Archinect - News

Frank Lloyd Wright's early Prairie-style design lists for $779,000 in Illinois

2024-03-29T14:41:00-04:00

The home credited as one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s first Prairie School designs, the 1900 Warren Hickox House, has hit the market recently in Kankakee, Illinois, for a listing price of $779,000.

Realtor.com was early to report news of the home’s listing, which represents the first time the home has been available for purchase in 48 years. Sited adjacent to the R. Harley Bradley House from the same year, the 3,277-square-foot design features four bedrooms and 2.5 baths and is completed by a Japanese-inspired roofline the then 33-year-old Wright was drawn to even before his first visit to the country in 1905.

First floor plan. Image: Freiluft/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust describes: “Despite the relatively small scale of the residence, Wright created a sense of both interior and exterior expansiveness through his use of a modified cruciform plan and his manipulation of architectural space, form, and details.”

Second floor plan. Image: Freiluft/Wikimedia Co...

Get Lectured: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Fall '23

2023-08-23T17:16:00-04:00

Today, our Get Lectured series continues with a look at goings-on happening at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture this fall semester.

Events kick off Monday, August 28, with a lecture on the “Ideal City” from Beijing’s Drawing Architecture Studio founders Li Han and Hu Yan. The lectures continue on September 11 with a visit to campus from Gathering authors and co-principals of Current Interests Mira Henry and Matthew Au. Tiara Hughes will wrap up the month on September 18 with a lecture that’s sponsored by the school’s Orput Endowment Fund.

The next month will begin with Hanrahan Meyers Architect's Tom Hanrahan’s lecture on October 2, followed by another from Lisa Yun Lee on October 16 and the Wanda Dalla Costa Plym Panel on Indigenous Design on October 23. October 30 will see the first Pelli Distinguished Lecturer, Kelly Bair of BairBalliet, take the stage in the Plym Auditorium, followed by Ana Pinto da Silva’s appearance on November 6. Ellen Dunha...

Final design for Discovery Partners Institute headquarters presented to Chicago Plan Commission

2023-06-05T19:25:00-04:00

The Chicago Plan Commission was presented the final design for the Discovery Partners Institute’s new headquarters at the 78 as the development looks to get final site plan approval.

The OMA and Jacobs-designed project is proposed for a one-acre parcel anchoring the south end of the upcoming The 78 mega-development, a mixed-use innovation district set to rise along a 62-acre stretch of disused rail yards. The headquarters is expected to be the first building to begin construction at the development. Standing eight stories and spanning approximately 213,000 square feet, the scheme will feature office, classroom, lab, and event spaces for the University of Illinois System’s Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) and its partners.

Previously on Archinect: OMA/Jacobs selected to design the University of Illinois' new DPI innovation hub in Chicago

The building will be composed of a series of stacked volumes enclosed with a dome-like glass and steel form. The atrium, described by OMA as an “active collision zone,” will serve as a central gathering space. The ground floor is designed to be open to the public, with a café, auditorium, and multipurpose rooms. The new headquar...

University of Illinois Chicago faculty selected for leading roles at Venice and Chicago architecture biennials

2023-04-28T11:50:00-04:00

Two faculty members from the University of Illinois Chicago’s College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts (CADA) have been selected to share their work and vision at upcoming Biennials. While Norman Teague will debut new bespoke plastic fabrication works within the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale’s ‘Everlasting Plastics’ exhibit, Faheem Majeed will serve as Art Director for the 2023 Chicago Architecture Biennial.

Teague and Majeed, assistant professors of industrial design and art respectively, have sought to “bridge the gap between academia and the civic arts, engaging students with local creative leaders and citizens to uplift and transform communities, particularly in the South Side of Chicago,” according to CADA. Beyond their academic commitments, both individuals have also “ardently advocated for artists to recognize their responsibilities as agents of social change,” the institution added.

U.S. Pavilion material by Norman Teague. Image courtesy: University of Illinois Chic...

University of Chicago researchers develop ‘chameleon-like’ material that can regulate buildings by changing from solid to liquid

2023-02-08T12:30:00-05:00

Researchers from the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have published details of a new material that can auto-regulate its environment by changing its infrared colors and liquid-solid state. In the future, the ultra-thin material film could be added to a building’s thermal facade in order to reduce the need for HVAC systems.

