Designing a hotel that outperforms competitors means listening to what both primary users and surrounding buildings have to say. The most prosperous hotels embrace local opportunities. They might, for instance, support a manufacturing district or link to a transit hub. Therefore, the challenge for architects is to design hotels that not only cater to the […]
Community
Public Works/Maintenance Facility Design Essentials – Part 4 (Save Money with Sustainable Design)
Practical design strategies reduce toll on energy bills and long-term expenses When it comes to facilities improvements, budgets are usually tight for public works and campus maintenance providers. Municipal public works facilities take a backseat to more civic buildings like village/city halls and police stations. Similarly, colleges set aside more money for facilities that relate […]
Buffalo Grove Park District Prepares for Second Act of Community Arts Center Conversion
Phase two renovations to complete transformation of synagogue into arts center In 2014, Buffalo Grove Park District (BGPD) moved its Community Arts Center into a former synagogue. Longtime BGPD partner Legat Architects designed the phase one renovations that transformed the main worship space into a theater. Since then, the Community Arts Center has hosted everything […]
Groundbreaking Starts Construction for Dualbranded Hyatt Place and Hyatt House Hotels in East Moline, Illinois
Legat Architects, Russell Construction team on first phase of mixed-use development [East Moline, IL] – Today, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to begin construction of the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels in East Moline, Illinois. Legat Architects designed and Russell Construction will build the combined 233-room facility. The 150,000-square-foot structure will be constructed beside […]
Achieve Hospitality Architecture That Impresses – Part 1: Multigenerational Appeal, Local Connections
Did guests get the experience that they paid for? This question has long haunted hotel operators. Hotels generate an experience. The factors that contribute to that experience range from overall service and speed of check-in to dining and cleanliness. These things are critical, but it all starts with what creates the first impression: the facility. […]
Hyatt Place and Hyatt House Hotels in East Moline Bring Upscale Lodging to The Bend on the Mighty Mississippi
233-room combined Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels strengthen urban renewal with regionally-inspired design and spectacular views The Quad Cities region in northwest Illinois and southeastern Iowa is in the midst of a shift from manufacturing community to tourist destination. The latest sign of that is The Bend on the Mighty Mississippi, a premier mixed-use […]
Train Station Architectural Design Fundamentals – Part 5 (Accessibility: Making the Grade with Universal Design)
If safety is the number one priority for train stations, then accessibility comes in at a close second. Have you ever wondered about those little bumps you see on sidewalks just before you get to a cross street? Those of us in the architecture/engineering/construction industry call them truncated domes, and they’re there for a reason: […]
Lake County’s Largest Architect Models Next-gen Office with New Gurnee Studio
Contemporary . . . with a splash of shag: Legat Architects’ new digs designed to demonstrate strong design, enhance performance, and entice talent [Gurnee, IL] – Ted Haug, who has devoted his career to design, spent over 30 years at Legat Architects’ oldest studio. Early last year, the shag carpeting that still showed in that […]
Public Works/Maintenance Facility Design Essentials – Part 3 (One Roof to Shelter Them All)
Heated indoor storage makes sense financially and functionally. Besides employees, one of public works/campus maintenance providers’ most valuable assets is its fleet of vehicles. We understand the importance of treating employees well, but what about those vehicles? Previous posts in this series offer strategies for saving costs without sacrificing design, and for screening resources from […]
Feasibility Study Brings Ideas to Modernize Davenport Public Library
Preliminary designs offer framework for reimagining 48-year-old library [Davenport, IA] – The Davenport Public Library’s downtown branch, built in 1968, needs an update to meet the research and media needs of today’s patrons. Library representatives and Legat Architects have developed strategies to breathe new life into the two-story facility. Based on meetings with stakeholders, a […]
Train Station Architectural Design Fundamentals – Part 4 (Tough and Timeless Materials)
When it comes to train station materials, durability isn’t enough. Every weekday, harried commuters clatter and bang their way through the typical train station. Their clasps, umbrellas, and coffee mugs scrape and grind against its walls. On weekends, the assault continues: downtown-bound families with children who love to roughhouse, skateboarders attempting new tricks. I’ve even […]
La Grange Stone Avenue Train Station Restoration Wins Driehaus Preservation Award
Rehabilitation of 115-year-old community icon honored with Landmarks Illinois’ Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award [La Grange, IL] – Each year, Landmarks Illinois sets out to celebrate Illinois’ most outstanding historic preservation projects with the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award. This year, the nonprofit organization faced the difficult task of choosing 9 winners from 39 […]