The building embodies the luminous characteristic of the site’s forest edge.
FOUNDATION IN THE MIDWEST
MIDWEST, USA
2025
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THE BUILDING FACADE IMBUES THE SITE WITH A SENSE OF THE FOREST EDGE
PERFORATED SCREEN AND TERRACOTTA ARTICULATE THE SITE'S PRESENCE
THE PERFORATED SCREEN OFFERS A CONTEMPLATIVE THRESHOLD
THE BUILDING'S CIVIC SPACE EXTENDS INTO THE LANDSCAPED COURTYARD
THE LANDSCAPE IS EXTENDED INTO THE INTERIOR COURTYARD
SHADED ROOFTOP PAVILION
ROOFTOP TERRACE PAVILION AND LANDSCAPED COURTYARD
ROOFTOP TERRACE PAVILION AND LANDSCAPED COURTYARD
SKYLIGHTS WITH LOUVERED SCREEN
THE OPEN PLAN OFFICES ARE DELINEATED BY THE SKYLIT LOUVERED SCREEN
OFFICES AND COMMUNAL SPACES ALL ACCESS THE COURTYARD AND SURROUNDING LANDSCAPES
Description
The 2-story structure is nestled within the re-established native landscape. Oriented to respond to the changing seasonal daylight, the south and west facades feature more glass, while skylights gather ambient northern light through louvered screens and bring sunlight into the center of the building. Large terracotta panels mitigate the sounds emanating from vehicles traveling along the adjacent throughfare. The surface finish and profile of the exterior surfaces - the terracotta, glass and perforated screen - responds to the changing light and landscape on all sides of the building, subtly embodying the site’s ambient reflections, shade, shadow and movement of the trees and plants.
The building systems are a model of sustainable design. Geo-thermal wells feed a ground source heat pump system that transfers and stores energy in the ground during the summer and uses that same energy to heat the building in the winter. This highly energy efficient HVAC system has zero on-site carbon generation, and includes inverter driven heat pump chillers that produce both chilled water and heating hot water to heat and cool the building.
Design: Studio James Carpenter/JCDA with Studio Unseen Light
Landscape: Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates