At the outset, The Structural Group identified two major challenges in this project. First, the project’s scope included a variety of uses — parking, retail, townhome and multi-unit residential — each of which advocated for a different structural system. Second, the proposed brick cladding system required a structural steel frame, which was both expensive and inefficient.

To meet the differing architectural needs of each part of the project, The Structural Group took a mix-and-match approach:

• A cast-in-place concrete structure for the two levels of below-grade parking
• A precast hollow core slab on structural steel and braced frames for the larger five-story residential buildings
• A light, wood-framed structure for the townhomes.

By combining structural systems, we allowed each designated space to function at its best while delivering the most cost-efficient solution.

Then the team turned to the brick cladding challenge. We reviewed the proposal for steel support behind the architectural brick facade and developed an alternate detailing system that eliminated steel and saved the client hundreds of thousands of dollars on material costs.

Park Ridge Uptown has won numerous awards from the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, the American Planning Association and the Homebuilder’s Association of Greater Chicago in recognition of outstanding planning and design, thanks in part to The Structural Group’s ingenuity in proposing a mix-and-matched system and alternate detailing that enhanced the architectural design while saving significantly on cost.