Elgin, popularly known as the “City in the Suburbs” is a historically rich city located in Northern Illinois, and roughly 35 miles Northwest of Chicago. There have been several efforts to increase the vibrancy of the downtown area and the Envision Elgin Tower seeks to be a capstone project to embody the city's efforts to revitalize the downtown area.
"Festival Tower" named after the park that sits right across the building's site creates a live, work and play environment for the city's diverse users with programming including a theater, restaurant, fitness center, retail outlets for local businesses, office spaces and a variety of residential units as well.
The site is split in two by an implied continuation of S Spring Street that cuts off at the beginning of the site. This allows a continuation of the park on the site and draws in community to the building which also continues the retail atmosphere of S Grove Ave on the first floor as well as the other community functions.
SOUTH ENTRANCE
PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION
FIRST FLOOR
The 20-Story mixed-use high-rise embraces the future of design while enhancing community in the Elgin area. The tower has a sense of transparency that allows a more open feel and maximum enjoyment of the views surrounding the site which include the fox river on the west of the site. There are terracotta rain-screen and sunscreen panels depending on the elevation in colors prominent in the downtown area used around the spandrels and o the bottom community floors to incorporate some of Elgin's history into the building. The balconies also serve as shading devices for sustainability purposes.
RESIDENTIAL FLOOR PLANS | LEVELS 9-20
OFFICE AND FITNESS FLOOR PLANS | LEVELS 3 - 8
NORTH ELEVATION
EAST, SOUTH AND WEST ELEVATIONS
BUILDING SECTION A, B AND C
WALL SECTION
The L-shaped lobby serves as a meeting point that is easily accessed from the two main entry ways as well as the third minor entrance. It also serves as a meeting place of community before accessing the restaurants, retail stores, theater or functions of the floors above.
