The Building Team for the new Aquatics Center at Niles North High School in Skokie, Ill., included Chicago-area firms Legat Architects and IHC Constructionābut a case could be made for listing a much larger group of official participants. The AEC firms made a concerted effort to involve not only district officials but also the user community. As a result, the project became a unique learning experience for students, staff, and neighbors.
The Niles North Aquatics Center serves 2,200 studentsāall of whom must take swimmingāas well as 275 competitive student athletes in swimming, diving, and water polo. Feeder programs from park districts and local partners are also housed there. By 2012, the pool in the 48-year-old building was considered too small and shallow to meet current requirements.
Stakeholders asked for a new competition ācold pool,ā a renovated community-accessible āwarm pool,ā a new public connecting corridor, locker room renovations, coachesā offices, and meeting and storage space. Lighting and mechanical systems also needed an energy upgrade.
SILVER AWARD
Project summaryNiles North High School Aquatics Center
Skokie, Ill.BUILDING TEAM
Submitting firm: Legat Architects (architect)
Owner/developer: Niles Township High School District 219
Structural: KJWW Engineering Consultants
Mechanical/plumbing: AMSCO Engineering
Electrical: Hansen Palmer Associates
Civil: Gewalt Hamilton
CM: IHC Construction CompaniesGENERAL INFORMATION
Project size: 39,200 sf (24,600 sf new + 14,600 sf renovated)
Construction cost: $15 million
Construction period: April 2012 to August 2013
Delivery method: Design-bid-build
District 219 teamed with Legat Architects to plan the revitalization. Students and community members were surveyed regarding their priorities, and the Building Team held design workshops that elicited feedback for the floor plan. Daylighting is an important aspect of the final design, including a mix of clerestories, clear windows, translucent windows, and internal glazing to offer glare-free illumination and visual connections.Ā
Eventually, the project was incorporated into the districtās architecture and engineering class curriculum. Biweekly tours were coordinated with faculty to focus on current classroom topics, and students were able to receive insights on various career paths.
āIt became quite the living classroom,ā says Building Team Awards judge Nathan Snydacker, PE, LEED AP, Vice President at Environmental Systems Design.
Ā āItās a lot of involvement youād want in a school project of this type,ā adds BTA judge Terry Fielden, LEED AP BD+C, Director of K-12 Education for International Contractors.
The Building Team phased construction over two summers to minimize disruption, keeping the community involved with a blog, video tours, signage with QR codes, and outreach to local news outlets.
In spring 2013, a severe flood created leaks in the lower-level filtration room. The damage stalled excavation and construction of the pool slab and walls, but IHC Construction, Legat, D219 staff, and other contractors managed to keep the job on schedule and within budget.
The result is a more functional, accessible, energy-efficient facility, designed to use 42% less water and 44% less energy than typical natatoriums. The project, whose heat-recovery dehumidification units should also sharply reduce CO2 emissions, is expected to become the first aquatic center in Illinois to achieve LEED for Schools Gold certification.
Related Stories
Industry Research | Jan 30, 2018
AIAās Kermit Baker: Five signs of an impending upturn in construction spending
Tax reform implications and rebuilding from natural disasters are among the reasons AIAās Chief Economist is optimistic for 2018 and 2019.
Market Data | Jan 30, 2018
AIA Consensus Forecast: 4.0% growth for nonresidential construction spending in 2018
The commercial office and retail sectors will lead the way in 2018, with a strong bounce back for education and healthcare.
Architects | Jan 29, 2018
14 marketing resolutions AEC firms should make in 2018
As we close out the first month of the New Year, AEC firms have made (and are still making) plans for where and how to spend their marketing time and budgets in 2018.
Education Facilities | Jan 29, 2018
My day as a kindergartner
TheĀ idea of a kindergarten-only school presents both challenges and opportunities in regards to the design.
AEC Tech | Jan 29, 2018
thyssenkrupp tests self-driving robot for ālast mileā delivery of elevator parts
āWith driverless delivery robots, we could fill a gap and get spare parts from our warehouses to the jobsite faster,ā said thyssenkrupp SVP Ivo Siebers.
Architects | Jan 26, 2018
Stephen Ayers, FAIA, honored with the 2018 AIA Thomas Jefferson Award
The award honors significant contributions to public architecture.
Architects | Jan 26, 2018
Recipients for the 2018 Collaborative Achievement Award selected
The recipients will be honored at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2018 in New York City.
K-12 Schools | Jan 25, 2018
Cost estimating for K-12 school projects: An invaluable tool for budget management
Clients want to be able to track costs at every stage of a project, and cost estimates (current and life cycle) are valuable planning and design tools, writesĀ LS3P'sĀ Ginny Magrath, AIA.
Architects | Jan 25, 2018
Four keys to designing autistic-friendly spaces
Autism, in part, gave us modern architecture, writes PDRās Julie Troung.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Jan 25, 2018
Virginia Beach: A surf town with a wave problem no more
A world-class surf park will highlight Virginia Beachās new live-work-play development.