FitzGerald Retained for Commercial, Retail Projects

FitzGerald was retained for two new projects, the first by CBRO to design a 6,000 square foot commercial interior build-out within an existing building also designed by FitzGerald and the second by Klein Construction for the design and reallocation of area in an existing multi-tenant retail building.

Trekk Marketing, Cherry Valley, IL

FitzGerald was retained by CBRO to provide a space plan for Trekk Marketing’s new 6,000 square foot office in the One Bell Valley Commons building in Cherry Valley, Illinois.

FitzGerald (as the Cody Design Group) was also the Architect for the One Bell Valley Commons commercial building in 2005. The firm’s design solution for the building, which was the first constructed in a new commercial development, combines high-end aesthetics with affordable rental rates for the Rockford market. The building fronts I-90 and is seen by over 100,000 motorists each day. The client’s desire was to use this building to announce the arrival of the new development, and set a design standard for the entire 80-acre property.

The building’s design called for an innovative use of architectural precast panels to perform structurally, removing the steel columns at the building’s perimeter and lowering the cost to the developer by several hundred thousand dollars. The panels created a “kit of parts” approach to design and construction, as only three prototypical panels comprise the building. This approach not only allowed for a façade that exudes a classical rhythm, but greatly reduced the precast expense by reducing the number of forms built by the precast supplier.

6500 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake, IL

FitzGerald was retained by Klein Construction in a design-build arrangement supporting the building owner to subdivide and reallocate space from one existing 4,000 square foot retail space into two leasable “vanilla box” spaces in an existing retail building in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

This commission is the latest in a series of successful Design-Build projects on which FitzGerald has participated; led oftentimes by one of the General Contractors with which the firm maintains a relationship. Led by the contractor’s defined scope, FitzGerald prepares drawings in concert with the contractor and building owners. FitzGerald is well-versed in this arrangement and offers it as an alternative in some design and construction teams when it would most benefit the client to provide a single point of communication, accountability and continuity.