector Building

Looking to the future, Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa has resolved to continue its strength in the sciences through focused investments in its physical facilities.  The reconfiguration and renovation of existing space and the addition of new space for the sciences will serve to establish and promote new interdisciplinary programs and research efforts, while enhancing opportunities for collaboration between existing programs.

The new, Holabird & Root-designed Science Connector Building (SCB) is the key component to realizing this goal.  The SCB will serve as an interdisciplinary hub for the sciences, physically connecting to Fitch and Olin Halls and linking a network of five buildings.  This will allow internal access for the entire science complex.  Later phases include the renovation of Olin Hall, which houses the Biology Department.

Drake University has a unique architectural legacy with buildings by noted modernist architects Eero Saarinen and Mies Van der Rohe.  Two of the science complex buildings are by Saarinen with one of them, Fitch Hall, connecting directly to the SCB.  Numerous planning studies were developed in order to determine an appropriate design solution that worked harmoniously with the smaller Fitch Hall.

Building Organization

The SCB is organized into 4 levels with a 100 level north/south axis joining the external campus entrances and east/west axis internally linking the science buildings on the upper levels.  The primary circulation spine will be on the 200 level, which links all 5 buildings of the complex.  This path was conceived as a unifying street animated by numerous and varying sized informal student spaces.  In the SCB, these include glass enclosed “zip” spaces, conference rooms, and open informal gathering spaces.  Each level has a large flexible classroom fitted out with sophisticated classroom technology.

 

Teaching and research clusters foster interdisciplinary science

Working with faculty from all departments, four “clusters” of interdisciplinary inquiry were identified supporting future growth and enhanced collaboration within the sciences at Drake.

The Molecular Sciences Cluster incorporates work in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Pharmacy.  Centered on two advanced teaching laboratories, the cluster will join experts from each discipline in an integrated node with six faculty research labs and offices.

The Neuroscience Cluster brings together faculty and researchers in Biology, Pharmacy, and Psychology.  With a comprehensive animal facility at its center, the cluster centralizes all animal related work, providing teaching, research, and office space for faculty from the participating departments.

The Human Performance Cluster combines work being done in Biology, Health Sciences, and Psychology.  Here, human physiology, exercise science, kinesiology, and human behavioral studies overlap in a suite of teaching and research labs, and faculty office space.

The Environmental Science Cluster joins work being done in Biology and Chemistry and is anchored by a rooftop greenhouse, botany research lab, and the Biodiversity Center.

 

Core Facilities

Another goal of the SCB was to consolidate core facilities currently scattered throughout the campus.  These include a vivarium, greenhouse, BSL2 lab, and instrument lab.

The vivarium includes 10 animal holding rooms, testing rooms, surgical room, cage wash facility, and other supporting functions.  It is set up to provide an isolated secure connection to Olin Hall in order to support animal related research programs in Biology.
A 2,100 SF greenhouse with 3 cells and head-house is located on the roof.  Clustered with the greenhouse is a botany research lab and the Biodiversity Center.  A roof deck with telescope mounts supports the Physic department’s astronomy program.
At the heart of the Neuroscience Cluster is an instrument and prep lab.  It supports both teaching and research labs and includes access to a tissue culture and BSL2 lab.

 

Moving In

The SCB has just finished the construction phase.  The University's students and faculty are excited about their move into their new spaces.   Over the course of the multi-year planning and construction process, differing co-location strategies were explored for the faculty’s teaching, research, and office needs.  Now that they have moved in, it’s been interesting to see how the flexibility of the design is allowing faculty to choose to locate in areas not originally planned.  We look forward to following up with a in depth post occupancy study to determine how effective the new SCB is in supporting a collaborative culture of interdisciplinary teaching and research.

 

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10.17.2017
Fermilab Near and Far Detectors Awarded ALA Gold

Holabird & Root’s designs of Fermilab’s Short Baseline Neutrino Near and Far Detectors were recently bestowed a Gold Award by the Association of Licensed Architects (ALA) through its 2017 Design Awards Program.

Fermilab’s SBN Near and Far Detectors completed construction in April 2017.  The Detectors are instrumental in supporting Fermilab’s Neutrino Research Program and are key components to its Neutrino Campus. Each building consists of a detector hall, loading/staging space, computing rack space, and mechanical and electrical space. Sub-grade detectors are accessible from a high-bay superstructure.  Research infrastructure includes a robust cryogenic system.

We’re thrilled to share this Gold Award with Fermilab and are grateful for the 18 years we have spent working with them.

The ALA Design Awards Program is the organization’s annual showcase of the power of design by its members.  The Design Awards Dinner took place on Monday, October 2, 2017 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. 

 

 

 

 

 

Glenview naval air station

10.3.2017
Holabird & Root Wins Naval Air Station Museum Project

Holabird & Root, in association with Aviation Consultant Bufano Management, was recently selected by the Glenview Park District Board of Commissioners, the Glenview Hanger One Foundation, and Bring It Home Glenview to complete a feasibility study for the new Naval Air Station Glenview Museum and Flight Academy, and STEM Learning Center. 

The Holabird & Root and Bufano Management design team will work closely with the Foundation and Park District to create a conceptual design that would preserve the history of the Naval Air Station; create space to display a restored World War II Navy aircraft; and tell the story of the Air Station’s role and influence in the Glenview community, aviation, and our nation’s history. 

The mission of the facility will be to honor those who served; preserve and exhibit the expanding collections; create an immersive learning experience for visitors; and educate future generations about the past, present, and future of aviation. 

The feasibility study and conceptual design is projected to be complete by the end of 2017. 

Additional details regarding the Glenview Hangar One Foundation and project fundraising can be found here:

http://www.thehangarone.org/newlayoutindex.asp

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04.5.2017
Holabird & Root Named Finalist for CBC Merit Award

The team of Northwestern University, Holabird & Root, and Norcon Construction were named a finalist for the CBC Merit Award Interior Build-Out of Northwestern Academy for Chicago Public Schools. The renovation is comprised of classroom space, student study space, reception, and staff office space. Three classrooms including one 48-student classroom and two 24-student classrooms support the student learning experience. Each classroom is enhanced with cutting edge digital display technology that uses a touchscreen interface to facilitate student interaction.  Study areas include a variety of seating types and access to whiteboard and pin-up space for collaboration and study sessions outside of the classroom. Six faculty/staff offices, a conference room, a small number of meeting rooms for faculty to meet with students and parents, and reception space is also included in the project.

 

For more information on Northwestern Academy and the CBC Merit Awards visit, https://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/news-center/news/2017/03/northwestern-academy-named-finalist-for-building-awar.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=organic&utm_content=building-awards&utm_campaign=awareness&linkId=36015359

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02.15.2017
Holabird & Root Announces Promotion Of Rusty Walker

Holabird & Root is pleased to announce the promotion of Rusty Walker, AIA, LEED AP to Principal.

Walker, a graduate of Northeastern University and Rice University, joined Holabird & Root in 2006 after working with Perkins+Will. Since arriving, he has served as the lead project designer on numerous project types, including affordable, senior, student, and market-rate housing buildings; higher education facilities; sports and recreation centers; master plans; and others.

Most recently, he led the design of the award-winning East-West University Student Life Center, a 17-story, mixed-use tower located in Chicago’s South Loop. The new high-rise provides the University with its first student residences along with several academic and social amenities. He also led the design of the Public Building Commission’s Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center Addition, which was bestowed the 2016 Chicago Building Congress/Construction Owners Association of America (COAA) Project of the Year Award.

“We’re thrilled that Rusty will be the next design leader of our historic practice,” said Managing Principal Greg Cook.  “Since joining Holabird & Root, Rusty has demonstrated the enthusiasm to connect with clients and design ingenuity to create distinguished buildings and spaces.   We feel Rusty is best suited to not only mentor and lead our young designers, but that his diverse and extensive portfolio of experience will help grow our business and reach new opportunities.”

Rusty is a member of the American Institute of Architects and is a LEED Accredited Professional. 

Holabird & Root is a Chicago-based architecture, engineering, interior design, and graphic illustration firm. Since its founding in 1880, Holabird & Root has been recognized for its history of translating complex challenges into thoughtful solutions for clients in the academic, government, cultural and civic, and corporate markets. Holabird & Root celebrates over 135 years of professional service, innovative design, advanced technology, and collaboration. 

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10.28.2016
Holabird & Root Joins Architects Advocate

Since the launching of Architects Advocate for Action on Climate Change, Holabird & Root has joined forces with other leading Architecture firms in Chicago and around the country, to be a voice that supports meaningful legislation/policy to mitigate climate change.

Consisting of over 112 architecture and design firms, primarily from Chicago, that are speaking out publicly to end climate control, Architects Advocate is tasked with supporting healthy spaces and livable cities, and guide action towards responsible communities.

Within the last century, the U.S. has seen 14 out of the 15 warmest years on record. With the irreversible impacts of climate change overshadowing other environmental threats, this is the one issue where we can band together to have a positive impact on the built environment. Multiple studies have shown that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are due to human activities. With architects’ commitment to designing responsibly, we can secure the future for coming generations.

It is the goal of Holabird & Root to contribute positively to a healthy and sustainable built environment.

For more information about Architects Advocate for Action on Climate Change, please visit www.architects-advocate.com.

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08.26.2016
Holabird & Root Completes Northwestern Academy Renovations

Holabird & Root recently completed the 6,600-SF renovation of the 16th Floor of Northwestern University's Abbott Hall to serve Northwestern Academy.

Northwestern Academy is an enrichment program developed by the University to serve academically talented and motivated students from Chicago Public Schools.  The renovation includes classroom space, student study space, reception, and staff office space. One 48-student classroom and two 24-student classrooms were created.  Each classroom is fitted with cutting edge digital display technology that uses a touchscreen interface to facilitate student interaction.  Study areas include a variety of seating types and access to digital displays, whiteboard, and pin-up space for collaboration and study sessions outside of the classroom.  

Six faculty/staff offices, a conference room, a small number of meeting rooms for faculty to meet with students and parents, and reception space were also included in the project.

Holabird & Root conducted visioning sessions with the University and students from Northwestern Academy to arrive at a shared vision for the project.

