Northeastern Illinios University threw a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 30, for its new El Centro location in Avondale. Here are some of the most interesting features of Northeastern's newest building.
Architectural Highlights
- 66,000 square-feet, three stories
- $27 million budget
- Designed by Juan Moreno of the Chicago-based architecture firm JGMA
- The "fins" on the building appear gold when viewed from the south, blue from the north.
- Many materials, such as the exposed concrete, perform the function of structure and finish.
- In many spaces the building structure shows through on the interior, allowing students to see how the building was assembled.
- Color-coded pipes correspond to mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, allowing students to learn how buildings function.
Building Features
- 17 classrooms with the latest teaching technology
- Computer lab
- Seminar rooms
- Science labs
- Student lounge with views of the Chicago skyline
- Resource center/library
- Meeting rooms
- Faculty and staff offices
- Community room
Environmental Sustainability Features
- Rooftop replete with solar panels
- Thick, sound-insulating glass and strategically placed hallways buffer highway noise from classrooms and offices.
- Planting more than 100 trees, 300 shrubs, 10,000 perennials and hundreds of flowering bulbs
- All are drought resistant and do not require watering after they are established.
- Plumbing fixtures are the lowest water consumption capacity possible.
- Many walls are raw, dyed concrete, eliminating the need to cover them with an additional material.
- The Resource Center wall, long bench and seating area are made of renewable bamboo.
- Parking area features permeable pavers to divert stormwater.
- The retention area below the pavers primarily includes stone made from crushed concrete from the site’s former buildings.
- Former site’s brick has been salvaged and is being used by others.
- Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs illuminate the parking area and walkways.
- Because the lights are directed downward, they minimize night sky light pollution.
- The parking area includes six electric vehicle-charging stations funded by the student-run NEIU Green Fee Committee.
- The building features ample glass to maximize natural light.
- The patio area boasts a demonstration green roof. The building’s roof also features a 75-kilowatt photovoltaic array.
