Illinois’ College of Lake County Continues to Expand

April 22, 2015 1936 Views Eastern U.S., First Tennessee Park, Hospital Compare, Karl Dean, medical office, OCSA, rainwater collection

GRAYSLAKE, Ill. — The College of Lake County (CLC) began construction last month on a new $28.3 million Science & Engineering Building. The project is the first in a series of major upgrades that will take place throughout the CLC’s various campuses, totaling $163 million.

Designed by architect of record Legat Architects and design architect Brubaker Design, both of Chicago, the new Science & Engineering Building will highlight the college’s science and engineering programs and serve as an attractive new gathering spot for the campus community. In addition to creating nearly 42,000 square feet of new teaching and learning space, the project will also include a roughly 25,000-square-foot renovation of the college’s existing C Wing.

The project will provide all new laboratory spaces for biology, microbiology, anatomy, physiology and chemistry students. The soon-to-be constructed areas will include four laser and photonics laboratories — expanding the college’s growing engineering department — and five chemistry laboratories, including one specifically devoted to organic chemistry. Meanwhile, the renovated space will offer two new anatomy and physiology labs, two cadaver labs, two microbiology labs, four upgraded biology labs and two general-purpose classrooms.

The new building in particular has been designed to LEED platinum standards, and will include a variety of green features such as a rooftop photovoltaic array, a geothermal heating and cooling system, a rainwater harvesting system, LED lighting and a living wall. The building’s sustainability features are anticipated to result in a more than 50 percent reduction in energy consumption over a comparable conventionally designed building.

“We are very proud of the sustainability features,” said CLC Board Chair Amanda Howland in a statement. “They demonstrate that sustainability is good not just for the planet but also for taxpayers’ pocketbooks.”

Construction of the Science & Engineering Building addition is expected to wrap up in summer 2016, after which crews will begin on the renovation phases. The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) and the college funded the three-story building and upgrades jointly. Affiliated Engineering, Inc. (AEI) also assisted in the development of efficient mechanical and electrical systems that will support the college’s commitment to energy conservation and sustainable principles, according to a statement by the college.

In addition to this new facility, CLC’s Master Plan also includes a variety of other upgrades and improvements, including the addition of a $4.8 million geothermal system, which will provide heating and cooling to the entire campus. A nearly $25 million renovation to the campus’ Main Lobby, located between two existing wings, will include extensive remodeling and the addition of a new café. Further renovations to the A and B wings will modernize existing HVAC and sprinkler systems, create a centralized student services center and update classrooms.

Improvements are also taking place at CLC’s Waukegan campus. That campus will receive a new 53,000-square-foot building, and more than 19,700 square feet of existing space will undergo renovations to expand educational offerings and enhance services and programs. Meanwhile, the CLC Southlake Campus in Vernon Hills will benefit from a $1.67 million chemistry lab expansion.