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Dec, 2022

Winter 2022 – IL State Armory Stabilization Phase Announcement

Over the past two years TKB has been working with the Capital Development Board to restore and renovate the Illinois State Armory, with input from the Illinois Historic Preservation Office.

The comprehensive project, which will be divided into Stabilization and Renovation phases of work, will include a new roof, a restored limestone façade, and interior and exterior accessibility modifications. Comprehensive code and condition updates to the architecture and MEP systems will allow for flexible, functional, and aesthetically pleasing office space to meet current and future State of Illinois needs.  The building is adjacent to the Illinois Capitol Building; the project was defined during the State’s comprehensive planning for the Capitol campus.

Stabilization of the Illinois State Armory has been awarded to Williams Brothers Construction and will begin in Q1 2023; they will provide abatement services to prepare the building for the Renovation Phase of the project. Additionally, Williams Brothers will complete exterior renovations including masonry restoration, exterior accessibility modifications, and new windows.

Once complete, the comprehensive renovation of the Illinois State Armory will provide 200,000 square feet of office space to the Capitol complex, reclaiming a historic building to functional use. The Tilton, Kelly + Bell design team continues to develop plans to highlight the historic features of the Armory for the building’s planned 800 state employees.

placed the existing standing seam metal roof panels and replaced the current louver systems to create a more weather resistant enclosure.  TKB also upgraded the lightning protection system by increasing the number of collection points, which will help dissipate electrical currents down and away from the building.

Jul, 2022

Summer 2022 – Illinois State Armory Renovation

Tilton, Kelly + Bell is currently designing a renovation and restoration for the historic Illinois State Armory building, working for the Illinois Capitol Development Board and Central Management Services.  The Armory is a 1930’s WPA building in Springfield, Illinois, prominently facing the Illinois State Capitol building.  Planning is being coordinated with the Capital Complex Master Plan, concurrently under development.   The State Historical Preservation Office is reviewing preservation efforts.

The project work includes a new roof, new skylights, a restored limestone façade, interior and exterior accessibility modifications, and a new circulation pattern and core location.  Comprehensive code and condition updates are required to the architecture and MEP systems throughout, with the goal of providing flexible, functional, and aesthetically pleasing office space to meet current and future needs.

Vacant for approximately ten years, the Armory presents a deteriorated condition, with considerable water damage from the roof affecting both the interior and the façade and outdated systems and condition throughout. The multi-story drill hall, a historic feature of the building, will be partially restored to preserve a dramatic core for the building’s planned 800 state workers.  The remainder of the drill hall will be incorporated into office space connecting two independent office stacks, increasing office space from 90,000 square feet to 96,000 square feet.  The modifications will increase efficiency per state guidelines and provide much-needed office space in the Capitol complex.

Summer 2022 – UIUC Krannert Art Museum

TKB is undertaking renovation of the Andean Gallery and Giertz Education Center at UIUC’s Krannert Art Museum, following the successful remodeling of the East Gallery in 2021.  Construction on the new project is expected in 2023.

In 2021, TKB worked closely with museum staff in designing the revitalization of the museum’s largest gallery space to provide the appropriate lighting and envelope for changing exhibits.  With the assistance of an exhibit designer, temporary partitions were inserted into the gallery to divide and directed visitor circulation through the space, adding 400 linear feet of critical new exhibit space for the museum.

Project execution required careful design of temporary partitions to assure stability.  Robust concealed support systems work within the minimalist gallery aesthetic.  A catwalk and harness system were added to ensure curatorial staff safety when installing suspended displays.  New programmable lighting controls produce balanced spectrum light which can be set for each exhibit and, where desired, for individual pieces within an exhibit.  The East Gallery focus on modern and contemporary art necessitated concealed electrical systems for digital art pieces.

New AC distribution systems provide a carefully controlled environment to preserve artworks and other materials.  An added extension of the existing pre-action fire suppressant system enhances fire safety at minimal risk to the art.