“Nearly 30% of the energy consumption and 10% of the greenhouse gas come from buildings,” says Chenxi Sui, a member of the research team whose findings have recently been published in the journal Nature. “Looking for diverse approaches to maintain a comfortable building temperature becomes a key point to creating a sustainable and carbon-negative future. Instead of controlling the indoor temperature in conventional ways, we keep wondering: Can we treat the building like the human body?”

Image courtesy University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.

The behavioral pattern of the new material has been likened to that ...

Three unbuilt Frank Lloyd Wright skyscraper projects brought to life by 3D imagery

2023-01-09T12:40:00-05:00

Three unbuilt projects by Frank Lloyd Wright have been recreated in 3D renderings by Spanish architect David Romero. Images of the high-rise schemes, located in Chicago and Washington D.C., have been published in the latest edition of the Frank Lloyd Wright Quarterly, a hard-copy magazine of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

The Illinois. Image credit: David Romero via The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

The tallest of the three, 'The Illinois,' remains one of Wright’s most famous unbuilt works. The mile-high skyscraper was unveiled by Wright in 1956 and would have stood four times taller than the world’s then-largest building. "The Empire State Building would be a mouse by comparison," Wright boasted at the time.

The Illinois. Image credit: David Romero via The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation

The 528-story, 18 million-square-foot concept would have accommodated 100,000 people. Four major highways, along with rail lines and a heliport, would provide access to the building, with docking s...

Want to help improve Chicago’s streetscape? Here's your opportunity!

2022-12-22T06:30:00-05:00

Following last week’s look at an opening for a Robotics Fabrication Lab Manager at the New York Institute of Technology, we are using our Job Highlights series this week to explore an open position on Archinect Jobs for a Project Manager at site design group.

The role, based in Chicago, calls for an individual to serve as a “municipal consultant” for the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT)’s Streetscape and Sustainable Design Program, responsible for managing streetscape design projects in collaboration with the public body. Among the qualifications requested for candidates are degrees in landscape architecture, architecture, or a related field, as well as three or more years of professional experience.

Why the role interests us

In recent years, our editorial has featured several instances of private design firms engaging with Departments of Transportation, and the st...

Featured architecture job opportunities in Chicago

2022-10-28T13:32:00-04:00

Looking for employment opportunities in Chicago? This week's job highlights feature 11 attractive positions ranging from project managers to landscape architects from seven firms. For other jobs located in the state of Illinois, be sure to explore Archinect Jobs!

Future Firm seeks a Project Architect

Details: "Future Firm is seeking a licensed Project Architect with 5+ years of experience to join our practice. Licensure in a US state is required. Professional degree in Architecture, with at least five years of related experience is also required. Project Architect will be responsible for project delivery, leading the design vision and documentation. Project Architect will lead collaborations within the firm with staff designers; communicate with clients and other project stakeholders; and coordinate with project consultants. Experience in multi-family and ground-up mixed-use is a plus." Read more here.

Gibbons, Fortman & Associates seeks an Associate Architect/Designer

Details: "Gib...

OMA/Jacobs selected to design the University of Illinois' new DPI innovation hub in Chicago

2022-09-23T17:14:00-04:00

A joint team of OMA and Jacobs has been selected to design a new 200,000-square-foot headquarters for the University of Illinois System's Discovery Partners Institute in Chicago, the state and Governor J.B. Pritzker announced on Thursday.

The multi-year project will transform a disused 62-acre former yard site as the first construction in the larger The 78 Innovation District that is meant to provide a high-tech connection between Chinatown to the South Loop.

Image courtesy OMA and Lucian R

Pritzker says its “futuristic design” matches the state’s ambition to create a hub for innovation downtown on land donated to the state by Related Companies’ Midwest operation. Beyond the typical economic stimulus components provided by the project, the development will support a host of K-12 education and entrepreneurship programs, continued wastewater monitoring, and a hodgepodge of other collaborative business ventures geared toward the tech industry.

Image courtesy OMA and bloomimages.de

Image ...

Chicago could become site of the Great Lakes' first offshore wind farm

2022-09-10T09:00:00-04:00

If state Rep. Marcus Evans has his way, Chicago will enter the race to build the first offshore wind farm on the Great Lakes. Evans has introduced a bill that lays the groundwork for a proposed wind farm in Lake Michigan, about 10 miles from the shores of the Southeast Side. The bill sets up a fund that would help the state to compete for federal money, including $230 million for port infrastructure projects available from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Evans introduced the bill, the Illinois Rust Belt to Green Belt Pilot Program Act, in January. The legislation would establish a path toward creating the offshore wind farm by allowing the state to apply for federal infrastructure funds. The proposal promises to create over 1,200 jobs, primarily occupied by underrepresented populations, an aim bolstered by its potential location near Black and Latino communities. The bill has since been referred to a House committee.

