Resurrection Medical Center
Southeast Parking Structure Expansion, Chicago

Development Team
CLIENT: Resurrection Health Care Corp., Chicago
ARCHITECT: Loebl Schlossman & Hackl, Chicago
GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Power Construction Co. LLC, Schaumburg, Ill.
STRUCTURAL/MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Walker Parking Consultants/Engineers Inc., Elgin, Ill.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Wehler Peterson & Associates Ltd., Batavia, Ill.

The Southeast Parking Facility expansion was a major element of the nine-year modernization of Resurrection Medical Center.

The expansion is composed of cast-in-place concrete columns reinforced with rebar and post-tensioned slabs. The curving elevation, with planters that extend more than 7 ft. from perimeter columns, was also cast-in-place.

The north and east elevations are clad in precast concrete.

A glass stair tower at the termination of the north elevation is a compositional element between the curved and straight portions of the facade. Cantilevered stair landings "float" behind the glass corner of the stair enclosure.

Showing Sensitivity

Sited between a five-story patient wing and a four-story rectangular parking structure, the parking garage needed to improve the space in the area of the campus in which the facility was located.

The solution was to conceal the lowest level of the structure behind the plantings of a landscaped berm.

Another challenge was to provide parking space for 278 cars without compromising views from the nearby patient rooms during the day.

The sides of the structure that face hospital buildings feature cantilevered, irrigated planters that terrace back at each level to minimize the structure's apparent mass.
Consideration was taken to prevent lighting for pedestrians and the light generated by vehicles from creating a nuisance at night.

The planters conceal headlight beams, and the plantings not only add beauty, they also help contain spill light in the structure.

No land area was available for a traditional retention basin for storm water.

As a result, a network of large-diameter concrete pipes was located beneath the building.

Because the campus has poor soil conditions, 65-ft.-deep caissons and grade beams were used.

The jury said, "The structure is sensitive to the location. Integrating the landscaping with the structure itself is notable. The owner made a decision to sacrifice some efficiency, curved design versus square, for beauty."

Return to Best of 2002 list