Chicago Public Schools Summers 2021-2022

Pre-K Classrooms

Under a new policy creating a universal Pre-K education system in the City of Chicago, the multi-year plan is creating free access to full day schooling for all Chicago children regardless of location or income. Because Pre-K programs have unique classroom requirements, the policy change launched renovations efforts across Chicago schools.  In the Summer of 2021 and currently in the Summer of 2022, TKB is updating classroom to Pre-K standards in a total of twelve schools. The scope of the work included refreshing and renovating rooms to meet Pre-K children’s needs by adjusting toilet rooms, counters and drinking fountains to a Pre-K height.  New finishes and the necessary accessibility updates complete the work.

Additionally, the TKB team partnered with the Chicago Public Schools to complete classroom renovations at 4 local elementary schools.  The work consisted of interior classroom renovations including new finishes and minor exterior site improvements.

Interior Classroom Renovations

In the Summer of 2021, TKB completed renovations at four elementary schools.  The changes comprised interior updates, new finishes, and minor exterior site improvements.  Like all CPS summer projects, the work was time sensitive, requiring completion before the new school term began.  TKB, CPS, and the contractor all had a role in accomplishing beneficial use of the space before school began last fall.

Roof Projects

For the Summer of 2022, TKB is undertaking full replacement of two school roofs, along with related work constituting limited exterior renovations and, at one of the school, full renovation of first floor toilet rooms to provide accessibility.  Completion is expected by summer’s end.

Sep, 2021

University of Chicago 1155 Building

The University of Chicago selected TKB to complete a renovation feasibility study on a multilevel midcentury academic building located on the campus’ vibrant Midway Plaisance.   The study was targeted on:

  • Addressing internal organization and efficiency
  • Improving the building’s confusing, uninviting entry sequence,
  • Redesigning the building’s dated façade and underutilized courtyard
  • Recommending improvements to infrastructure and energy efficiency

In the final feasibility study and phased implementation of the interior renovation, , TKB addressed the internal organization and efficiency of the building’s interior spaces. TKB identified overlapping constituencies of academic and community outreach entities, reinforcing existing synergies through the interior redesign. This leveraged the unique 1155 Building characteristics and accommodates both research and instructional activities. Solutions addressed varying group sizes, desired adjacencies, growth potential of the evolving programs, while conserving usable space for future units.

The TKB team’s overall design of the building entry, courtyard and façade took an outside-in approach in developing solutions for the building façade and entry sequence, which will be completed in a future phase of work. Once implemented, the design will enhance the user experience and exterior aesthetics of the aging building.  A new, all-glass lobby and arcade will replace the original austere entrance to warmly welcome visitors. This future exterior modification will give the building appropriate prominence among its architecturally distinguished neighboring buildings.

Aug, 2021

August 2021 – UIUC Ceramics Building

TKB completed improvements to the university’s  historic Ceramics Building. The 1915 Renaissance Revival building is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places; an essential element of the work was preserving the building’s historic features while addressing the necessary improvements.

TKB designed renovations to existing toilet rooms to address life safety updates, and deficits related to accessibility, finishes, lighting, and plumbing. The team added all-gender toilet rooms and increased fixture counts to meet current plumbing codes. The work required the reconfiguration of existing toilet rooms and the addition of adjacent space to meet expanded requirements. TKB selected finishes to be historically compatible and durable.

Original design elements were preserved in public corridors whenever possible and renovated rooms maintained a historically sympathetic approach. The project preserved vintage millwork frames and doors, matching duplicating them where new work was necessary.  New terrazzo in affected public areas matched the original to maintain continuity throughout the historic building.

Jul, 2021

August 2021 – Illinois State Armory Restoration and Renovation

Tilton, Kelly + Bell is currently designing a renovation and restoration for the historic Illinois State Armory building, working for the Illinois Capitol Development Board and with Central Management Services.  The Armory is a 1930’s WPA building in Springfield, Illinois, prominently facing the Illinois State Capitol building.  Planning will be coordinated with the Capital Complex Master Plan, concurrently under development; the State Historical Preservation Office will review preservation efforts.