Illinois will face competition from Ohio and New York state in its quest to be the first home of an offshore wind farm via the Great Lakes as the two states are developing plans to respectively establish farms in Lake Erie.

As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the initiative has garnered support from local community groups, however, there remain reservations due to concerns over whether the promise to reserve jobs created from the...

Chicago signs agreement to power all city operations with renewable energy by 2025

2022-08-11T18:31:00-04:00

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced the finalization of a deal between the city and retail electricity supplier Constellation, in collaboration with Swift Current Energy, to shift all city facilities and operations to run on renewable energy by 2025. This makes Chicago one of the largest cities in the country to commit to such a move.

The contract is valued at up to $422 million, with an initial five-year term with Constellation starting in January 2023. As part of the agreement, beginning in 2025, Chicago will source energy from a new solar power plant currently being built in Sangamon and Morgan counties to partially power its large energy uses, such as the airports, Harold Washington Library Center, and the Jardine Water Purification Plant.

“I am incredibly proud to advance this commitment to transitioning all city operations to 100% renewable energy by 2025,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “The signing of this agreement demonstrates that the City of Chicago is leading by example...

Thompson Center sculpture will be relocated following building's sale

2022-08-01T19:31:00-04:00

One of Chicago’s iconic pieces of public art will be getting a new home. French artist Jean Dubuffet’s sculpture “Monument with Standing Beast,” in place in front of the Thompson Center since the building opened in 1985, is moving to a different spot in the Loop.

Following last week’s $105 million sale of the Thompson Center to Google, the famed Dubuffet sculpture will be relocated to a former bank building at 115 S. LaSalle Street, a space purchased by the state of Illinois to house office space lost with the sale. The 29-foot, 10-ton fiberglass sculpture was seen as an extension of the Helmut Jahn-designed building. Nicknamed “Snoopy in a blender,” the piece is made up of four shapes representing an animal, a tree, an architectural form, and a portal. It was inspired by Dubuffet’s 1960 series of paintings called Hourlope.

Previously on Archinect: Google will take over Thompson Center following $105 million sale

“Monument with Standing Beast” was donated in 1984 by Ruth Horwich, an art collector and co-founder of Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, in memory of her husband, Leonard Horwich. It was unveiled outside an under-construction Thompson Center in November of that year. A date for the sculpture’s arrival at its new home has not bee...

Google will take over Thompson Center following $105 million sale

2022-07-27T14:58:00-04:00

The sale of the iconic Thompson Center in downtown Chicago is being finalized with Google planning to occupy office space following extensive renovations by the new owner. Google will take over the entire building once the new owners, JRTC Holdings, renovate the Thompson Center to the tech giant's specifications.

With its future sorted, the Helmut Jahn-designed building is here to stay. A sale agreement with JRTC Holdings was finalized in March; however, today’s announcement includes revisions to the agreement and the addition of Google as the primary tenant.

Originally, Illinois was set to receive an initial payment of $70 million for the property and would retain 425,000 square feet of the office space. Now, the entire space will be purchased for $105 million. The state will use $75 million of this total to purchase a site at 115 S. LaSalle Street where approximately 1,800 state workers from the Thompson Center will move.

Previously on Archinect: Thompson Center may find new life as Google's Chicago office

JRTC Holdings will now renovate the building, and once complete, Google will purchase the site. The renovations will reportedly respect the original design of the building, with changes aiming to make the structure more energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable, and inclusive. Goog...

9 Chicago-based architecture firms currently hiring on Archinect Jobs

2022-02-03T07:05:00-05:00

Are you an architect looking for a new job in Chi-town? As the architecture industry's leading job board, Archinect Jobs features employment opportunities for architects and design professionals at any stage of their careers. From internship opportunities, intermediate-level design positions, and senior-level opportunities, find the right job to kick start the new year.

For this week's curated job pick, we focus on nine Chicago-based firms seeking project managers, architectural associates, and a senior design architect to join their team in 2022.

The Multi-Generational LEED Homes project located in Pilsen, Chicago. Image courtesy of Canopy/Architecture + Design.

Canopy / Architecture + Design seeks a Project Manager

Details: "Canopy is an award-winning socially- and environmentally driven architecture firm located in downtown Chicago [...] We are seeking a talented, passionate individual to join our practice of fifteen. The candidate must have excellent communication, design, an...