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01.27.2016
Holabird & Root Announces the Passing of Ernie Wagner

It is with great sorrow that Holabird & Root announces the passing of Associate Principal Ernie Wagner, AIA, LEED AP.   

Ernie spent over 35 years with Holabird & Root, providing invaluable leadership to the firm.  He was one of the firm's most accomplished project managers.  Ernie led and provided mentorship to Holabird & Root's group of science and laboratory planners and designers since the early 1980s. He contributed to many of the firm's landmark projects, including St. Olaf College's Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Beloit College's Center for the Sciences, Grinnell College's Noyce Science Center, and many others.  Additionally, he was actively involved in a number of organizations, ranging from the American Institute of Architects, Project Kaleidoscope, and more.  His passion for architecture, the insights he provided, and his joy for working with clients and mentoring colleagues will be missed.  

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10.20.2015
Dorchester Terrace Residence to Start Construction Next Month

Sifton Properties' Dorchester Terrace is a 90,000 sq.ft. retirement home set to reside in a small community in Dorchester, Ontario. A new retirement home is much needed due to the rise in population of recently retired community members. Holabird & Root was commissioned to design a 92-unit structure on a three-acre parcel of land surrounded by a dense single family residential area. The design includes an inviting oasis is created at the main entry to the building and gives a sense of gathering space on the exterior. 

Some of the amenities on the main level include a large dining hall, a gym, hydrotherapy pool area, a cafe, and a hair salon. The residents enjoy exterior spaces adjacent to the dining hall and a walking track throughout the entire parcel. An abundance of parking is utilized by the staff, visitors, and residents. EMCAD Consulting Engineers will provide MEP/FP engineering, with structural engineering provided by Van Boxmeer & Stranges Engineering,  civil engineering by CF Crozier & Associates, and landscape architecture by Ron Koudys Landscape Architects. Holabird & Root Team members include Rusty Walker, Greg Marinelli, Cindy Schneider, Mat Strack, and Jim Miller. 

Construction for the retirement home is slated to start next month with occupied completion projected for October of 2016. 

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10.8.2015
H&R Wins Outstanding Project Award for East-West University

Holabird & Root has received an Outstanding Project Award for outstanding educational facility design in the Fall 2015 edition of Learning by Design, the premier bi-annual guide that showcases innovative school and university design and construction projects. The East-West University Student Life Center has been recognized by Learning By Design Magazine for its architectural design and for having attributes worthy of emulation. 

Learning By Design judges commended Holabird & Root for its success in designing the East-West University Student Life Center. The peer-reviewed jury thought highly of the building design. Projects such as the East-West University Student Life Center are judged on six criteria: Innovation, Community Need, Interior Design, Sustainability, Functional Design, and 21st Century Learning. The Jury commented on the "Nicely organized plans and sections...Massing is broken down well to embrace but not overwhelm urban context." Projects that exemplify contemporary standards and contain design attributes that one might emulate in a new space design are recognized as Outstanding.  Learning By Design, published in the Spring and Fall of each year, circulates to more than 50,000 leaders and decision makers at all levels of education--from early childhood and elementary schools to career-technical, college, and university-level institutions.  (Taken from original Learning By Design press release by Mark Goodman)

The East-West University Student Life Center is a 165,000 sq.ft., mixed-use urban campus in Chicago’s South Loop. Standing at 17 stories, the campus addition is composed of two main programmatic blocks; 7 stories of academic and administrative program and 10 stories of student housing. The new construction project was undertaken to support the University’s growing student population and expanding academic programs, while addressing the pressures of providing new amenities to stay competitive with their peer institutions.

Click the image below to read the full article:

 

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10.6.2015
Come Visit Holabird & Root Offices During 5th Annual Open House Chicago!

Holabird & Root offices will be open for tours 9am-5pm on October 17th and 18th as an official site for the Chicago Architecture Foundation's Fifth Annual Open House Chicago (OHC). OHC is a free event that takes the public behind the scenes of 200 of the city’s greatest spaces and places. In addition to Holabird & Root offices being open for exploration, visitors are able to stop at several other legacy sites featuring our firm's original and renovated work. Click HERE for more information on our site.

In 2014, 75,000 people from all 50 states and 91 countries participated in the two-day OHC event, for a total of 285,000 site visits. CAF inspires people to discover why design matters. OHC gives residents and visitors access to buildings that tell the stories of Chicago communities and cultures. 

Learn more and explore at http://openhousechicago.org/.

Holabird & Root
Marquette Building
140 South Dearborn Street
Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60603

 

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09.21.2015
ChicagoCAC New Addition Awarded LEED Certification

Holabird & Root is pleased to learn that the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center (CCAC) has achieved LEED Gold certification. Our firm provided the design for the 18,900 sq.ft. addition that was completed in conjunction with the Public Building Commission this past spring.

"LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council (UCGBC) that, according to USGBC, recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. LEED certification is recognized across the globe as the premier mark of achievement in green building.

Buildings that undergo LEED certification are evaluated by a rating system that measures the overall sustainability of the project site, energy and water efficiency, indoor environmental and air quality, and the use of sustainable materials and resources."

Read the full press release here.

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09.16.2015
H&R Wins ALA Silver Award for NU Law School Atrium Addition

Holabird & Root's recent design of the Northwestern University School of Law Atrium Addition has been named a Silver Award Winner by the Association of Licensed Architects through their 2015 Design Awards Program. Our firm is honored to have won this esteemed award and we are indebted to Northwestern University Law School for thier continued partnership.

Founded in 1859, Northwestern University School of Law advances the understanding of law and produces graduates prepared to excel in a rapidly changing world. Northwestern Law uniquely blends a rigorous intellectual environment with a collegial and supportive community. Holabird & Root has continued its long-standing relationship with this prestigious Chicago School of Law by most recently being given the opportunity to provide programming and an addition and renovation to its atrium, which was completed this past spring.  The three-story atrium addition boasts a new two-story space adjacent to the expanded café, utilized as multi-purpose space for student study, events, and collaboration. New state-of-the art flip classrooms and student study areas are both open and private to foster interaction among law students. The area of new construction was 4,941-s.f., with additional renovation of 15,600-s.f. to existing adjacent floors and a mechanical penthouse. The program includes a revamped café that solves the circulation, queuing, and storage capacity problems of the existing arrangement, and lounge seating area with direct access to a new outdoor terrace, new classroom space, shared student study rooms, and open study tables with lounge seating. The renovated spaces included a faculty office suite, library circulation and reference desk, and additional study space. The double-height seating area occupies a space physically separate from the cafe so the seating can be used for lectures, meetings, and other similar events even when the café is not in operation. The second floor provides a critical connection between the two main existing structures near the south face of the new addition that creates a continuous circulation loop through the campus.  This connection traverses enclosed group study areas and a series of study balconies overlooking the café seating below. The third floor also connects to the existing library and adds group study rooms to the existing program. H&R originally designed the 360,000-s.f. facility, which houses a major addition to the Law School, including its library. 

The 1,000 sf site for the new addition is located between the McCormick Building, a 1950’s Holabird & Root Project, and the Rubloff building which was designed by Holabird & Root in the 1980’s.  The new structure was tied to the Rubloff building’s steel frame, but was designed to float independently from The McCormick building’s limestone-concrete and wood-pile structure despite a new, continuous circulation loop that links the three structures at the second floor.  The floor levels and floor-to-floor heights do not align between Rubloff and McCormick, and so the atrium expansion also needed to navigate these elevation changes.  Finally, The existing, recessed atrium space created a break between the Limestone façade of McCormick and the glass, steel, and granite façade of Rubloff which the new project would infill.  The response was to project the second and third floors of our addition beyond the neighboring facades to maintain the break in plane and to extend a new, granite terrace space and steel canopy from beneath the addition’s projecting façade, which wraps the adjacent Rubloff façade.  While we removed all of the Rubloff façade within the volume of our new addition we were able to maintain and expose the existing limestone wall of McCormick as a feature of the new lounge and classroom spaces.

The new addition is a steel-framed structure with a structurally glazed, triple-pane glass and aluminum curtain wall, and a granite material palette.  The interior space features extensive millwork, felt wallcoverings, carpet, and terrazzo floors.  As part of the project the air handling equipment in the McCormick building penthouse was replaced with new, more efficient equipment which serves not only the new addition, but the surrounding historical structures as well. From the exterior, the new atrium addition extends south toward the street.  This, in-conjunction with the abundant use of glass, provides the Law School with an iconic presence to those passing by the building.  Occupants within the space are provided with panoramic views to nearby Lake Michigan and the city.  With the inclusion of an outdoor terrace directly adjacent to the café, the City of Chicago serves as an extension of the classroom, providing NU Law students with a connection to the lake and everything the City has to offer. The resulting design provided the University with a number of new spaces for modern Law instruction, enhanced the productivity and satisfaction of occupants, further enriched the collaborative atmosphere sought by Law students, and created a new image for the institution.  

Holabird & Root team members on this project include Project Designer Rusty Walker, Project Manager Jan Behounek, Project Architect Cory Kamholz, Project Coordinator Max Hanisch, Principal in Charge Jim Miller, Graphic Designer Hye-Yeon Cho, Senior Interior Designer Andrea Caputo, and Interior Designer Erin Masters, with contractor services provided by Norcon, Inc.

The Association of Licensed Architects (ALA) is an organization open to all architects and professions related to architecture. It represents architects registered or licensed in any state, territory or possession of the United States or foreign country. The ALA Design Awards Program is an annual showcase of the power of design by members. Winners are highlighted in the Winter issue of Licensed Architect magazine. 

Images courtesy of John Steinkamp Photography.

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09.14.2015
H&R Wins ALA Merit Award for Simpson Technologies Design

We are pleased to announce that Holabird & Root's design of the Simpson Technologies office buildout has been selected as a Merit Award Winner by the Association of Licensed Architects through their 2015 Design Awards Program. Our firm is very excited to be nominated for this prestigious award and we are very grateful to the Simpson Group for being an exceptional client and affording the firm this opportunity.

Headquartered in Aurora, Illinois, Simpson Technologies is an international engineering company with offices around the world and they are seen as an innovator in process and control technology for the global foundry and chemical process industries. This past year, Holabird & Root was selected to complete a two-phase remodel of their interior office environment with the goal of creating a space that will help attract and retain young engineering talent and appeal to an audience of international clientele and business partners.

