On June 4th, Wheaton 121–the 306-unit, seven-story new construction apartment building in downtown Wheaton, Illinois developed by Morningside Group–was announced as the winner of the Urban Land Institute 2015 Chicago Vision Award in the Suburban Residential category. FitzGerald was hired in 2012 to complete construction documents for the project.
“The vision awards honor projects and programs that use creative development practices, inventive partnerships or sharing of resources, imaginative problem solving, or visionary ideas contributing to the growth of vibrant communities.” said Kirsten Ekdahl Hull of McCaffery Interests and co-chair of the Vision Awards.
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 toward 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, a building of this construction type is typically delivered at about 85% of the cost of a similarly-constructed masonry or steel building.