Edith Farnsworth House: Name change emphasizes Farnsworth’s role in creating an American masterpiece

2021-10-19T12:38:00-04:00

As part of the house’s 70th-anniversary celebration next month, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has announced that the iconic Farnsworth House will be renamed the Edith Farnsworth House in order to better recognize the cultural and architectural contributions of its namesake, Dr. Edith Farnsworth.

The name change coincides with the trust’s “Where Women Made History” campaign, which now recognizes Farnsworth for her rightful place as a doyenne of American high culture.

Edith Farnsworth (left) and Beth Dunlap, 1951. Image © William Dunlap

According to a press release: “Ahead of her time in the post-World War II era, Edith Farnsworth lived an independent life of cultural and intellectual exploration and discovery. For decades, her story, as well as her pivotal role in the creation of this landmark, has not received the prominence it deserves.”

Image © Edith Farnsworth Papers, The Newberry Library

Ever the bon vivant, Farnsworth’s eye for artistic talent lead her to Mies van ...

An early Frank Lloyd Wright home avoids demolition thanks to a preservationist couple

2021-09-16T09:00:00-04:00

An early Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in Hinsdale appears to have gained a new lease on life, with the announcement on Tuesday that two preservation-minded buyers are purchasing the house and plan to restore it.

The home was originally designed in 1894 for a marble importer named Frederick Bagley. Wright included a glass door design for the first time in his career. The home had been listed on the private market since July with an asking price of around $1.3 million.

The couple who purchased the home also owns Wright’s Tonkens House in Ohio, which they worked to restore. Efforts to stop the demolition of historic homes in the town of Hinsdale came up short recently. The Chicago Tribune has more on the house’s new lease on life here.

A new database is tracking contributions of women to the architecture of Illinois

2021-08-19T14:34:00-04:00

A new database is tracking the contributions of women to the architecture of Illinois thanks to a yearlong survey project by one of the state’s most important preservation authorities.

Landmark Illinois has just released its new Women Who Built Illinois database with an initial list of over 100 names that spans the years between 1879 and 1979 – a century whose physical lineage was shaped rather substantially by the hands of many prominent female architects and designers.

“This new database recognizes those who laid the path for women today and who continue to impact the built environment of Illinois and Chicago,” Landmarks Illinois Director of Advocacy Lisa DiChiera said in a statement. “We hope students and professionals in architecture, planning and public history will be inspired to study these women, their careers and built works.”

Architects like Nancy Abshire and Margaret Zirkel Young make up the list of women who paved the way for Jeanne Gang and others at a time when entry i...

October 24th is officially "Frank Lloyd Wright Day" in Elmhurst, Illinois

2020-10-07T15:38:00-04:00

To celebrate Wright's importance and his architectural footprint in Elmhurst and throughout the Chicago area, the Elmhurst Art Museum and Elmhurst History Museum are collaborating to present two different exhibits, each focused on different aspects of Wright's life and work...the city will proclaim Saturday, October 24, 2020 as Frank Lloyd Wright Day in Elmhurst to encourage residents and out-of-town visitors to visit both museums to learn more about the architect.

In a statement, as reported by Patch, Elmhurst's Mayor Steve Morley said: "this special cultural collaboration underscores the value of our two award-winning museums working together to create meaningful experiences for residents and visitors." Morley added: "We value our diverse architectural landscape in Elmhurst and we are very excited to bring visitors here to learn more about architecture through the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibits."

Facebook to build giant data center in Illinois

2020-07-10T14:14:00-04:00

Facebook is due to commence construction on its 12th data center in the United States with a new $800 million, 907,000-square-foot facility located in DeKalb, Illinois. The data center will be powered by 100% renewable energy and will use 80% less water than the average data center, the company writes in a statement. Upon completion, the project will obtain LEED Gold certification.

Moreover, the new facility will provide an estimated 100 operational jobs and employ an estimated 1,200 construction workers who will be working onsite for "several years," according to the company. Mortenson Construction was selected as the general contractor for the job. An architect for the project has not been listed.

Facebook has also partnered with the City of DeKalb, Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District, and Krusinski Construction Company to help design, build, and support the infrastructure for the 500-acre site. The work includes nearly three miles of water lines, one and a half miles of sewer...

Cracked dome discovered at Illinois State Capitol

2019-12-20T13:36:00-05:00

A recent study of the Illinois State Capitol Dome in Springfield, Illinois has discovered “some obvious flaws on the exterior of the dome,” including significant cracking "on all four compass points" where bracketed structures support the interior stone columns below the dome, The Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The French Renaissance and Italianate style Capitol complex was designed by Chicago architects John C. Cochrane and Charles O. Garnsey in 1868 and was completed in 1888.