The first phase of contracted renovations consisted of changing the location of the breakroom to the exterior wall, moving the boardroom to be in an interior space, and renovating the lobby. Glass walls were used to bring light into the interior workspace. The desired outcome was also to make an ideal breakroom for people to enjoy, and it includes a TV with video games, foosball table, lounge and table seating. It’s also a place for all-company meetings. The breakroom is positioned along an outside wall with access to a patio space and views of a pond. In the boardroom, a video conferencing technology was added for easy communications with Simpson's Swiss office. In reception, a timeline of the company was added as well as “vintage” original pieces of equipment that the company makes. The design also opened up the ceiling in these areas to create more of a loft feel.  Materials used included glass, polished concrete, carpeting and wood.  The ceiling in the breakroom features an exposed steel structure with canted acoustical clouds to control noise.  Wood laminate and solid surface millwork define the pantry and bar space while carpeting and custom steel and glass tables define the lounge end of the room. In the boardroom, a perforated wood screen defines the ceiling and the separation between the main meeting area and a galley kitchenette, used for catering setup and beverage service.  The boardroom also features a small-scale lounge area and writable wall surfaces.  Both the boardroom and the breakroom use full height, glazed, demountable partitions that both accelerated the installation schedule and reduced on-site waste.  The mechanical systems in the building are existing and in good working order, so no major changes were made.  The entry lobby features a custom graphic timeline highlighting the history of this family-owned company alongside some of their specialized equipment.  A carpeted area and ceiling cloud define a sitting area while the remainder of the space shows off the building’s exposed structure and polished concrete floor. The entirety of the work completed for the renovation of these spaces in this office buildout took place over a time span of three months, during which employee work continued regularly. This company stayed fully occupied and active during the entirety of the renovation and remodel.

Team members on this project include Senior Interior Designer Andrea Caputo, Architectural Designer Cory Kamholz, Project Coordinator Tara Churchill, and Principal in Charge Jim Miller from Holabird & Root, with construction contract services by Leopardo. 

The Association of Licensed Architects (ALA) is an organization open to all architects and professions related to architecture. It represents architects registered or licensed in any state, territory or possession of the United States or foreign country. The ALA Design Awards Program is an annual showcase of the power of design by members. Winners are highlighted in the Winter issue of Licensed Architect magazine. 

Images courtesy of Noel Davis Photography.

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08.13.2015
Holabird & Root Wraps Work at Denovo Group Corporate Offices

Holabird & Root recently completed the buildout of the new corporate headquarters for the Denovo Group, which now comprises over 20,000 sq. ft. of office space on Wacker Drive.  

The space was formerly occupied by a downtown University and the new design for Denovo transformed the existing layout from a light-deprived series of corridors to an open, contemporary office space that captures views of the Chicago River.  

The design features a new entry lobby and logo wall that establishes Denovo’s identity and brand at the corridor, and welcomes visitors into the new office space.  

The project also includes a mix of large private offices for the managing directors, a series of staff offices, and modular workspace for employees who spend most of their time out of the office.  The design made use of demountable glass partitions to give the project a clean and open look.  Since the partitions were manufactured off site, they also facilitated project phasing and the acceleration of the overall schedule.  The result is an effective use of existing conditions mixed with new elements that provide Denovo with the clean looking, contemporary office they desired.

Senior Interior Designer Andrea Caputo, Project Designer Cory Kamholz, and Interior Designer Erin Patterson served as key team members on this buildout.

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07.23.2015
Holabird & Root Takes on Women Build 2015

On Thursday, July 16, twelve women of Holabird & Root headed out to the neighborhood of West Pullman to participate in the 2015 Windy City Women Build for Habitat for Humanity. Housing problems, from cost burden to unsafe conditions, have a tremendous impact on families’ bottom lines and can trigger poverty and homelessness. Women are particularly vulnerable to poverty across their lifespan. Unequal wages, time-consuming care giving responsibilities, and small retirement cushions all make maintaining decent housing a huge challenge for many female-led households. 41.2% of Illinois female-led households with children and no spouse are in poverty; more than double that of male-headed households with children. At minimum wage, a woman would need to work an impossible 91 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Cook County. Together, we raised over $4500 towards this effort. Thank you for supporting the women of Holabird & Root in our endeavor to provide affordable, safe housing for a female-led family in need. 

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07.15.2015
Northwestern University Produces Atrium Expansion Video

Check out the video Northwestern University produced discussing the impact of Holabird & Root's addition to their Law School; click below:

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07.14.2015
US Builder’s Review Runs Complete Feature on Holabird & Root

Holabird & Root is pleased to be the main feature in this recent issue of US Builder's Review. Click below to read Jeanee Dudley and Linsday Jeffries' take on our 135-year old firm, where they highlight strong capabilities, a growing portfolio, and staying a step ahead!

 

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07.6.2015
Holabird & Root Wins Clinical Performance Center at UIC

Holabird & Root, in association with the S/L/A/M Collaborative, was recently awarded the new Clinical Performance Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Mile Square Health Center. This joint team will provide a state-of-the-art center that will include interactive learning and technology as more effective means to prepare students in technical learning and communicative skills. Holabird & Root will serve as Prime Architect, providing interior design and signage/wayfinding services, while S/L/A/M will serve as Design Architect and provide medical education programming and planning. The project (22,000 GSF) will include architectural build-out and interior finishes, MEP/FP infrastructure, furniture, fixtures, office space, IT, ET, AV, medical and simulation equipment, and departmental wayfinding and room signage. The program for the build-out incorporates inpatient, outpatient, ICU, OR, and standard patient simulation suites, classrooms, and procedural skills labs. The entire build-out and systems are set to be designed to achieve LEED Silver certification. 

The team from Holabird & Root includes Principal in Charge James Baird, Project Manager Dennis Vovos, Project Architect Kevin Boyer, Graphic Designer Hye-Yeon Cho, and Interior Designer Erin Masters. Programming is currently underway and construction is set to start in October 2016.

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06.26.2015
Holabird & Root Completes Lobby Design at 205 W. Wacker

The newly redesigned lobby at 205 W. Wacker is complete and open. Ameritus purchased the building in July of 2013 and subsequently hired Holabird & Root as the prime designer to provide corridor upgrades, space planning, tenant buildouts, and to complete the lobby redesign. There are currently several ongoing buildouts to office spaces throughout the building for which Holabird & Root's interiors team is providing prime design services, including the offices for the Chicago branding agency Soulsight, specialty finance company Omnisure, and the boutique public relationtions agency Henson Consulting. The lobby was designed by Associate and Project Designer Cory Kamholz, with furniture and finishes provided by Lead Interior Designer and Associate Andrea Caputo, and Cindy Schneider served as Project Architect.

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06.24.2015
H&R Wins Law School Master Plan at NU

Holabird & Root was recently awarded the Law School Campus Master Plan project at Northwestern University.  The firm has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the prestigious Big Ten School for several years and is currently wrapping up construction of the new Rubloff Atrium Addition. Also currently underway is H&R's renovation and redesign of the 16th floor of Abbott Hall for Northwestern Academy. The Law School Campus Master Plan project will include developing a Master Plan for the Law Library, a Master Plan for the School of Law Administrative and Support Functions, a comprehensive program for each, and creating a range of design scenarios for the School of Law Complex.  Team members for this design will include Principal James Baird, Project Manager Jan Behounek, Project Designer Rusty Walker, and Project Coordinator Max Hanisch.

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06.18.2015
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center Celebrates Grand Opening

Team members of Holabird & Root Celebrated on Thursday joining the staff and leadership of the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center in their ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of their new addition.

H&R was commissioned to design and develop onto the existing facility. Finished and occupied in the spring of this year, the two-story addition is approximately 18,900 S.F., almost doubling the size of the existing facility. Holabird & Root worked closely with the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center to plan the facility in a way that would enhance its daily operations and reflect its mission and values, while most efficiently utilizing space for the organization’s functions. 

Featured in these images are Holabird & Root Team members, Designer Rusty Walker (left image), Project Manager Jan Behounek (center), and Project Architect Camille Yu (left). Other key team members on this project included Principal in Charge Jim Miller and Structural Engineer Tom Harrison. 

The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center is an innovative facility that co-houses all the City and State agencies that investigate allegations of sexual abuse of children and a not-for-profit agency that provides social services to the child victims and their families. 

More Information about the Chicago CAC organization can be found here: http://www.chicagocac.org/

 

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06.18.2015
HolaBirds are Hawks at Heart!

The entire Holabird & Root team gathered today to view the parade of the Stanley Cup, in celebration of our 2015 Champion Blackhawks! With a great view to Monroe from our largest corner conference room, the team took a moment to view the festivities and show our Blackhawks pride and support. We are proud of to be a part of the continuing legacy of this incredible city and proud of the teams that fight hard to represent it. GO BLACKHAWKS!

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06.4.2015
Holabird & Root Wins Contract for Pace West Division

In continuing our upstanding relationship with Pace Suburban Bus Service, Holabird & Root was recently contracted for the Mid-Life Improvements project for the Pace West Division facility. 

Pace envisions a three-phase process:  Phase I (Part A) will consist of pre-design services, phase II (Part B) will see to the design implementation of improvements, while phase III (Part C) will see the construction of the design. 

The West Division facility is a vehicular storage/maintenance facility, with bus storage and maintainance services, and an attached office structure situated on a single parcel.  Over its lifetime thus far, the building has been cared for as funds have become available.  Phase I of this project is in response to the need for a site investigation within the project scope laid out by Pace. Phase II will consist of the redesign of the office layout and any necessary programmatic changes to the facility before heading into construction of the resulting design. The goal is to have a plan to preserve and extend the longevity of the building. We will work interactively with representatives of Pace to identify the most cost-effective options for the future of the building.  

For this project, Holabird & Root will provide architecture, structural engineering, and interior design services. H&R team members include Greg Cook, Greg Marinelli, Anne Strane, Tom Harrison, and Erin Masters. 

