Cultural and Municipal Building Projects Make Their Marks in the Midwest

Each will enrich or help protect lives

Cultural, civic, and municipal construction projects bring us buildings that house the libraries, theaters, museums and sporting facilities that add richness to a community’s life. They also build the city halls, courthouses, and police stations that help a city function and protect its citizens. Here are five such projects now under construction.

By Ileana Ionescu

Often sources of civic pride, cultural and municipal construction projects can help enrich the lives of a region’s population by enabling people to gather and enjoy all forms of the arts. Other kinds of municipal construction, such as law-enforcement facilities, can help people live more safely by increasing the morale and efficiency of the police departments that protect them. Either way, cultural and municipal facilities offer designers and contractors the opportunity to participate in projects that will long remain memorable showcases in the public’s focus.

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Here are a few of the memorable current cultural and municipal construction projects going on in Midwest Construction’s circulation area.

New Police Headquarters in Aurora, Ill. Slated to be one of the largest and greenest in the United States, the grand, 400,000-sq-ft complex is as impressive in size as it is in unique building partnerships. The combined efforts of Leopardo Construction Inc., Phoenix architectural firm McClaren, Wilson and Lawrie, Inc. and the city of Aurora, Ill. delivered this brick-and-drywall monument to justice to the formerly-disenchanted Aurora Police Department.

The city’s existing outdated facility and inadequate parking had left the force with low morale, says Commander Joseph Groom. But these new state-of-the-art buildings are just the remedy Groom and his fleet need; “We’ve had half of the department here on tours, and they are absolutely thrilled. Nobody can wait for the day we move in here.”

The complex, located off Farnsworth Ave. just a few blocks off I-88, is made up of the headquarters, a 911 emergency call center, training and support building that include amenities such as a firearms range and a forensics lab, and a 500-car parking garage. Aesthetically, the structure combines modern design elements, such large windows to allow in lots of light, and one-way glass stairwells located on either side of the building for a new take on privacy. The brick exterior, complete with gargoyle-style carvings, also complements the older style of buildings in Aurora.

Principal architect James Lewis McClaren explains that designing a headquarters that spans four counties brought up various construction and special issues, but these costs are nothing compared to the amount saved by creating one large facility and eliminating the demand for others.

Construction is under way for the $43-million, 81,000-sq-ft addition to the Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, Wis. The addition is scheduled for completion in 2011. (Photo courtesy of J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.)

One major consideration in the design was minimizing ecological impact. The city of Aurora decided that green certification should be integral to the construction process. Some of the environmentally-friendly elements of the LEED Gold-seeking building are: permeable pavers designed to absorb storm water runoff; the use of recycled product in the ceiling, drywall, countertops, and other building products; the recycling of at least 75% of construction waste; and choosing finishes that can be washed with soap and water rather than harmful chemicals.

The department’s around-the-clock work schedule was another consideration in the design. The headquarters uses a rubber-based floor covering instead of carpeting, which would require near-constant replacement.

Not only is the building among the greenest police stations in the nation, it is also among the largest projects of its kind going on right now. The headquarters is currently the largest civic building under construction in Illinois and also the largest full-service municipal police headquarters under construction in the U.S., according to Mike Behm, vice president at Leopardo.

The price tag on the complex, McClaren notes, has remained relatively close to the project’s goal of $91 million, even during a time when concrete and steel prices are “going through the roof.”

All involved agree that teamwork was the key to design success. “We’re a workable team,” says Barbara Kattermann, project manager at the city of Aurora. “Everybody has come to become a part of the project. There was benefit to it.”

“Recyclable” Pavilions in Chicago’s Millennium Park Honor Burnham’s Plan In mid July, Millennium Park revealed two temporary structures in honor of the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham’s Plan of Chicago.

A temporary structure by Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was selected in a worldwide competition to stand from July to October in Chicago’s Millennium Park to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Daniel Burnham’s Plan of Chicago. (Photo courtesy of Ben Dickman)

This structural spirit of looking forward will be a three-month long reminder of Chicago’s efforts to create regional solutions for issues existing in a metropolitan area. The goal is to gain public commitments to create a plan for metropolitan land use and transportation, expand public access to Lake Michigan, double public transit ridership, conserve natural open spaces, and connect the hundreds of miles of trails that span across three states, according to the Burnham Plan Centennial Committee.

