Groundbreaking at Wheaton 121, Construction Begins

On Monday, July 16th, FitzGerald Principal Mike Cody participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for Wheaton 121. Construction on the project has now begun, and is expected to be completed by the fall of 2013.
Located close to commuter rail service in downtown Wheaton, Illinois on a transit-oriented site, Wheaton 121 is five stories of wood-frame construction over two stories of concrete parking structure. The building features amenities including landscaped courtyards, a pool, a fitness center, conference facilities with meeting rooms, and a dedicated dog run.
The project is part of a growing trend, of the utilization of light wood framing (LWF) for mid-rise residential and commercial structures. Permitted under the International Building Codes for years, the construction has only recently become more accepted and popular in Northern Illinois. The project is currently underway and the construction methods utilized will bring advantages such as reduced construction time and increased sustainability. Most importantly, perhaps, the building is expected to be delivered at about 85% of the typical cost of a similarly-constructed masonry or steel building.