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05.20.2015
North Central College Breaks Ground on New Science Facility

North Central College recently broke ground on its new Science Center. Designed by Holabird & Root, this new facility will include a variety of classrooms, laboratories, student gathering spaces, and much more to support modern science instruction. We are thrilled to be a part of this exciting project and North Central's bright future! READ MORE

Take a trip through the new Science Center on a Virtual Fly-Through

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05.13.2015
Camille Yu and Matt Blewitt Become H&R’s Newest Project Architects

Holabird & Root is pleased to announce the promotion of Camille Yu, RA, and Matt Blewitt, RA, each to the role of Project Architect. 

Camille Yu, RA, has been with Holabird & Root since 2010. Camille’s background in engineering has been the foundation for her architectural career and given her an appreciation for the symbiotic combination of science and design. She has a strong interest in advanced building technologies, whether it be sustainability, structural systems, or interactive technologies. She holds a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and a Master of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Camille has served such clients as Elmhurst College, Harper College, the Chicago Housing Authority and the Public Building Commission. 

Matt Blewitt, RA, has been with Holabird & Root for the past 7 years and has served as the head of the Holabird & Root BIM Committee since 2012. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science as well as a Master of Science (Research) in Biomedical Engineering from Saint Louis University, in addition to a Master of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology. This background has made Matt indispensible in serving clients such as Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, North Central College, City Colleges of Chicago, and the University of Chicago, in all their science and laboratory needs. 

Congratulations Matt and Camille!

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05.13.2015
Holabird & Root Promotes Senior Talent

Holabird & Root is pleased to announce the promotion of three of our most accomplished Project Architects: Greg Grunloh, AIA, Brett Gawronski, RA, and Tom Lassin, RA, have been promoted to Senior Project Architects.

Greg Grunloh,AIA, has been with Holabird & Root since 1995 and he is the director of Holabird & Root’s Professional Development committee, created to mentor and assist younger architects in the firm to become licensed. His long client record includes such highlights as the University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Cornell College. He is currently working on the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Complex in Effingham, Illinois. Greg is an Associate of the firm.

Brett Gawronski, RA, also an Associate, joined Holabird & Root 9 years ago and has been an asset to the company in serving several Chicago-based and municipal clients such as the Chicago Housing Authority, Pullman Wheelworks for Mercy Housing, and Waubonsee Community College. Brett holds a Bachelor and a Master of Architecture from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Tom Lassin, RA, joined Holabird & Root in 2005, and he is an expert in renovation projects. Tom has served such projects as the renovation of the J&J Arnaco Monroe Building, the Marquette Building renovation and restoration, and several various renovations projects for the Chicago Housing Authority. Tom lends his over 40 years of expertise to the many varied and complex projects the firm undertakes and he is relied upon in the office as a learned and knowledgeable member.

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05.11.2015
Jon Howard, AIA, Named Newest Associate at Holabird & Root

A big congratulations goes out to Jon Howard, AIA, for being named Holabird & Root's newest Associate. 

A talented Project Architect, Jon has worked with clients including Chicago Public Schools, the General Services Administration, the Village of Winnetka, the Chicago Housing Authority and Harper College. A Youth Programs Volunteer for the Chicago Architecture Foundation and a key member of the Holabird & Root technology committee, he holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design from Texas A&M University in addition to a Master of Architecture from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Jon has been an asset to the firm for the past 8 years and we look forward to what he will do in this new prestigious post. 

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02.13.2015
Harper College Building H Reaches Occupied Completion

Recently Holabird & Root has been providing architectural design for the renovation of Buildings D, G and H at Harper College, located in Palatine, IL. Renovations at building H were recently completed this past fall, in time for student occupation at the start of classes. Building H is a career services building consisting of new classrooms, offices, and lab spaces for a variety of vocational programs offered at the college such as welding, refrigeration, and HVAC systems curricula. This building now connects to a roughly 900-space parking garage as well as Building D, providing easy and convenient passage between all three structures. 

The construction of Building D phase I was just completed on schedule this past fall as well. Phase II on this building is slated to start this month. The two-phase project is intended to renovate and add on to the D building. The program includes 2 large lecture halls, multiple classrooms, office spaces and state-of-the-art student gathering spaces - such spaces are reflected in the recently completed buildout of a Starbucks in the building during phase I. 

The project is still on course to acheive LEED Silver certification. 

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02.13.2015
Holabird & Root Commissioned for NU Academy Renovations

Holabird & Root was recently commissioned by Northwestern University to complete renovations for the Northwestern Academy at Abbott Hall.  Located at 710 N. Lakeshore Drive, the entire 16th floor of Abbott Hall, which currently consists of vacant former apartments, will be the new 6,600-g.s.f. home to the NU Academy. Completely funded by the University, this academy is part of the Good Neighbor, Great University initiative to increase successful matriculation in underrepresented students while giving them access to top-tier universities. It is expected that eventually, over 200 high school students will be a part of NW Academy.

The projected program for the renovation includes student lounge areas, large and small classrooms, support spaces for staff, private offices, faculty spaces, and teaming rooms for group work and interviews.  This project is the latest in a series of projects Holabird & Root has partnered with Northwestern University to complete, including the Galter Health Sciences Library Renovation and Expansion, previous Facilities Master Plan/Programming/Buildout of the Law School and Library Addition, and the School of Law Rubloff Building Atrium Addition.

Originally completed in 1940, the 20-story Abbott Hall was designed by James Gamble Rogers.  Project completion for this renovation is set for Spring 2016. Project team members include: Jim Miller, Jan Behounek, Cory Kamholz, Andrea Caputo,  Tom Harrison, Hye-Yeon Cho, and Tom Lassin.

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02.10.2015
Rusty Walker to Speak at Tradeline Space Planning Conference

Rusty Walker, LEED AP, AIA is slated to speak at Tradeline's upcoming Strategic Facility and Space Planning for For Science and Research Conference scheduled for Monday-Tuesday, April 20-21, 2015. His session, STEM Growth Via Strategic Levaraging: Private, Local, and Academic Resources, will cover the topic as follows:

"New models for meeting the demand for highly skilled STEM workers expand beyond academic programs to leverage local and private enterprise resources as well – a strategy that will reshape decisions on campus master planning, space programming and utilization, and infrastructure investments. Russell Walker scopes out the lean development model for the Western Illinois Quad Cities campus, an initiative driven by local community partnership, the John Deere Company, and the university. He sets out new cost efficiency benchmarks, program benefits resulting from community involvement and recruitments for STEM disciplines, and the talent payoff for local industry."

Click here for session times and more conference details: Tradeline Strategic Facility and Space Planning For Science and Research Conference

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02.2.2015
Holabird & Root Wins New Science Facility

Holabird & Root recently landed a new job for The University of Saint Francis on their Wilcox Campus.  The firm has been commissioned for the design and development of a new Science Facility, a reconstruction of St. Albert’s Hall, originally constructed in 1958.  The University of St. Francis is seeking to build an approximate 40,000 SF science building. The facility is meant to be home to the chemistry and physics labs, general classrooms and faculty offices, and possibly the biology program as well. The goal of the project is to successfully provide a student-centered space for the functional needs of the natural and health sciences areas. Holabird & Root team members currently include James Baird, Dennis Vovos, Kevin Boyer, Greg Grunloh, Jon Howard, Andrea Caputo, and Tom Harrison. 

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01.19.2015
EP Group at Holabird & Root Visits the Chicago CAC

The Emerging Professionals Group at Holabird & Root recently visited the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center where Project Coordinator Camille Yu lead the walk-through of the building. The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center is an innovative facility that co-houses all the City and State agencies that investigate allegations of sexual abuse of children and a not-for-profit agency that provides social services to the child victims and their families. They share the common goal of improving the arrest and conviction rate of perpetrators of abuse in a way that minimizes the trauma to the child and family. H&R was commissioned to design and develop onto the existing facility, and construction is currently underway. The two-story addition is approximately 18,900 S.F., almost doubling the size of the existing facility. The project is on track to meet LEED gold certification.

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10.28.2014
Funding Comes in for WIU Quad Cities Phase III

Over the weekend, Governor Pat Quinn announced a $5 million dollar infusion of funds from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program to initiate the design process of Western Illinois University's phase III plans for their Quad Citites Riverfront Campus. This phase will consist of a new 85,000 SF academic building to house the University's STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs consisting of offices, classrooms, general and specialized laboratories, student resource and support spaces. In keeping with the design and build of the first two previous phases, Holabird & Root will design the phase III building, which is projected to be six stories.

For more information:

Quinn announces $5M investment for WIU's next phase

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09.29.2014
Groundbreaking at the Workman Sports and Wellness Center

Holabird & Root team members gathered with the community last Friday, September 19, 2014, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Richard E. Workman Sports and Wellness Center in Effingham, Illinois. The site is a dream long in the making for an 80,000-square-foot sports complex. Construction is set to start on the $14.6 million dollar complex in October and projected to be completed in a 12-14 month timeframe thereafter.  The development of the sports complex for the community of Effingham is a long-time goal coming to fruition after working for its installment for nearly three decades. The facility is planned to include volleyball courts, basketball courts, two pools and an eight-lane lap pool, in addition to a recreational/therapy pool. Further plans include a Get Fit center and plans to house St. Anthony's Wellness Center for physical therapy. Members of the Holabird & Root design team in attendance included Project Architect Greg Grunloh and Project Coordinator, Jamison McBride.

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09.16.2014
Breck School Design Wins 2014 Institutional ALA Design Merit Award

Holabird & Root just received notice of winning the prestigious 2014 Institutional Merit Award from the Association of Licensed Architects for the design and build of Breck School. Founded in 1886, Breck School is an independent, college-preparatory, PreK-12 school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school commissioned Holabird & Root to perform master planning, a redesign of the overall site, renovation and expansion of existing buildings, and construction of new spaces, including playing fields and green spaces. This school is now LEED Silver Certified. The Holabird & Root team responsible for this project consists of Principal Designer James Baird, Project Manager Ernie Wagner, Interior Designer Andrea Caputo and Project Architect Brett Gawronski. 

