Chicago Building Congress award applauds College of Lake County’s Lakeshore Campus Student Center for exemplary design, construction, and community impact.
Chicago Building Congress (CBC) honored College of Lake County’s (CLC) Lakeshore Campus Student Center with a 2024 Award of Merit in the higher education category of its annual competition. This 63,000-square-foot facility, designed by Legat Architects and built by The George Sollitt Construction Company, was completed in January 2023.
The competition recognizes the most outstanding Chicago-area construction projects over the past three years. Judges, leading figures in the construction industry, make their decisions based on innovative design, quality of construction, impact on the community and inclusion initiatives, and safety record.
“Not only is the CLC Lakeshore Campus Student Center a top-quality project from a design and construction standpoint, but it also has a transformative impact on the community as it significantly contributes to the revitalization of Waukegan,” said CBC Merit Awards Chairperson John Bunce.
Distinctive Design, Stunning Views, and Eco-Friendly Features
The six-story Student Center increases CLC’s programming and strengthens the college’s image within its community. The facility was designed and built for both beauty and durability. Its facade blends brick, concrete, high-pressure laminate wall plank, and glazed curtain walls.
Vibrant green and blue elements throughout the facility reflect the college’s brand. Additionally, a unique ceiling distinguishes each floor. Examples range from the acoustical felt baffles in the library to the perforated metal above the Health Sciences corridor.
“The distinctive ceiling elements boost the aesthetics and help occupants navigate the building,” said Legat project manager Scot Parker.
Another feature is the fifth-floor Eleanor Murkey Community Center named after the campus’s first dean. With its tall windows displaying downtown Waukegan, the space serves as a student gathering space and a venue for community events.
The Student Center’s crowning jewel, however, is the canopied terrace next to the community center. It offers an unobstructed vista of Waukegan Harbor and Lake Michigan a quarter mile to the east.
Sustainability is at the heart of the design, with highlights including bird-friendly fritted glass, electrochromic glazing on the east façade to reduce solar heat gain, and 140 rooftop solar panels. The building’s advanced mechanical systems include an ultraviolet light system that improves the air quality of the building.
Revived Community Pride
The Lakeshore Campus Student Center has become a symbol of rebirth and hope for the underserved community of Waukegan. Perched on a hill, the facility announces CLC’s commitment to education to everyone from expressway travelers to Metra commuters.
Community involvement was integral throughout the project’s planning and execution. The Student Center, which also includes the renovated Children’s Learning Center and Adult Education programs, addresses the needs of a diverse population, 53% of whom are Hispanic.
Since opening in January 2023, the Student Center has hosted over 150 events and welcomed more than 7,500 guests, solidifying its role as a community hub.
“The new Student Center has not only transformed the Waukegan skyline and the Lakeshore Campus,” said Jesus Ruiz, CLC Lakeshore Campus dean, “but it has also transformed the way we serve our students and our community. It has brought back community pride and a sense of ownership that had been lost for many years.”
Contact us with your educational facility design challenges.
Lead photo credit: DroNation Video Services
