DLA Architects Ltd Blog

The crew at the site has been flying. Here is a summary of the last couple weeks progress.

Things are moving very quickly at our construction site over at 2 Pierce Place… and thanks to that handy countdown clock on our blog, we can see that we have less than 2 months before we’re in our new home. This means we have a LOT of work to do!

To prepare for our mass migration to Itasca, Read the rest of this entry »

This is it! The demolition is complete and the walls are starting to take shape. Here at DLA, we’ve talked about how great it would be to share an office for years and now its happening.

For months we’ve been meeting to hash out the program; it will be the new corporate headquarters of DLA Architects, so many things were considered:

2 Pierce Place is quite formal, but our people (and our culture) are creative, casual and fun. Our Design Team came up with Read the rest of this entry »

Cantigny, the 500 acre estate of the late Robert McCormick (former publisher of the Chicago Tribune), beckons visitors to explore. The serenity of the picturesque grounds inspired the new Outdoor Education Center, a multi-purpose facility, used for meetings, lectures, and workshops as well as social and scouting activities.

The design translates Cantigny’s mission statement of public education and environmental conservancy into a three-dimensional facility exemplifying this ideal. Consistent with this mission, the building shows the public how to incorporate green and sustainable design principles into their daily lives.

The facility is designed to decrease site impact in terms of vehicular access and parking, provide storm water control through bio-swales and porous paving, reduce the non-roof heat island effect and minimize light pollution. Operable windows and clerestories lessen the need for air conditioning as well as maximize views and the opportunity to employ daylighting principle. Individual lighting controls and motion sensors as well as thermostatic controls, maximize indoor environmental comfort. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever wonder how to make a roof green? Just came across this great piece put together by WRHS Television showing the steps.

Matthew Stoub, LEED AP and Arturo Benitez, ALA, LEED AP (L to R)

When one of your designs transforms from sketches on a board (or computer screen) to a vibrant building full of life and activity, it’s hard not to be proud. The DLA Team headed out to Ridgewood High School earlier this week to see just that.

We were happy to join the District 234 School Board and community at the dedication ceremony for the new home of the Rebel Music and Band program. Designer Matt Stoub and Project Manager Arturo Benitez mingled with guests and shared their insights on the project.

Fulton Elementary School in Tinley Park has received the USGBC’s LEED Silver certification.

The school, designed to house 550 students, is one of only twelve in the state to receive a certification rating of silver or higher. Congrats to Community Consolidated School District 146 and the DLA Architects Team!

Located near a Historic District, Fulton Elementary consolidated two existing Grade Centers into one new and comprehensive school with a program prototype to match other District schools. Influenced by Read the rest of this entry »

Ridgewood High School’s Gymnasium Addition was recognized in the August 2010 issue of American School & University Magazine as an Outstanding Design in the Physical Education Facility/Recreation Centers category. Jump to page 108 to check it out!

We are excited to share that the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for our design of the Ridgewood High School gymnasium addition in Norridge! The Home of the Rebels is only the eighth K-12 building in Illinois to attain this high standard.

The school’s urban setting is a natural for an eco-conscious design. The limited area available on the site was a challenge, but the addition didn’t remove any of the existing green space. Plus, Read the rest of this entry »

Stop by this year’s Sustainable Governance Conference, Saving the Green: Turning Challenge into Opportunity on April 23 to see Bruce’s presentation. Hosted by Northern Illinois University Outreach and the City of Elgin, the conference will present multiple perspectives on sustainable development. Topics range from historic preservation to lessons learned from public officials about how to navigate the crucial gap between the decision to “go green” and the implementation of a sustainable development plan.

Bruce will be presenting a morning session titled “The Nuts and Bolts of LEED.” An expert on the process, Bruce has led the team for several of the LEED Registered Projects here at DLA and serves as President of the USGBC Fox Valley Branch. He’ll talk about how LEED standards are incorporated into a building design and how certification is applied for and documented. Bruce will explain the relationship between building performance and LEED certification, and will provide an introductory course on the significance of LEED review and accreditation. Anyone interested in the future of building plan review and certification should learn more about the LEED standards, and this session will focus on an explanation of how and why the standards apply to modern buildings. To learn more or attend the conference, visit: http://www.sustainableconference.niu.edu/non-credit/SustainableConference2010/index.shtml