08.22.2014
Holabird & Root Announces The Passing of Gerald Horn

Holabird & Root is deeply saddened to announce the passing of former Principal Gerald Horn, who died on Saturday, August 9, at the age of 79. Gerald, fondly known as Jerry, was a partner at Holabird & Root from 1988 to 2004. He began his career with the firm back in 1971 as a project designer and moved up through the ranks proving himself to be a competent and worthy leader, while also serving for several years as a studio professor at Illinois Institute of Technology. He was a mentor to many, including recently retired Principal Jeff Case, who attributed the longevity of his career at Holabird & Root to Jerry, saying, “Jerry was my [teacher], he was my ticket, he believed in me.”  Jerry was a prolific designer and mentor to countless young architects, both at IIT and Holabird & Root.

Holabird & Root remembers and honors the memory of one of our most cherished leaders. Jerry was the recipient of several awards throughout his impressive career, including a collection of AIA design awards through the years for landmark projects such as the Great Lakes Naval Training Center Engineman School, Monsanto Environmental Health Laboratory, Illinois Bell Telephone 4A Toll Building (national design award), Hollister Corporate headquarters in Libertyville, and the Hollister Factory Building in Stuarts Draft, Virginia. Jerry moved the firm forward through a collection of other notable projects including the Northwestern University Law School, American Bar Center, the Chicago Historical Society expansion, the Federal Reserve Bank Addition and Renovation, the University of Illinois Digital Computer Building, the City Home Affordable Housing Project, IIT Kent Law School, Nicor Headquarters Building, IBM Credit Union and the impressive Holabird & Root Headquarters with the bridge through the light court, to name just a few. Jerry passed away in his self-designed California home, which also won an AIA distinguished building award.

Current Holabird & Root Managing Principal Greg Cook remembers Jerry fondly, sharing, “Jerry passing affects all of us a lot. As an architect, he was a true artist, all about the pure structure. He was very complex in his designs, he did them all in his head and they always came out beautiful, completely thought out, he was totally independent. Jerry’s abilities were uncanny in his use of space, use of the land, the presence of the building within the site, the structural fluidity and expression of his designs was astounding.”

Jerry is survived by his wife, Caryl, his son, James, his daughters, Jill, Debra and Laura, and eight grandchildren. He is remembered by all the colleagues who loved and respected him at Holabird & Root, in addition to several industry professionals worldwide.

See Also: Chicago architect Gerald Horn dies at 79

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07.25.2014
Holabird & Root Team Members Featured in NU Expansion Video

Holabird & Root team members have been featured in Northwestern University's atrium expansion project video.Holabird & Root has continued its long-standing relationship with Northwestern University Law School by most recently being given the opportunity to provide an addition and renovation to the Rubloff Building Atrium. The three-story jewel-piece atrium addition boasts a new two-story space adjacent to the expanded café to be utilized as multi-purpose space for student study, events, and collaboration. New state-of-the art flip classrooms and student study areas are both open and private to foster interaction among law students.

Holabird & Root originally designed the 360,000-s.f. facility, which houses a major addition to the Law School, including its library. 

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07.14.2014
Holabird & Root Wishes a Farewell to Principal Jeff Case

The last day of June marked the end of an era at the Holabird & Root headquarters. Following a 38-year journey with the company, Principal Jeff Case has taken his retirement. Jeff started with Holabird & Root back in 1976 as an intern architect under the supervision of his mentor and former firm principal, Jerry Horn. Recalling his time learning under Horn, Jeff shared, "Jerry was my professor, he was my ticket, he believed in me. I don’t think I ever had a moment where I really desired to leave. I’ve been very privileged here." Jeff became a partner at Holabird & Root in 1988, serving as a principal for 26 years. Before the company toasted his achievements, Jeff was asked what his advice for young architects would be: "Work as hard as you can. Learn as much as you can. Be ready, willing, and able. Find a mentor. Be observant. Make yourself useful. Ask how you can be more helpful."

Jeff now plans to head to Florida following the sale of his house in Old Town, which was designed by Harry Weese. He says he's looking forward to active days full of golfing, swimming, painting and travel, sharing, "I have a brother out there so there’s family, and I’ve established a presence with an art center already."

Holabird & Root celebrates the many varied contributions Jeff has made to the firm and wishes him a happy and fulfilled journey in the next leg of his adventure.

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05.29.2014
Holabird & Root Pursues Work in Iraq

Holabird & Root has recenty been in exciting negotiations for a project with the Iraqi Ministry of Health through a joint-venture agreement with ZEF Concepts. The future development, Al Qalaa Hospital, is a 200-bed healthcare facility located in Kut.

ZEF Concepts is a Sustainability and Green Technologies consultancy based in the UK.

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05.22.2014
Holabird & Root, Root, Roots for the Cubbies!

The Holabird & Root team descended on Wrigley Field yesterday to support our very own Jim Miller as he threw out the first pitch at the Cubs game against the Yankees at 1:20pm. Miller sported a 1937 throwback Cubs jersey in celebration of the year that Holabird & Root designed the bleachers and hand-operated scoreboard. Incidentally, this pitch took place over the same series marking Derek Jeter's final appearance at the Friendly Confines and the Cubs presented Jeter with a No.2 from the iconic scoreboard.

 

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05.16.2014
Holabird & Root Named As CBC Award Finalist

Holabird & Root was honored as a finalist for the latest Rightpoint Consulting office buildout at the Chicago Building Congress Awards held on Thursday, May 15th. Andrea Caputo and Cory Kamholz both served as project designers for the space and were both in attendance. Rightpoint Consulting is a return client for H&R, after hiring the firm to complete their first office redesign back in 2010.

“The Rightpoint office buildout is the purest example of what we preach to our clients in terms of workplace strategies.” Kamholtz is referring to the freedom to incorporate new solutions that meet the needs of today’s companies. Rightpoint’s many settings reflect the more collaborative, generational style of working necessary throughout so many large-scale projects. The access to natural light is both an energy and health-friendly incorporation. The installation of flexible furniture allows the space to morph into what the team members need: altogether, an environment capable of adapting to its team’s requirements.

Caputo is curretnly working on interior design for Rightpoint's Michigan satellite office, giving that office the same branding and finishes as the Chicago office.

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05.8.2014
Holabird & Root Announces Internal Promotions

Holabird & Root is happy to congratulate Jan Behounek, Noel Davis and Tom Harrison on their recent promotions within the company. H&R is proud to employ such committed and talented team members.

Jan Behounek, AIA, LEED AP, CDT - Jan was recently promoted to Associate Principal for her longstanding tenure with Holabird & Root and the high quality of innovative work she produces on a project by project basis. As one of the company’s Project Managers, Jan is respected for her strong leadership skills and considerable experience in facilitating smooth and successful jobs.

Noel Davis, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C - Noel was recently promoted to Associate in recognition of his dedication and company tenure, he is esteemed as Holabird & Root’s lead Planning Analyst. 

Tom Harrison, SE, PE, AIA, LEED AP - Tom was recently promoted to Associate as Holabird & Root’s lead structural engineer, his 28 years in the industry make him a highly valuable asset to the firm.

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05.1.2014
H&R Celebrates Groundbreaking for The Mills

Holabird & Root has joined forces with Three Corners Development for a new riverfront development, Riverbend Commons, that will transform a parcel of land along the Mississippi River into an economic hub for the Quad Cities area. The 15.5-acre Riverbend Commons site is located near the Western Illinois University Riverfront Campus, where Holabird & Root has another project underway. H&R attended a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, April 23 for the for a student housing portion of the project, known as The Mills. This housing commission is unique in that this development is a private establishment with the city of Moline, not university-owned. The Mills will be open for student housing in August to any area college student. The housing is expected to serve students from WIU, Augustana and Trinity alike. Phase I and II of the Riverbend Commons master plan provides housing solutions for surrounding area students, as well as retail, dining, and recreational options featuring both local and national brands. Phase III is less defined at this time to allow for flexibility in responding to future market needs. Potential components such as educational, financial, and healthcare facilities are proposed to create a holistic experience for the residents of Moline. In attendance at The Mills groundbreaking ceremony from Holabird & Root were Architects Jan Behounek, Anne Strane, and Project Planner Noel Davis. Read more highlights about The Mills here:

The Mills at Riverbend Commons begin to Rise On Riverfront

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04.23.2014
East West University Celebrates New Student Life Center

Hlabird & Root was pleased to be a part of the Grand Opening of the new Student Life Center. In attendance was Principal in Charge-Jeff Case, Project Architect-Greg Grunloh, and Project Coordinator-Jamison McBride. Holabird & Root participated as a sponsor of the even as well. 

Our firm recently completed the design and oversaw the construction of the new Student Life Center.  This design-build project produced a multi-story tower that expresses openness by blending the environs of the site with the academic experience inside the building. High visibility is key in the firm’s design approach to strive for mutual interaction. The “marquee” of the building - a glass column that flows from the 2nd to 17th floor - showcases activities in the vertical student lounge to the city. Instead of presenting itself as an ivory tower, the new Student Life Center at East-West University offers inviting social space to engage the surrounding communities.

By offering an immersive experience of the city, the new Student Life Center turns the surrounding cityscape into an extension of the classroom. The dormitories on the upper floors are designed so that every single room has a view of the city and the lake. Almost all usable spaces in the building have views to the city and lake as well, as a result of the recessed walls and the heavy use of glass panels. With facilities such as a library, student support spaces, computer labs, an auditorium, and athletic center, the Student Life Center creates a holistic educational experience with all the civic and cultural resources downtown Chicago has to offer.

