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US Waterproofing

Schaumburg, Illinois

A 52,200 SF Office and Production Headquarters on a 5.8 Acre Site.

Having outgrown their headquarters facility in a nearby community, this third-generation family company recognized that growth leads to opportunity.  With the goal of creating a state-of-the-art headquarters that would attract and retain the quality personnel that are vital to the success of their business, they purchased an existing building on a business park site.  Enthusiastically, they promptly undertook a one and a half year-long process to design and renovate this property.

The existing 39,400 SF single-story precast exterior wall panel building had a clear height of 24 feet.  This vertical clearance was just right for the addition of a 12,800 SF structural steel mezzanine to support their office personnel.  The final program of spaces was ultimately settled following a series of test-fits, where a delicate balance between wants and needs was achieved.  This allowed for a Training Room, Locker Room, Material Supply Storerooms and indoor service vehicle parking all to be incorporated within the main floor.  Fortunately the existing precast wall panels were highly adaptable.  These panels not only had the capacity to support the perimeter structural loads of the mezzanine, but also could be modified to allow for the insertion of new upper-level window openings; the arrangement of which complimented the existing main floor windows.

The mezzanine office area proved to be the most influential component in the design process.  The Owner’s desire for a highly transparent, fluid space with a refined industrial feel served to create a sophisticated language of finishes and furnishings.  Recognizing that the entry into a space is an opportunity, ARCHIDEAS developed an open, monumental stair that floats between the ground floor foyer and the mezzanine office lobby.  Situated in a narrow, vertical space with a wood slatted back-drop and a signature chandelier, the spatial experience while using this stair sets the tone of this facility by enhancing the journey between levels.

As with many renovation projects, the discovery process during design and construction consistently revealed new opportunities.  To their credit, U.S. Waterproofing decisively stayed true to their core principle of “building for success”, thereby guaranteeing exceptional project results.

 

Owner:  U.S. Waterproofing
Contractor:  Cord Construction Company
Structural Engineer:  Virgilio & Associates, Ltd.
MEP Engineer:  Design-Build
Interior Design:  ARCHIDEAS, Inc.