Exterior view of the Illinois State Capitol dome, which is showing signs of cracking. Image courtesy of Flickr user Jeff Sharp.

Harl Ray, senior project manager for the Illinois secretary of state’s Department of Physical Services, is quoted by The Chicago Sun-Times as stating, “They are not worried. There is no structural failure. They’re just wanting to know what happened and why.” Ray added, “Those cracks look like they’ve been there for decades — a long, long time.”

Chicago-based architects Bailey Edward are ...

Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Suárez announced as University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's School of Architecture Director

2019-11-01T21:04:00-04:00

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's School of Architecture today announced Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Suárez, FAIA as its next Director. Said to be joining the university in January 2020, Rodríguez-Suárez currently serves as the ACSA Distinguished Professor of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico. He also served as the Dean from 2007 to 2016.

With his experience as a practicing architect, academic, writer, and leader in the architecture profession, he has played a pivotal role in leading the School of Architecture at the University of Puerto Rico and its prominence amongst the Caribbean and Ilbero-Americas.

Rodríguez-Suárez studied at Georgia Tech, the Université de Paris, and Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. At the GSD is where he earned a Master of Architecture with Distinction and American Institute of Architects (AIA) School Medal. He was also recently awarded recognition as an AIA Fellow in 2019 as well as a Distinguished Professor of the ...

Here are 7 Chicago-based architecture firms currently hiring on Archinect Jobs

2019-09-18T13:30:00-04:00

As part of Archinect's Spotlight on Chicago, we've selected seven firms this week that are seeking to hire the right candidate to join their team in the Windy City. From LCM Architects to Solomon Cordwell Buenz, learn more about the firms that are hiring and the job positions they have currently listed on Archinect Jobs below.

LCM Architects seeks an Accessibility Specialist
LCM has immediate openings for in-house, full-time Accessibility Specialists at various levels of experience. Responsibilities include reviewing architectural/engineering plans and specifications for compliance with accessibility codes and standards as well as preparing detailed reports documenting observed deficiencies. Candidates must have a degree in architecture, engineering, construction management or related field. The following licenses, certifications and registrations considered a plus: licensed architect or engineer, Certified Access Specialist program (CASp), Registered Accessibility Specialist, Cer...

John Ronan's Frank Lloyd Wright visitor center in Oak Park hits preservation hurdles

2019-09-09T19:45:00-04:00

A proposed 8,000-square-foot visitors center designed by Chicago's John Ronan Architects has been dealt a set back following a recent Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission decision to unanimously deny the project's efforts to impact a pair of homes located next door to the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.

In the effort to build the visitors center, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust of Oak Park seeks to move or demolish portions of one home and the entirety of another house next door to the property. The two homes are located within the Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School of Architecture Historic District and are therefore subject to significant preservation review, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Responding to the decision, the trust writes, “American architecture was born in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Oak Park studio. This is where the story begins. It is where Unity Temple, Robie House and all of the great Prairie houses were created. A new visitor and education center should expre...

Searching for a job opportunity in Chicago? Here are 9 architecture firms currently hiring on Archinect Jobs

2019-09-04T17:45:00-04:00

Chicago is teeming with architectural history. From iconic structures like the Willis Tower to the soon-to-be-completed Vista Tower designed by Studio Gang, the city has continuously positioned itself as a place filled with architectural innovation.

For this week's weekly job round up we've selected nine Chicago-based firms that are looking for the right candidate to join their team and be apart of Chicago's architectural future.

Leatop in Guangzhou Province, CN by FGP Atelier in collaboration with JAHN Architects. Image courtesy of FGP Atelier

Garnett Architects, LLC seeks an Architect/Project Director and Designer
The ideal candidate will be an outgoing and motivated professional with 5-7 years of experience. The open position requires a strong organizational skillset to assist with, and manage, small office design groups on a wide range of interior architectural projects in both Chicago and in cities outside the state. The applicant should be comfortable leading presentations and...

