Providing a safe and inspirational environment for a historically underserved community

The fieldhouse aims to positively impact the lives of young people by creating a safe and inspirational environment for the 600 children that live in Dearborn Homes. The new building provides services and safe spaces, including a basketball gym with spectator seating, multi-purpose community rooms with a shared pantry, offices, a reception area, and storage space. The building also includes flexible areas for gatherings and events.

Clad in iridescent shingles that change hues when viewed from different angles and lighting conditions, the unique building serves as a community anchor for the Park District, both visually and socially. For the project, Arup provided multidisciplinary services for the building, including structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services, as well as information and communications technology (ICT) consulting, from scheme design through construction administration.

Using durable and sustainable materials

The project uses resilient materials that can withstand the harsh climate of Chicago while invoking the unique character of Chicago’s architecture, including iridescent stainless-steel shingles for the exteriors, as well as gypsum panels, polished concrete, and long-span laminated structural wood beams.

Providing services for improved building performance

Active energy reductions strategies include a highly efficient HVAC system, high efficiency light fixtures, and advanced lighting controls with daylight adjustment. The HVAC system uses multi-stage cooling with adaptive dehumidification system, 100% modulating economizer, variable speed drives, and baseboard heaters on the perimeter to provide a thermally comfortable ambience. Space heating is provided by multiple stage natural gas fired furnaces with continuous monitoring of supply air temperature.

The high ceiling gymnasium brings natural light from windows and uses multiple destratification fans to reduce heating cost and improve air circulation. A humidity sensor located in the gymnasium continuously monitors relative humidity and operates the HVAC system. The building has a remotely accessible Building Management System with capabilities to monitor and control space temperature. It also uses a custom-designed exterior wall with a thermal performance that exceeds baseline standards of ASHRAE 90.1-2013, in conjunction with reflective white PVC roof which reduces solar radiation that is absorbed, which in turn means less heat is transferred into the building. 

A high efficiency lighting design gives a 47% performance improvement over ASHRAE 90.1-2013, resulting in a cascading performance improvement in the HVAC system energy usage. Exterior building and site lighting were also kept to a minimum to reduce energy consumption and light pollution.