The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago celebrated its 75th anniversary with the announcement of two new, large, and technologically advanced exhibits. The existing HVAC was insufficient, so a water-cooled electric chiller was needed to handle the increased cooling load. Drawing courtesy of McGuire Engineers Related Links: Midwest Constructions Best of 2009 Awards The museum outlined three main criteria for an upgraded central cooling plant: First, it had to be able to cool the existing load and also have room for future expansion. Second, it had to be able to be installed in phases. Third, it had to be
155 North Wacker is a new 48-story, 1.38-million-sq-ft Class A office tower on the northeast corner of Wacker Drive and Randolph Street in downtown Chicago. Photo courtesy Goettsch Partners Related Links: Midwest Constructions Best of 2009 Awards The project is already pre-certified LEED-CS Silver by the USGBC. In addition to offering a technology-enabled infrastructure and efficient floor plates with no interior columns, the building features a covered exterior arcade, a two-story, glass-enclosed lobby, and dedicated tenant amenities including conference and fitness centers, as well as underground parking for 163 cars. Key Players Owner: The John Buck Co., Chicago General Contractor:
Novus International Inc. undertook a $15.6-million expansion and renovation of its facility, which was originally built in 1994 at the Missouri Research Park in St. Charles, Mo. Photo: COURTESY OF CARDINAL AVIATION Related Links: Midwest Constructions Best of 2009 Awards The recent project constructed 48,000 sq ft of new offices and research labs. It also renovated 42,000 sq ft of existing laboratory, office and conference space. The new office building has an open environment with two levels connected by a double-height communication zone where all common functions are located. This office space is connected to the research facility by a
The new $90-million Penta Career Center in Perrysburg, Ohio, is a three-story, 522,000-sq-ft landmark with three wings and a center core. The new facility is more than 200,000 sq ft larger than the old school and has a capacity for 2,000 students, including high school 10th graders who enroll in the new Sophomore Exploration Program that was introduced this school year. Photo: CHRISTOPHER LARK Related Links: Midwest Constructions Best of 2009 Awards Instead of a series of similar classroom areas, the varied curriculum requires a large number of classroom and lab areas with distinctly different construction requirements, fixtures and equipment.
In May, 2003, heavy rain led to the activation and failure of a fuse plug spillway at the Silver Lake Dam in a remote area of Marquette County, Mich. The resulting breach emptied the reservoir of 8 billion gallons of water and devastated the downstream river system. Loss of the Silver Lake Storage Basin also resulted in lost electric generation at downstream hydroelectric plants because spring runoff could no longer be stored to help generate power during dry months. The Upper Peninsula Power Co. determined that Silver Lake needed to be reconstructed to continue augmenting flow to the two hydroelectric
For the interior renovation of Societe Generale’s office space on the 38th floor of 190 S. LaSalle St., Chicago, designers sought to emphasize the arch of the barrel-vaulted window casings by incorporating converse rectilinear architecture within the space. The straight lines of the office fronts and other architectural details offset and emphasize the window casings. A mix of wood and glass allows a degree of visual privacy for the office dwellers, while providing clear views and natural day-lighting for employees seated at work stations in central work areas. Photo: PADGETT & CO Related Links: Midwest Constructions Best of 2009 Awards
Construction of the $215-million Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital expanded a medical office building into a uniquely styled full-service hospital designed to make patients and visitors feel at more ease. The public areas look like a homey village main street or a northern-Michigan lodge. Photo: COURTESY OF HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM Related Links: Midwest Constructions Best of 2009 Awards Clinical areas are carefully kept out of site, and all in-patients stay in private single rooms that offer beautiful views and are decorated with colors and curves that create a soothing environment. The construction added an energy center, three in-patient towers,
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