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04.23.2014
Holabird & Root Celebrates Wrigley Field Centennial

Happy Birthday to Wrigley Field! On April 23, 1914, the Friendly Confines hosted its very first game.  The venerated, long-time home of the Chicago Cubs also served as home to the Chicago Bears for 49 years, and is the second oldest ballpark in the nation. Holabird & Root is proud to be a part of the rich history of this Chicago landmark.  In the early summer of 1937, Holabird & Root was approached by Bill Veeck and commissioned to design what would become the highly revered Wrigley Field Bleachers and hand-operated scoreboard, which, still in use today, embodied new magnetic eyelets never before employed in a scoreboard. The bleachers and the iconic scoreboard were both listed among the park's features to receive landmark status in 2004. The 1937 bleachers buildout led to the hallowed ivy that was planted that same year and still graces Wrigley today, as well as the fact that on September 28, 1938, the first full year of the new bleachers wound down with the most famous homer in Cubs history:

“In the bottom of the ninth, player-manager Gabby Hartnett hit a two-out, two-strike, tie-breaking shot into the left-field bleachers to beat Pittsburgh 6-5 and move the Cubs past the Pirates into first place. The ballpark was too dark at the top of the inning for play to continue, but the umpires decided to let the game go one more inning, setting up the heroics that led to a pennant.”-Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune 1987

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04.18.2014
Holabird & Root Wins Excellence Award for Renovation

Holabird & Root congratulates the team that worked on the University of Chicago Midway Studios Renovation for winning the 2014 Preservation Excellence Award in Exterior Rehabilitation from the city of Chicago Department of Planning and Development. This historical renovation took place over 4 years and carries historical significance as the home base of famous sculptor Laredo Taft. The rehabilitation included a complete re-roofing and skylight renovation, exterior restoration and tuck-pointing, a completely reconstructed north entry porch from historic photos, and a new west entry from the Logan Center designed to keep in the same spirit as the historic east entry. Holabird team members included Greg Cook, Greg Grunloh, Jan Behounek, Jamison McBride, and Matt Blewitt.

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04.2.2014
Holabird & Root Breaks Ground at the New Addition to ChicagoCAC

In 1983, Congress declared April to be National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since then, April has been a time to acknowledge the importance of communities working together to prevent child abuse. In conjunction with this observance, Holabird & Root is pleased to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new addition at Chicago Children's Advocacy Center (ChicagoCAC). Together, ChicagoCAC and its partners are the city’s front-line responders to reports of child sexual and physical abuse. ChicagoCAC is the city’s only not-for-profit organization that coordinates the efforts of child protection staff, law enforcement professionals, family advocates, medical experts and mental health clinicians under one roof.

Holabird & Root’s design portrays the concept of the Chicago row house, with the goal of reducing the mass of the two-story addition, creating a dynamic elevation, and respecting the existing architecture. The two-story addition is approximately 18,900 square feet, almost doubling the size of the existing facility.  The space is designed to help children and families feel safe, while also encouraging collaboration among professional teams. Organizationally, the first floor of the addition is dedicated to professional spaces and offices, while the second floor will house the mental health department, training area and lunchroom.  Child- and family-friendly spaces will remain at the heart of the existing building. The project is on track to meet LEED Gold certification.

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01.10.2014
Holabird & Root Announces Passing of Michael Pancost, AIA

It is with great sorrow that Holabird & Root announces the passing of architect Michael Pancost, AIA.

Michael spent over 38 years with Holabird & Root, providing invaluable leadership to our firm.  He contributed to many of Holabird & Root’s landmark projects and, equally important, served as a mentor to many of our young architects throughout the years.  His technical expertise combined with his enthusiasm for the industry made him one of the most respected members of our team.

His passion for architecture and the insight he provided to colleagues will be missed.

 

 

 

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11.25.2013
Holabird & Root Adds Chief Structural Engineer

We're pleased to welcome Tom Harrison, SE, PE, AIA, LEED AP to our team as our new chief structural engineer.  Tom brings over 25 years of industry experience to our firm.  His press release can be viewed here.

 

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11.12.2013
Monroe Building Receives 2013 Merit Award

The Monroe Building was recently awarded a 2013 Merit Award in the category of Renovation by the Association of Licensed Architects (ALA).

Holabird & Root was presented with the award at the ALA’s 2013 Design Awards Banquet held on Friday, November 8, 2013.  A total of 41 winners were presented awards in eight different categories.

Originally designed by Holabird & Roche in 1812, the Monroe Building had aged and faced being converted into a condominium and parking facility prior to restoration.  The renovation of various elements of the Romanesque building resulted in a project that combined the best elements of meticulous restoration with modernization to meet the demands of future tenants.

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10.31.2013
Holabird & Root Commissioned for New Science Center

Holabird & Root was recently awarded the New Science Center project at North Central College of Naperville, Illinois.  Consistently named one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, North Central is proud to have many of its graduates go on to become lifelong contributors to society – often as nationally and internationally recognized doctors, scientists, engineers, and teachers of STEM. This new facility will provide a state-of-the-art home for the sciences that reflects the institution’s standards of excellence.

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10.4.2013
Join Holabird & Root For Open House Chicago 2013

Holabird & Root is pleased to announce it will participate in the Chicago Architectural Foundation's Open House Chicago 2013.

The Foundation's Open House Chicago will take place on October 19 and 20, and offers a free, behind-the-scenes look of 150 of Chicago's architectural gems.  

Participants will be invited to tour Holabird & Root's state-of-the-art design studio, located in the historic Marquette Building, completely free of charge.

For more information regarding the tour, including tour times and individual site listings, please visit the Open House Chicago web site:  http://www.openhousechicago.org/.  

 

 

North elevation final

06.11.2013
Holabird & Root Receives Two CBC Merit Awards

Holabird & Root has been awarded two 2013 Merit Awards by the Chicago Building Congress for the work completed at the Monroe Building and the University of Chicago Reva and David Logan Arts Center for Creative and Performing Arts.

The CBC presented the Monroe Building with a Merit Award for Rehab Construction, while the University of Chicago Reva and David Logan Arts Center for Creative and Performing Arts was endowed a Merit Award for new construction in the City of Chicago. 

The CBC presents Merit Awards recognizing new construction, rehab construction, infrastructure construction, and more.  According to the CBC, awards “honor outstanding projects in greater Chicagoland.”

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06.5.2013
Monroe Building Honored

The Monroe Building recently received a 2013 Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence - Restoration by the City of Chicago.  One of 14 projects acknowledged in May 2013, the award recognizes “extraordinary improvements to designated Chicago landmarks, properties within landmark districts and other projects that embody Chicago’s architectural heritage,” according to the Commission on Chicago Landmarks.

Originally designed by Holabird & Roche in 1812, the Monroe Building had aged and faced being converted into a condominium and parking facility prior to restoration.  The renovation of various elements of the Romanesque building resulted in a project that combined the best elements of meticulous restoration with modernization to meet the demands of future tenants.

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03.25.2013
Q&A with Greg Grunloh

Holabird & Root architect, Greg Grunloh, AIA, sat down with Modern Midwest to discuss renovating Illinois Institute of Technology’s Wishnick Hall, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The project was completed in 2008. Mies Van der Rohe designed Wishnick Hall in 1945 to house the Department of Chemistry and the Polymer Center. The building now houses the Department of Biomedical Engineering; the Department of Math and Science Education; and the Department of Biological, Chemical, and Physical Sciences.

You can find the whole story here: http://modernmidwest.com/people/q-a-with-greg-grunloh-restoring-mies-van-der-rohes-wishnick-hall/3/22/2013

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11.20.2012
Michael Pancost Gets Honorable Mention

Architect Michael Pancost recieved an Honorable Mention for the 2012 Chicago Prize: Future Prentice Competition. The design competition centered around the future of one of Chicago’s most architecturally significant Modern buildings, Bertrand Goldberg’s Prentice Women’s Hospital. 

A link to the competition can be found here: http://chicagoarchitecturalclub.org/Home

Rusty new

10.15.2012
Rusty Walker to Present at East-West University

Rusty Walker, LEED AP, Associate Principal and designer at Holabird & Root will present “The Vertical Quadrangle: The Intersection of Architecture and Education” on Tues. Oct. 16, 2012 at East-West University. The free event is open to the public and begins with a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by the lecture at 7:00 p.m. 

Click here for more information: http://www.eastwest.edu/new/index.php/events-3/news-a-events/225-perspectives-on-architecture-and-education

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10.4.2012
Plano Awarded ALA Design Award

Waubonsee Community College Plano Classroom Building was bestowed a Merit Award, in the Institutional category, of the Association of Licensed Architects’ (ALA) 2012 Design Awards. According to the ALA, the awards are meant “to give professional recognition to excellence in Design by selecting award recipients whose work exhibits the creative and aesthetic characteristics deemed relevant by their peers and associates…”

The Plano Classroom Building is designed to operate as a stand-alone complete campus – extending the mission and experience of the main Sugar Grove, Illinois campus to outlying communities. The building contains classrooms, laboratories, student study areas, and support space. Full-service admissions, testing, and assessment spaces are also provided.

The awards ceremony will be held at Medinah Country Club on Friday, November 9th.

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09.4.2012
WIU Celebrates Phase II Groundbreaking

Last week the groundbreaking for Phase II of Western Illinois University’s Riverfront Campus commenced at the campus' River Drive location in Moline. Governor Pat Quinn was joined by Western Illinois University President Jack Thomas, Moline Mayor Don Welvaert, and several state and community leaders to celebrate the University’s accomplishments in providing outstanding public higher education for Quad Cities-area students.  

At completion of Phase II the Riverfront Campus will support 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It will house general and specialized instructional facilities, faculty and staff office space, centralized student services, and a childcare component. 

You can find more information on Western Illinois University and Phase II here http://www.wiu.edu/news/newsrelease.php?release_id=10044.

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08.27.2012
Monroe Building Bestowed Driehaus Award

The Monroe Building was awarded Landmarks Illinois' Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Project of the Year in the Restoration category. According to the Landmarks Illinois' website, "Landmarks Illinois has been assisted by a generous grant from the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation to honor individuals and organizations whose works demonstrate a commitment to historic preservation. By honoring these individuals, organizations, projects and programs, Landmarks Illinois and the Driehaus Foundation hope to inspire others to take action to preserve, protect and promote historic resources." We are honored to be a part of the team!

For more information on Landmarks Illinois, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundaion Preservation Awards, and the upcoming awards ceremony, please visit  http://www.landmarks.org/awards.htm.