University organizes tour of notable African-American architects' work in Chicago

2019-08-07T10:45:00-04:00

Black architects are underrepresented yet have made considerable contributions to the Chicago cityscape. Join the Dean of the College of Architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology and tour notable projects by black architects on the south side of Chicago beginning with the Johnson Publishing building, the first and only downtown high rise project designed by a black architect. We will visit Ping Tom Memorial Park, First Church of Deliverance, 31st Street Harbor Building, and more

Cahokia Mounds outside St. Louis could become a National Park

2019-07-11T11:48:00-04:00

Federal legislation to make Cahokia Mounds part of a new national park could soon be introduced in Congress, according to proponents of the plan. The Cahokia Mounds and Mississippian Culture National Historic Park would also include ancient mounds in St. Clair and Madison counties and Sugarloaf Mound in St. Louis, the last remaining mound in the city.

If the proposed Cahokia Mounds and Mississippian Culture National Historic Park is approved, the thousand-year-old pre-Columbian Native American historical site, which includes mounds in southern Illinois and outside St. Louis, would be the second new national park created in Missouri in two years.

Last year, according to St. Louis Public Radio, Congress created the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park, an urban historic district that consists of a series of colonial era timber and heavy truss structures built by French settlers in the area during the 1700s.

Cahokia Mounds was named as a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1982; The site is currently listed as a National Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Newly designed Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Visitor and Education Center takes subtle cues from the master

2019-06-27T19:41:00-04:00

For decades, fans of Frank Lloyd Wright have made the journey to the small residential neighborhood of Oak Park, Illinois to where the architect built more than 25 structures during the first half of his career. Of greatest significance is the home and studio he built for himself in 1889, which has been open to the public since 1976 after it was declared a National Historic Landmark.

Children's playroom in The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. Photographer unknown.

In an effort to preserve the look and feel of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio campus, little has been added or reorganized at the site. The newest addition to the campus, however, will be a visitor and Education center designed by Chicago-based John Ronan Architects.

Rendering of The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Visitor and Education Center, by John Ronan Architects.

At first glance, the renderings of the visitor and education center bears little resemblance to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, and even less to any of t...

McDonald's new global flagship moves the company in a bold new design direction

2019-06-19T15:14:00-04:00

Though the majority of the over 37,000 McDonald's outlets around the world hardly rise to the definition of "architecture," the company is no stranger to spectacular design: some of its first locations, built throughout the Midwest as early as 1955, were remarkable demonstrations of mid-century design, typified by two large golden arches that appear to hold the structure upright.

McDonald's Global Flagship, by Ross Barney Architects

In response to the company's recent rebirth of its brand, after several attempts to appeal to a younger generation, McDonald's has recently unveiled a shockingly clean and modern design for its new global flagship in Downtown Chicago. Not only is the Ross Barney Architects-designed building an aesthetically pleasing take on the fast food chain, but it also features several innovative features, including cordless phone charging, a mini-arboretum with harvestable apple trees and 27-foot windows to keep them and the whole interior well-lit.

Interior of McD...

Frank Lloyd Wright's Booth Cottage could face wrecking ball after new owner files for demolition permit

2019-05-24T14:53:00-04:00

The new owners of a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed cottage in north suburban Glencoe have formally requested permission to tear down the 106-year-old home, a village official confirmed Wednesday. Wright, widely considered America’s greatest architect, designed the Sherman Booth Cottage, a flat-roofed, one-story frame house, in 1913. It served as a temporary home for Booth, who developed the architect’s Ravine Bluffs neighborhood in Glencoe, including Booth’s permanent home.

"If the Booth cottage were to be demolished, it would mark the second time in two years that a building by Wright had been torn down," writes Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin.

"The Village of Glencoe has indicated that the demolition permit application is incomplete," reports the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy on its website. "When completed, it is anticipated that a 180-day demolition delay period will be triggered due to the home’s honorary landmark status."

The 106-year-old Cook County building was also recently included in the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois, a list published annually by Landmarks Illinois.

View this post on Instagram The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Booth Cottage is one of two properties in Glencoe LI has included on its 2019 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. The home, built in 1913, is currently for sale and unprotected, making it at risk for tear-down and redevelopment. The home is modest in size but si...

US military 3D prints a concrete barracks prototype

2018-09-11T13:10:00-04:00

3D-printed construction seems a good fit for the military. The emerging technology is relatively portable and inexpensive, and could potentially even save lives if it means soldiers receive a safe barracks in a shorter time. With this in mind, the US Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) recently constructed a prototype concrete barracks in under two days with what it calls the world's largest 3D printer.

The US military 3D printed a basic barracks hut measuring 500 sq ft in just 40 hours at the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Champaign, Illinois. The MCSC reported this technology reduced construction time from what would typically take 10 Marines 5 days to build a similar structure from wood. The military is currently conducting further research on incorporating 3D printed architecture in combat environments.