The structures resulted from a world-wide competition to create a design that encompasses Chicago’s idea of the future, mixed with the spirit of Burnham’s “bold plans.” Ben van Berkel of Amsterdam-based UNStudio and London’s Zaha Hadid were the architects selected to create these recyclable installations.

The unique structural angles of Berkel’s curvilinear design offer an alternative glimpse into the city’s skyline. Hadid’s installation complements Berkel’s off-white, simplistic roof-style, with a spherical structure enhanced by gill-like cuts.

The pavilions were built of recycled steel and aluminum donated by local companies ArcelorMittal and Marmon/Keystone Corp. The UNStudio pavilion was assembled by Third Coast Construction, a local leader in green contracting. The Hadid pavilion’s tensioned-fabric construction came from TenFab Design.

Both structures will be removed in October 2009. The UNStudio pavilion will be de-constructed and the Hadid installation will move to another location.

University of Wisconsin Enriches and Expands Chazen Museum of Art J.H. Findorff and Son, Inc. is currently embarking on a $43-million project to create a more “open and inviting space” for patrons and collections of the Chazen Museum.

Built with funding from the university and private donations, the addition will achieve a new take on modern design. Architectural firms Machado and Silvetti Associates and Continuum Architects + Planners created the 81,000-sq-ft addition, almost doubling existing gallery space for the permanent and temporary collections.

The expanded museum, for which ground was broken in early May, will be centrally located on the campus and designed to be an open public space. Structural amenities include an outdoor plaza, glass-walled main lobby and a third-floor gallery plan that includes a scenic exterior bridge. New classrooms, art storage, a 160-seat auditorium for lectures and films, and a larger museum shop are also planned.

The museum is scheduled to open in fall 2011.

History and Modernity Meet in Winona, Minn.’s New Facility Across the street from Winona’s current Historical Society building, Hammel Green and Abrahamson, Inc. Architects and Engineers (HGA) created a design that conveys an appreciation of the current 74-year-old building, while offering a healthy dose of modernity and space.

“We are attracted by the unique challenges of this project,” said Joan M. Soranno, design principal with HGA. “It is our vision that the new building will add to the rich architectural legacy of Winona.”

The new 400,000-sq-ft Aurora, Ill., police headquarters, is reportedly the largest full-service municipal police headquarters now under construction in the U.S. It is also among the greenest and will seek gold-level certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system. (Ileana Ionescu photo)

Construction Manager Alvin E. Benike, Inc. broke ground in late July, and the “foundation is starting to go up,” says Mark Peterson, executive director at the Historical Society. The $4.15-million project will result in a new 12,000-sq-ft, three-story building that includes a 150-person, multi-purpose room, exhibit space, artifact storage, museum shop, lobby and other amenities. The use of natural light and large windows that provide views of the former historic building demonstrates how the design embraces both the old and new. The exterior features a contemporary, Roman brick colonnade coupled with historic armory windows and doors. The second-level multipurpose room with copper cladding features more expansive windows and an adjacent outdoor terrace. From the terrace, visitors can experience a view of downtown and the Mississippi River bluffs.

According to HGA, the design may use locally produced stone and building materials, energy-efficient mechanical systems, and other sustainable strategies. Interior materials include Biesanz stone from Winona and salvaged timber.

“We’ve run into some surprises. It was challenging but we got through,” Peterson said. “It’s really exciting for us to get to the point where we’re building.”

The Historical Society’s opening will coincide with the current building’s 75th anniversary in 2010.

St. Louis’ Historic Kiel Opera House Getting Makeover The 1930’s grand art-deco Opera House is a staple in St. Louis’ vibrant history. Though slightly beset by age, it is now getting a touch-up with design enhancements from Paric Corp., of St. Louis.

Associated locally with its large Corinthian columns and proximity to Scottrade Center arena, the building will soon have modern importance of its own. In addition to interior and exterior renovations, a large part of the project is replicating historic paint themes and theatrical sound and lighting.

“This is a very unique opportunity,” says Keith Wolkoff, vice president of Paric. “The biggest challenge is to maintain historic integrity.”

In addition to the expected renovations, such as seating and decor, the new building will feature a rigging device for trailer deliveries, as well as storage to accommodate “heavier” shows. This project is a golden opportunity for contractors, Wolkoff says, as the 630,000-sq-ft building can offer the scale and prestige that many companies do not have the fortune of experiencing.

The Kiel Opera House was built to be one of the largest stage houses in the world in the 1930s. It remains the largest to this day, according to Wolkoff.