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08.8.2012
Holabird & Root Awarded City Development Project

Holabird & Root, as part of the Three Corners Development team, was selected to design a mixed-use development on 15.5 acres of vacant, riverfront property in the city of Moline, Illinois. The three-phased, $80 million development will provide student and market-rate housing, restaurants, commercial and retail space, and more. An article on the Moline aldermans' decision can be found here: http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=603484

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07.30.2012
Waubonsee Plano Building in DCD Magazine

The Waubonsee Community College Plano Classroom Building was featured in DCD Magazine's July/August addition. The article can be found here:

http://www.dcd.com/current_pub.html

 

Exterior - jill paider

07.1.2012
Monroe Building Featured in Crain’s

The Monroe Buliding was featured in Crain's magazine as final renovations are coming to an end. The building, designed by Holabird & Roche in 1912, had aged and faced being converted into a condominium and parking facility. When the current owners purchased the building, they saw the potential of this architectural gem and committed to a complete renovation and restoration of the building on a scale rarely attempted. You can read the article here: http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120630/ISSUE03/306309992/renovation-of-monroe-building-finally-wrapping-up

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05.10.2012
Holabird & Root Attends Mission to China

Represented by Branyo Dvorak AIA, Holabird & Root was selected to join the delegation for the Green Hospital and Senior Housing Trade Mission to China. The delegation was organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce and led by US Ambassador Gary Locke. The mission included design forum sessions in Xi’an and Beijing along with discussions with local government officials and the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Health, followed by networking events and dinners. Project Manager Joyce Chou and Project Architect Chyanne Husar also accompanied the mission in their travels.

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04.26.2012
Renovation Project Wins Downtown Award

The Monroe Building, built in 1912 by Holabird & Root, recently won the 2011 "Best Historic Renovation" Award from the Friends of Downtown, Chicago, Illinois. You can find out more information about the historic renovation and restoration on the Monroe Building project page.

Tom lassin

02.15.2012
Lassin Speaks at CAF

Project Architect Tom Lassin recently spoke at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. The topic, "Monroe Building Past/Present/Future" is something he's very passionate about. Tom, working with a team of architects, engineers, and preservation experts, has spent several years researching, renovating, and carefully restoring the Monroe Building, located along Chicago's prominent Michigan Avenue. His presentation focused on the history of the building, its construction, and the work that has been done to return the landmark building to its original grandeur.

Brush mary

11.26.2011
Brush Speaks to SIUC Architects

Preservation specialist, Mary Brush, recently spoke at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), Carbondale, Illinois, to the SIUC School of Architecture and the American Institute of Architects Illinois on the topic, "Carbondale, Holabird, & AIA". Brush spoke on her family's influence, architecturally and otherwise, in Carbondale and the surrounding area.

"Over time [my grandfather] sold off the land for houses, became partners with the bank, opened a general store, became a lawyer, ran the town," Brush said. "(He) did everything from start to finish, including founding the teachers's college, which became SIU's..."

An article written by The Daily Egyptian, the college's newspaper, can be found here.

James baird

10.20.2011
James Baird Speaks at SCUP

Design Principal James Baird, FAIA, LEED AP recently presented at the Society of College and University Planning's (SCUP) North Central Regional Conference in Ames, Iowa. His session, "Inclusive Spaces: Designing Science Facilities that Support a Diverse Student Population," analyzed the award-winning Grinnell Science Project, developed to address barriers to success in science for students of color, women, and first-generation college students. Also presenting was Grinnell College's Dr. James Swartz, who discussed the program that the College developed to respond to these barriers. James then explained how these changes were translated into the design of Grinnell's science complex, which has become a national model for science facilities.

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10.3.2011
Kenmore Apartments Receives ASID Award

Holabird & Root received a 2011 American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Design Excellence Award in Residential Green Design with the Chicago Housing Authority's Kenmore Senior Housing Apartments project.

Located in the City's Uptown community, the once vacant and graffiti-covered Kenmore Senior Apartments was modernized by Holabird & Root. The 90,000-s.f., 8-story building underwent a complete gut rehab to improve circulation paths and accessibility and create 100 new single bedroom apartments. It features such green elements as energy efficient mechanical and lighting systems, landscaping that helps manage storm water in an inviting, scenic courtyard, large windows to increase natural lighting and air circulation and a green roof.

Kenmore

10.1.2011
Kenmore Apartments Certified LEED Platinum

The Chicago Housing Authority's (CHA) Kenmore Senior Housing Apartments received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum Certification rating, the highest possible rating in LEED certification. Kenmore's Platinum status is a first in Chicago's public housing history.

Located in the City's Uptown community, the once vacant and graffiti-covered Kenmore Senior Apartments was modernized by Holabird & Root. The 90,000-s.f., 8-story building underwent a complete gut rehab to improve circulation paths and accessibility and create 100 new single bedroom apartments. It features such green elements as energy efficient mechanical and lighting systems, landscaping that helps manage storm water in an inviting, scenic courtyard, large windows to increase natural lighting and air circulation and a green roof.

James baird

09.10.2011
James Baird Speaks at Tradelines

Design Principal James Baird, FAIA, LEED AP recently presented at the Tradelines 23rd Annual College & University Science Facilities Conference. In the presentation, "Fostering Interdisciplinary Science in Undergraduate Education," James, along with Beloit College's Kohnstamm Professor of Chemistry and Project Director, Dr. Brock Spencer, discussed how the formal disciplines of science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) should no longer be viewed as separate trees of knowledge that grow independently of one another. The real breakthroughs in science are taking place at the intersections of these disciplines. These intersections not only occur in the branches, but also at the very roots of inquiry and students engaged in scientific investigation should be exposed to these roots at an early stage in their education. Beloit College's new Center for the Sciences illustrates how such a facility can be planned and designed to support this kind of interdisciplinary, inquiry-based learning at the undergraduate level.

James baird

08.22.2011
James Baird Presents at SCUP

Design Principal James Baird, FAIA, LEED AP recently presented at the Society of College and University Planning's (SCUP) Poster Forum in National Harbor, Maryland. The new forum provided additional opportunities for learning at the SCUP Conference. On his poster, James compared the renovation and addition of Grinnell College's Noyce Science Center to the new Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences at St. Olaf College. This information is especially helpful to college and university planners that face the tough decision of deciding whether to renovate an existing facility or build a new building when their current space no longer meets their needs.

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06.28.2011
Dremmer Elected to Housing Board

Director of Interior Design Michele Dremmer, LEED AP was recently elected to the National Public Housing Museum Board of Directors. The National Public Housing Museum is dedicated to illustrating the history of public housing in America as well as the poor and working class families of every race and culture who resided within their walls.

For more information on the National Public Housing Museum, please visit their website.

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06.5.2011
Holabird & Root Projects Featured on 190 North

Several Holabird & Root projects were recently featured in a segment of 190 North's June 5th episode. The Chicago Cultural Center and the Marquette Building were depicted for their landmark Luis Comfort Tiffany artistic, glass domes and mosaics. Holabird & Root was responsible for the recent restoration of the Chicago Cultural Center's Tiffany Dome. It is the largest dome by Tiffany in the world covering more than 1,000 square feet. The Marquette Building is one of Holabird & Root's earliest buildings, and is known as one of the first, modern skyscrapers of the world. The lobby displays the legacy of Pere Marquette through a vibrant series of pictures that are highly unique for a glass mosaic.

Brush mary

05.26.2011
Brush honored in i4design’s Suite Sixteen

Mary Brush was included in i4design Magazine's 5th Annual Suite Sixteen. The "Suite 16" honors the Midwest's most innovative design experts in the architecture and interior design community.

Named as the "Preservationist" in the Class of 2011, Mary Brush was recognized for her ability to restore and preserve historic architecture. "Preservation is the management of change," said Mary Brush. "We don't want to just look backward and turn a building into a museum piece."

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03.28.2011
Plano Classroom Featured on Archdaily.com

The Waubonsee Community College Plano Classroom was recently featured on the blog, Archdaily.com. The article can be found here:

Click here to read the article.

The building is designed as a stand-alone satellite campus, augmenting Waubonsee Community College's main campus located in Sugar Grove, Illinois. The facility consists of approximately 33,000 g.s.f. of space spread over two stories.

The building contains classrooms, laboratories, student study areas, and support space. Full-service admissions, testing, and assessment spaces are also provided. The building is strategically placed to take advantage of access and views to Lake Plano while maximizing the remainder of the site for student parking.

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03.28.2011
Government Childcare Center Awarded LEED

The General Services Administration's (GSA) new Childcare Center at an existing Department of State training campus was recently awarded Silver Level certification, as quantified by the United States Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. The project, which also included a new Training Center addition, was awarded to Holabird & Root, for architectural services, and Wiley & Wilson, for engineering and general contractor services, through the GSA's Design Excellence Program.

The childcare center project enlarged an existing "temporary" two-classroom facility to twice the square footage, allowing the program to support the growing number of parents at the facility. The LEED Silver building takes advantage of the surrounding natural environment and provides a strong connection between the interior and exterior spaces. It provides light-filled classrooms with access to the outdoors while respecting the requirements of Diplomatic Security and controlled access. A variety of play spaces are provided to support year-round gross motor opportunities. Within the building a central multipurpose room can be used for group gatherings and play in inclement water. Covered porches on both sides of the building provide shaded space during sunny days and protection from the rain.

Following the GSA's Childcare Center Design Guide and National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) standards, Holabird & Root designed a model center that is intended to exhibit the GSA's commitment to best practices in childcare for all its facilities.

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03.27.2011
Center for the Sciences Awarded

Klobucar Construction and J.H. Findorff and Sons were recently awarded the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin's Environmental Excellence Award for their work at Beloit College's Center for the Sciences. Both served as contractors for the LEED-Platinum Certified building. A press release on Beloit's website can be found here:

Click here to read the article.

This is not the first time the Holabird & Root-designed Center for Sciences has received accolades. In 2009, the building and Holabird & Root received the Design Excellence Honor Award in Interior Architecture from the American Institute of Architects (Chicago chapter). Last spring, Wisconsin Builder magazine also named the Center for the Sciences one of the state of Wisconsin's top 2009 projects.

James baird

02.21.2011
Principal Presents at Tradeline Conference

Holabird & Root Principal James Baird was invited to develop a presentation for Tradeline, a leader in providing information to corporate, institutional, and government professionals for the planning, design, construction, and management of facility assets. Baird, along with Dr. James Swartz, Dack Professor of Chemistry at Grinnell College, and Dr. David Van Wylen, Professor of Biology at St. Olaf College, created a webinar entitled "Renovate or build new: decision-making rationales behind two strategies to grow science programs." The webcast creates comparisons between Grinnell College's phased renovation and addition of their Noyce Science Center and St. Olaf College's new Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and the impact each institutions choice has had on funding, costs, recruitment, and retention.

