Venues like the Aragon and the “Riv” (Riviera) continue to draw music lovers to the area, but the vitality of the neighborhood that once existed in the swing area diminished over the following decades.   “Uptown began a slow slide, morphing into a low-rent district known for crime, grime and arson fires.”  Burdened by corruption and misallocated tax dollars, buildings fell into disrepair, and such landmarks as the Uptown Theater and Bridgeview Bank, formerly known as Uptown National Bank, awaited long overdue restoration. 

Slowly but surely, the neighborhood is experiencing a revitalization with the completion of Uptown Square/Borders project, funding being raised for the Uptown Theater, and the $16 million dollar renovation of the Bridgeview Bank.  The circa 1920’s art deco building is “the second largest terra cotta structure outside the Loop, and serves as an Uptown anchor, hosting special events and public gatherings.”

The three year rehabilitation project based on Klein and Hoffman’s façade inspection is being performed by Design Installation Systems of Morton Grove.  The project will include removal, repair and replacement of damaged terra cotta.

The terra cotta will be replaced with ARC’s glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) supplied by Arcspec.  Due to its ability to replicate building ornaments and terra cotta, GFRC is becoming more commonly used.

The strength, durability and low weight of this material make GFRC an appealing option for restoration projects.  “Lower weights mean easier hoisting and installation, and replacing terracotta with a lightweight material like GFRC will also reduce loads on the structure.”

GFRC’s characteristics provide a long life span and make it a viable alternative for replacement of terra cotta; however, the determination of which material should be used for restoration should be evaluated based on the type of pieces to be replaced, structural, mold and field conditions, and the budget of each project.  

With the recent election of three new aldermen and their plans to draw businesses and retailers back into the area, perhaps there will be more opportunities to use these materials to restore more of Chicago’s historic buildings and promote a much anticipated upswing in the not so “up-and-coming” Uptown.

Although Fry has been fabricating custom products like column covers for years, and the Graph modular wall system since 2005 when it was selected as a Best of NeoCon® 2005 Silver Award winner, there remained a lack of awareness of Fry’s capabilities and all that they have to offer.  In response, Fry launched the Fry Integral division and website as a virtual space for collaboration for architects and designers.  The launch has provided an opportunity for Fry’s National Sales Manager, Chris Allen, and Fry’s sales representatives nationwide to get out into the design community and build awareness of their diverse capabilities. 

Fry has seen the fruits of its endeavor with column covers and Graph installations in various market sectors throughout the U.S. Fry continues to develop new products based on the needs of individual projects and seeks opportunities to incorporate new designs and custom products into projects.  Designers are encouraged submit their design questions or ideas to their local rep, or contact Fry Integral direct at 877-249-2821 or at the Lets’ Get Started page on the Fry Integral site.

According to Crain’s magazine, as part of a progressive green building initiative, this LEED Platinum project has a double skin exterior consisting of a coated window wall system enclosed by perforated metal panels which improves the energy efficiency of the building by reducing the amount of heat penetrating the building in warmer weather and reducing the loss of heat in the winter. 

Interwoven into the exterior façade of this building is Plasterform’s Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) rain screen system, a more sustainable option than conventional construction.  The GFRC rainscreen has a complex shape that had to conform to the shape of the perforated metal fabricated by A. Zahner.  According to Mario Botelho of Plasterform, this was accomplished with the use of BIM (Building Information Modeling). The Architect created a 3D electronic model of the building that was passed on to each manufacturer.  A. Zahner and Plasterform then used their CADCAM (Computer Aided Design Computer Aided Manufacturing) capabilities for prefabrication which allowed for the seamless integration of both materials despite being hundreds of miles apart from each other.

Sustainability wasn’t the only driving force behind the design of 41 Cooper Square.  “Internally, the building is conceived as a vehicle to foster collaboration and cross-disciplinary dialogue among the college’s three schools, previously housed in separate buildings.”

At the center of the nine-story, 175,000 SF building is a vertical piazza with a full height atrium with grand stairs, sky bridges and skip stop elevators.  As the center of the social hub, Plasterform’s randomly perforated Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum (GFRG) panels were installed throughout the atrium to help with sound absorption.  The use of GFRG on the ceilings speaks to its versatility as a “lightweight material that can be made into just about any shape imaginable”. 

Plasterform’s contribution to the Cooper Square project exhibits their diverse capabilities due to their extensive product range and use of the most innovative technology.

The tower is enclosed by Bendheim Wall System’s translucent linear channel glass provided by Arcspec and installed by Harmon Inc. in Chicago.   This Bendheim double glazed installation consists of LINIT 504 Rough Cast textured channel glass installed in a vertical configuration.  Using the vertical system, the channel glass can be installed without interim frame support allowing for continuous spans of glass and custom curves.

The 504 Rough Cast texture used on the LaSalle Congress project is a hammered pearl or orange peel texture which allows for moderate translucency and light diffusing properties.  Overlooking the Congress Parkway, the tower not only acts as a shelter for commuters, but also as a “gateway into the City from the western suburbs”, according to the design architects Jackson Harlan.

Working with Arcspec and Boston Valley Terra Cotta, RTKL designed the Center with the TerraClad Rain Screen System, an open joint, mortarless system consisting of ceramic panels installed on an aluminum framing system. TerraClad combines the durability of traditional terra cotta with the contemporary design possibilities of a panelized system. Its color range, finishes and the plasticity of the clay allow for more options in texture and profiles than other rainscreen cladding materials.

The architect needed to find a color that blended with the Alabama limestone used on the adjacent Proton Center which Boston Valley’s In-House R & D Lab was able to do with a custom through-body color. Due to the firing process and the permanent bonds that are formed, the through-body panels have zero UV fade. With the color technology and the functional benefits of its rain screen system, TerraClad is becoming more widely used as a long term exterior cladding solution in different climates throughout the United States.

Utilizing various shades and sizes of gray panels hung in a vertical orientation, Ronan worked with Arcspec and Swisspearl a second time on the recently completed 94,000 SF Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School.  Cross inscribed Swisspearl panels were also used on the interior of the building in the St. Ignatius Chapel which won the Interior Design Best of the Year Award in February of this year.  The project was recently featured in the May 2011 issue of Architect Magazine.

Demonstrating the flexibility of the color palette and design options offered by Swisspearl cement composite panels, both of Ronan’s projects are featured on Swisspearl’s website and in their publication, Swisspearl Architecture Magazine.