Vacant for approximately ten years, the Armory presents a deteriorated condition, with considerable water damage from the roof affecting both the interior and the façade, and with outdated systems and condition throughout. The historic multi-story drill hall will be partially restored in a modified version, creating a dramatic core for the building’s future accommodation of 800 state workers.  The original building contained 90,000 square feet of offices in separate vertical towers; current plans will add 96,000 square feet of office space by incorporating a portion of the drill hall volume.  New offices will increase efficiency per state guidelines.

The project work includes a new roof, new skylights, a restored limestone façade, interior and exterior accessibility modifications, and a new circulation pattern and core location.  Comprehensive code and condition updates are required to the architecture and MEP systems throughout, with the goal of providing flexible, functional, and aesthetically pleasing office space to meet current and future needs.

Section through the original Auditorium


HVAC Distribution Diagram

Jun, 2021

June 2021 – Regional Transportation Authority

With TKB as architect, the Regional Transportation Authority consolidated its headquarters in a single 28,000 square foot floor in Chicago. The RTA’s formerly traditional office space standardized on efficient workstations for each employee and takes advantage of the natural light afforded through the building’s interior light court and exterior windows.  Collaborative spaces with accessible technology, large and small, are distributed throughout the floor. The break room, connecting to daylight and the perimeter, can double as a large reconfigurable, all-hands meeting space when sliding glass walls are retracted to join adjacent conference rooms with the break area.

A separate public facing service area, distinct from the Authority’s formal reception entrance, welcomes and accommodates transit riders with special needs.

Signage with photos of RTA commuter stations reinforces the RTA identity and will integrate with the Authority’s collection of transit-based art.

 

June 2021 – UIUC Noyes Laboratory of Chemistry First Floor Renovation

Under its retainer contract with the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, TKB converted an existing unused instructional laboratory at the 1902 Noyes Laboratory building into a new general assignment lecture hall complete with current audio-visual technology. This work required decommissioning the former lab with its abandoned gas piping without disrupting ongoing experiments in nearby labs. To accommodate the new lecture hall, an adjacent faculty office was converted to an equipment room for a new air handling unit with air ducted to the lecture hall.  A second door was added to the lecture hall to accommodate exit requirements for the greater room occupancy, and new AV equipment was integrated into the newly designed lecture hall. 

All work required a sympathetic understanding of the building’s historic character; this was an especial focus for the building exterior and the public areas of the building. Historically accurate replacement windows were installed in corridors and designated classrooms.  Terrazzo floors in stairs and corridors were repaired and replaced to match existing.  Wood doors were restored, and millwork trim matches existing.  New LED lighting and corridor sprinkler heads were installed in the renovation area; the design reflects the original corridor lighting appearance with new technology.

All work was carefully scheduled to coordinate with breaks in the academic calendar. Work is fully executed, and the lecture hall is in high demand.

May, 2021

University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Education Building – Elevator Upgrades & Restroom Renovation

As part of TKB’s retainer contract with the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, TKB has completed work on UIUC’s Education Building with an elevator upgrade and restroom renovation. TKB’s work first developed a scope of work that fit within the available funds and priorities by working with the project team’s cost estimator and University’s Facilities and Services Department.  The constructed scope focused on expanding women’s restrooms, the creation of an additional all-gender restroom, and full modernization of both elevators. The building now has fully accessible vertical transportation and renovated, code-compliant accessible women’s and all-gender toilet rooms, meeting current code requirements within a fifty-six-year-old structure. The construction expanded the women’s restroom capacity to better match current student demographics.

Maintaining functional use of the building throughout construction was the most significant project challenge, requiring consecutive modernization of the north and south elevators. Continuous access to an operating elevator and toilet rooms was achieved by overlaying two critical path tracks for long elevator lead times and the toilet room renovations.  One of the men’s restrooms was temporarily converted to women’s use to facilitate simultaneous renovation of all women’s toilet rooms.

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