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The city of Waukegan is a diverse community undergoing a shift from an industrial economy to a service economy.
The town needed a new city hall in part because the mayor's office and council chambers had previously been housed in a building that also served as the police headquarters, said Vojo Narancic, architect with Waukegan-based Legat Architects Inc.
The designers of the $12 million, 61,200-sq.-ft. city hall faced a key challenge: They were to create a landmark structure that showed the progressive spirit of Waukegan.
High Design Concepts
Several concepts that reflect important values were integrated into the design.
For instance, a limestone "envelope" surrounds the building's main body - a glass and brick rectangular bar - to act as a welcoming gesture, Narancic said.
The triangle, an ancient symbol, was selected for the envelope's street-facing shape to symbolize energy and strength.
Materials were used to create a vivid impression. The strength of the limestone envelope forms a contrast with the enwrapped council chambers, which are enclosed in glass.
The glass helps convey a sense of transparency in city proceedings, Narancic said. And the effect is furthered because the chambers are off the ground and appear like a drawer being pulled from the building.
A plaza is between city hall and the police station, and the hope is that it will become a space popular for socializing and community events.
In front of the building, sculptural shapes create additional flair, including more than 20 concrete balls, or bollards, fronting the main entrance of the building on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The balls provide a barrier between the structure and the street but without becoming forbidding.
The jury said, "It is something different. When you think of a city hall, you think of a massive building. This is a much more open space. They incorporated the envelope, which is a very distinctive feature."
Key Players
Owner:
City of Waukegan
General Contractor:
Pickus Construction Co., Waukegan
Architect:
Legat Architects Inc., Waukegan
Structural Consultant:
Larson Engineering of Illinois, Naperville
Civil Consultant:
McClure Engineering Associates Inc., Waukegan
MEP/FF Consultant:
Globetrotters Engineering Corp., Chicago
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