continued

The warmth of the cedar, which gives the interior spaces a good deal of their appeal, was nearly lost during a budget-conscious design process. But because Teng & Associates also does design/build projects, they were able to collaborate with their in-house construction group.

These construction experts assisted in detailing the interior wood walls so that they could be built easily and economically but with sufficient quality control. Although the resulting design was unique, building it required only simple, standardized methods.

Hoepf recalls that the construction group's advice about the cedar detailing gave the architects the confidence they needed to persuade the client to take a chance on including the amenity. The bids came in within the budget, cedar and all.

This project received a 2001 Divine Detail Award from the AIA Chicago and an Outstanding Facility & Parks Award from the Illinois Park & Recreation Association.

B.J. Novitski is managing editor of ArchitectureWeek.

Site plan of a portion of the Timber Ridge Forest Preserve, in Dupage County, Illinois. Image: Teng & Associates, Inc. Typical wall section. Image: Teng & Associates, Inc. The swinging metal panels and cedar slats do double duty as wall finish and display surfaces. Image: Teng & Associates, Inc. When the swinging panels are in the open position, they offer views from the gallery through the exhibit space to the open farmland beyond. Image: Teng & Associates, Inc. Typical window detail. Image: Teng & Associates, Inc.   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.