Gladstone Factory — Schaumburg, Ill.

Development Team
OWNER: Gladstone Group, Elk Grove Village, Ill.
DESIGN: A. Epstein and Sons International Inc./annex 5 Architects, Chicago
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Ross Midwest, Schaumburg, Ill.
STEEL FABRICATION: Northern Industrial Steel, Frankfort, Ill.
GLASS: Petersen Glass, Chicago

The renovation of the exterior of the suburban Gladstone Factory shows that simple and elegant design solutions can be achieved on a $150,000 budget.

The facade was in need of updating from its 1970s industrial park appearance. The exterior required a complete reconfiguration while the tenant remained in place and the entry was reoriented toward the parking lot.

Taking a Look Around

Chicago-based A. Epstein and Sons International Inc./annex 5 Architects, the designer, analyzed older adjacent industrial buildings from the 1930s.

The old curtain walls facades of these buildings have changed over time to meet various functional requirements. Glass may have been broken and replaced for security or maintenance reasons or opaque panels may have been inserted for solar/shading to improve energy efficiency.

The Gladstone team came back with a mosaic pattern wall, an idea that is functional and aesthetically pleasing. A steel frame was developed that "floats" in front of the existing building. The frame is infilled with panels that form a "kit of parts" that can be clipped onto the facade, providing an updated look for a relatively low cost.

The jury said, "The team did a nice job taking an old building and making it attractive. It's a very simple treatment. The team quickly changed the look of the building without touching the inside."

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