Click here to watch the webinar.

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01.27.2011
Grinnell Awarded White House Honor

The Grinnell Science Project (GSP) has been honored with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring, administered by the National Science Foundation. The award recognizes GSP's efforts to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who earn degrees in the sciences.

Click here to read the article.

One of the science buildings participating in the Grinnell Science Project is the Robert N. Noyce '49 Science Center - an academic building recently transformed by Holabird & Root. The two-phased renovation and addition to the Noyce Science Center also received LEED Silver certification, The American Library Association Excellence in Academic Libraries Award for 2011, and an Association of Licensed Architects Design Award of Excellence.

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01.17.2011
Grinnell College honored by ALA

The American Library Association (ALA) has recently recognized the Grinnell College Libraries with the Excellence in Academic Libraries Award for 2011. A press release on Grinnell's website can be found here:

Click here to read the article.

One of the libraries being honored, Kistle Science Library, is located in the Robert N. Noyce '49 Science Center - an academic building recently transformed by Holabird & Root. The two-phased renovation and addition to the Noyce Science Center also received LEED Silver certification and an Association of Licensed Architects Design Award of Excellence.

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01.6.2011
Domes Featured in Huffington Post

The Chicago Cultural Center domes were recently mentioned in a photo article entitled, "18 Beautiful Ceilings Around the World" on the Huffington Post website.

Click here to read the article.

Holabird & Root is currently restoring two of these domes to the highest conservation standards. The first dome, which was completed in July 2008, is a Louis Comfort Tiffany art glass dome in Preston Bradley Hall and is the largest dome by Tiffany in the world. The Cultural Center's other stained glass dome, the Healy and Millet dome, in the G.A.R. Rotunda, is tentatively scheduled for restoration next year.

01.3.2011
Firm Raises Money for School

The true meaning of the season was apparent at Holabird & Root's annual office holiday party. Members of the firm donated artwork that they or their family members made. Entries included ceramics, knitwear, hand-sewn clothing, jewelry, paintings, drawings and photography. Then, a silent art auction was held so employee could bid on each other's work.

The event raised $1,500 for the Soaring Eagle Academy, a new non-profit school for students age five through adolescence diagnosed with Autism and related disorders located in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Their breakthrough approach, incorporating the DIR./Floortime Model and intensive sensory motor therapy, is making a significant contribution to the lives of the students and the families they serve.

Holabird & Root has supported Soaring Eagle through pro-bono design and planning services since the fall of 2007 and congratulates SEA on the opening of their facility in the fall of 2010. This project is an example of Holabird & Root's interest in promoting design as an active part of specialized learning environments.

Holabird & Root is a Chicago architecture, engineering, and interior design firm. Since its founding in 1880, Holabird & Root has been recognized for its history of translating complex challenges into thoughtful solutions for clients in the academic, government, cultural and civic, and corporate markets. This year, Holabird & Root celebrate 130 years of professional service, innovative design, advanced technology, and collaboration.

09.12.2010
Wellness Center Highlighted in News Story

ABC 6 News highlighted Winona State University's new Integrated Wellness Center in anticipation of its dedication ceremony to be held on Friday, September 17, 2010. The new building is one of the first of its kind in the nation to truly integrate the six dimensions of wellness - intellectual, social, emotional, physical, occupational, and spiritual - in both the building's program and its operations. The building has an indoor fitness track, cardiovascular fitness and strength-training facilities, gymnasiums, aerobics classrooms, a health services clinic, a counseling center, a health education and resource center, experiential learning labs and classrooms, and faculty and administrative offices.

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06.9.2010
Holabird Involved in Four LEED Platinum

Holabird & Root has now been a part of the design team for four LEED Platinum certified higher education facilities. The firm provided architecture and engineering for the LEED Platinum science facilities at St. Olaf and Beloit colleges. The firm also provided MEP engineering services for Iowa State University's College of Design Pavilion Addition and Central College's Education and Psychology Building. Holabird & Root continues to advance sustainability and is currently designing several projects that are expected to achieve LEED certification.

Brush mary

06.8.2010
Brush Article Published

Mary Brush, Holabird & Root's historic preservation specialist, has shared her knowledge in the Association for Preservation Technology's (APT) Bulletin. In the article, Mary shares how she used the dry-ice technique to remove spray paint from the Time Life Building fac'ade, a job she completed prior to joining Holabird & Root.

03.28.2010
Third LEED Platinum for Holabird & Root

The 23,735-g.s.f King Pavilion addition to the Iowa State University College of Design building was recently awarded LEED Platinum certification, the highest certification possible by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is also the first higher education building in Iowa to achieve LEED Platinum status. Holabird & Root provided the MEP engineering for the facility, which was designed by RDG Planning & Design.

The King Pavilion is one of only eight LEED-NC Platinum buildings in higher education at public institutions in the United States. This is the third LEED Platinum certification for Holabird & Root; Beloit College's Center for Sciences and St. Olaf's Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences were also awarded LEED Platinum certification.

03.18.2010
Regents Hall Receives Masonry Award

St. Olaf College's Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences was recognized by the Minnesota Concrete and Masonry Contractors Association (MC&MCA) with a 2010 Honor Award for Excellence in Masonry Design and Construction. Through the awards program, the MC&MCA honors works of distinction and brings public attention to outstanding buildings and projects constructed of masonry and concrete materials.

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03.17.2010
Dremmer Returns As Director Of Interiors

Holabird & Root is pleased to announce the return of Michele Dremmer to the Interior Design Department. After three and a half years away spent working at Perkins Eastman; Gary Lee; and Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Michele returns to Holabird & Root where she worked from 1999 to 2006.

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02.17.2010
Beloit Awarded Top Projects

Wisconsin Builder magazine recently named Beloit College's Center for Sciences as one of the Top Projects of 2009. This award is in honor of those in the industry-generals, subcontractors, architects, engineers and owners-whose projects met and exceeded expectations in the year prior. This is the second award for the Center for Sciences. The LEED Platinum facility was also recognized by the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as part of their Design Excellence awards program. The Beloit College Center for Sciences will be featured in the May 2010 issue of the Wisconsin Builder magazine.

01.31.2010
Segal Article Published in Collage

The Community Playthings e-magazine Collage features an article coauthored by Holabird & Root's Early Childhood Design Specialist, Maria Segal. Maria and coauthor Amy Freshwater, a University of Missouri Early Childhood Professor, were asked to contribute a piece focusing on brain development. Their article discusses how the classroom environment affects brain development in infants and toddlers.

Click here to read the article.

12.1.2009
Holabird & Root Participates in International Design Competition

Lappset Group, a well-known producer and developer of playgrounds, organized an international design competition that challenged designers to create "new, inspiring, and out-of-the-box ideas for future playgrounds." Inspired by the challenge and the design opportunities, a group of Holabird & Root designers met with children, parents, and educators to discuss the ideal playground. Led by Holabird & Root's Early Education Design Specialist Maria Segal, the group focused on imagining new possibilities for playground equipment.

Click here to view our submission.

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11.19.2009
Cultural Center Dome Restoration Honored

The City of Chicago, Department of General Services received the Chicago Architecture Foundation's prestigious Patron of the Year award in the governmental category. This award recognizes the role of clients in architecture, or its patrons: those who commission, develop, and finance Chicago's distinguished architecture. The Preston Bradley Hall Dome was restored by Holabird & Root and represents another successful collaboration between the City of Chicago and Holabird & Root.

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11.17.2009
Regents Hall Receives Platinum

St. Olaf College's Regents Hall of Natural and Mathematical Sciences achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification. At nearly 200,000 square feet, Regents Hall is the largest and most complex academic facility to earn the U.S. Green Building Councils Platinum rating.

Holabird & Root's design of Regents Hall incorporates several key strategies including a green roof which helps reduce the building's heating and cooling load and minimizes its heat signature. The green roof absorbs stormwater that runs off Regents Hall, filters carbon dioxide out of the air, and filters pollutants out of rainwater.

Interior and exterior materials were selected for their sustainability and maintainability, as well as their reuse content and their proximity to the site. Abundant natural light reduces the need for artificial light in the public and perimeter spaces.

Regents Hall is also the first major science facility designed with an emphasis on green chemistry, which uses water-based and nontoxic chemicals and reduces the amount of fume hoods needed. Because of the innovative strategies employed throughout the facility, Regents Hall saves enough energy each year to power 250 homes annually.

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11.7.2009
Center for Sciences LEEDs with Platinum

Beloit College's Center for the Sciences achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council. Holabird & Root and Beloit College closely collaborated throughout the design process to incorporate innovative, sustainable features throughout the facility.

The landscaping surrounding the facility is composed of plant species native to the area. A rain garden that consists of specially selected wetland plants forms a swale through which rainwater runoff from the area around the science facility is filtered and absorbed.

One third of the roof is a living, vegetated garden that provides added insulation to keep the facility cool during the summer and warm during the winter. A large concrete rainwater cistern collects and stores rainwater runoff from the science center roof, which is then used to water plants located in the greenhouse, reducing the need to pump, treat, and consume municipal water supplies.

The facility was designed to maximize the amount of time air spends in the building while still maintaining high quality indoor air. Air that enters a lab must be exhausted from the building for safety reasons, so the design first routes air through classrooms, hallways and study areas, then enters the labs at the end of its journey.

LEED certification serves as a national benchmark for environmentally sustainable construction by measuring the performance of a building in six critical areas: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process.

Dome after

11.5.2009
AIA Illinois Honors Dome Restoration

On November 5, 2009 the AIA Illinois Chapter recognized the restoration of the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall Tiffany glass dome. The project received the Crombie Taylor Award, which recognizes a project that, through preservation and restoration, has enhanced the natural and built environment of a community.

The project was the culmination of 3 years of research, study, and construction by 80 architects, restoration specialists, and artisans. The restoration of the Tiffany dome reintroduced natural light into the space and created the opportunity to celebrate public culture within an urban center.