Burr Ridge Village Center
Award of Merit: Retail
Located 15 mi southwest of downtown Chicago, Burr Ridge is an affluent suburb with 10,000 residents.
Though 50 years old, the community lacked a true downtown. Burr Ridge sought a high-end lifestyle project and a village center where residents could congregate.
Numerous development efforts had failed in the past, including those for retail, cinema and Class-A office. In addition, the site suffered because it was subject to Cook County commercial property tax while surrounding properties just across County Line Road were located in DuPage County, where taxes are less.
The project features a vertical integration of retail, office and residential. It represents a true lifestyle center because of the presence of shoppers, workers and residents.
New Urbanism Principles
The principles of New Urbanism were used on the project: a human scale in the design and pedestrian orientation.
Considerations included having everything located within a five-minute walk; variation in design themes; strong architectural elements terminating views; a defined street grid; including of public art; narrowing of streets to slow traffic; create welcoming outdoor spaces; and screened but accessible parking and service areas.
Early-stage conflicts with structural, mechanical and architectural issues were addressed. Decisions included limiting restaurants to nonresidential buildings, creating special commercial loading and trash area and establishing detailed design and operating guidelines.
An attractive element of the site was its adjacency to the Burr Ridge Lifetime Fitness Center, a health club and spa. It is expected the high volume of Lifetime Fitness members will become core patrons of the Burr Ridge Village Center.
The retail component will include about 45 stores totaling 203,000 sq ft.
The residential component, which is still under way, will include 50 lofts with open floor plans, exposed ductwork and 10-ft ceilings in the main living spaces and bedrooms with private balcony or outdoor terrace.
In addition, 61 condominiums will be located in the heart of the village center. A second phase will include an additional 24 one- and two-bedroom luxury condominiums and 59 two- and three-bedroom condominiums.
The development will include about 37,000 sq ft of office condominium space.
Jury Comments: “The project is trying to bring a suburban downtown back to life. The mixed-use and New Urbanist principles were wisely chosen.”
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