Competition Entry
Ford Calumet Environmental Center, Chicago IL

Competition program for site and building elements included educational, research and exhibit functions, intended for a diverse group of users, including Chicago Public School Students, residents of the surrounding communities, staff ecologists and researchers, volunteers, and support
staff. Maximal Interaction of the building and its users with the surrounding habitat of native plant and animal life was a primary focus of the design. This natural interaction was emphasized by minimizing the building’s adjacency with vehicular traffic and parking areas. While minimizing the buildings physical site impact, its orientation and building envelope components were designed to maximize the use of natural ventilation, as well as both passive and active solar energy collected by building mass and roof-top photovoltaic collector arrays. The design envisions the use of natural building materials, from sustainable, recycled, and locally reclaimed sources.

Competition Sponsors: The City of Chicago, Chicago’s Environmental Fund, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Ford Motor Co.,
Illinois Institute of Technology, Calumet Initiative