College of Lake County’s new, six-story Lakeshore Campus Student Center increases programming and strengthens the college’s image in the underserved community of Waukegan. No days were lost during construction.

Throughout the 63,000-square-foot facility, green and blue design elements reinforce the college brand. Each floor features a distinctive ceiling, ranging from the acoustical felt baffles above the library to the perforated metal above the Health Sciences corridor. 

Tall windows displaying downtown Waukegan surround the fifth-floor Eleanor Murky Community Center. The top floor also opens to the facility’s showcase space: an outside deck with a cantilevered roof offers unobstructed views of Lake Michigan a quarter mile to the east.  

The center’s sustainable highlights include fritted glass, east-facing electrochromic glazing, 140 rooftop solar panels, and a chilled-beam HVAC system. The facility also offers a small outdoor terrace on the link between the new and existing buildings.

The building’s facade is composed of combination brick, concrete wall panels, high pressure laminate wall plank, and glazed curtain walls. The project was designed with the intent to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification. It features bird-friendly fritted glass, dynamic glazing for shading the east elevation glass curtain wall system, and rooftop photovoltaic electric panels that harness solar power. A highly efficient mechanical system has an ultraviolet light system on the main air handling unit to assist with cleaner air throughout the building. 

Additional improvements include upgraded electrical service for the new and existing buildings, a new layout to Madison Street on the east, and new a northwest courtyard complete with bike racks.

Through the planning process until the opening, the community, which is 53% Hispanic, had a voice in seeing the project come to fruition.

The Student Center, perched on a hill in an underprivileged community, announces College of Lake County’s emphasis on first-class education to everyone from expressway drivers to commuters on Metra trains. This facility, including the renovated Children’s Learning Center and the college’s Adult Education programs, offers opportunities across generations.

Another highlight is the fifth-floor Eleanor Murkey Community Center, named for the campus’s first dean. Murkey sought to create lasting relationships and beneficial growth at the Lakeshore Campus and in the community. The large multipurpose space features a canopied terrace offering spectacular views of Waukegan Harbor and Lake Michigan. This space is not just for the students to enjoy and gather, but it is also designed for community events. 

There were no days lost on this project.

Situated at the edge of the University of Notre Dame’s campus, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is located on the north side of Angela Boulevard between Notre Dame Avenue and Joyce Drive. 

Construction began in April 2021 and concluded in December 2023 with construction costs totaling approximately $42 million. Spanning 70,000 sq. ft., the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is a dynamic addition to the local arts scene. Primarily an educational and cultural hub, it was designed to facilitate creativity in architecture, cinema, dance, music, theater and the visual arts. The facility houses classrooms, performance space, exhibition areas, a cafe, learning areas, meeting and office spaces and support facilities. 

The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art enhances Notre Dame’s architectural legacy with its distinctive and thoughtfully crafted design, seamlessly integrating into the existing campus. Situated at the university’s “Arts Gateway,” the location acts as a literal and metaphorical entryway to the campus.

Navigating the complexities of the local trade market amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic proved a formidable task, punctuated by material shortages and a manpower deficit. Even as the market began to stabilize during the construction period, the project continued to confront these hurdles. Recognizing that a conventional approach would not suffice, Bulley & Andrews took proactive measures, embarking on visits to material manufacturers specializing in components such as glass, cast stone, millwork and limestone. This approach, aimed at understanding key production elements, helped secure the materials required and ensured meticulous quality control.

In response to shortages in the local labor market, Bulley & Andrews extended support by offering supplemental labor in carpentry, general labor and concrete restoration. This strategic intervention proved crucial in overcoming challenges associated with the availability of skilled labor and keeping the project schedule on track. 

To maintain a comprehensive and transparent line of communication, the project team instituted monthly check-ins with local trade partners. During these sessions, Bulley & Andrews’ representatives visited trade partners’ offices, engaging in in-depth discussions on critical project matters. This proactive and hands-on approach fostered collaboration and ensured the project progressed seamlessly despite the challenges posed by local market dynamics.

We are delighted to share how the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art will positively impact the community. With its state-of-the-art galleries and diverse collections, the museum will become a hub of cultural enrichment and learning for residents and visitors alike.

By presenting art in fresh and engaging ways, the museum will spark important conversations and foster a deeper understanding of global cultures and contemporary issues. Its relocation to a more accessible location on the southern edge of campus ensures that it will be easily reachable for everyone, including the thousands of schoolchildren who visit annually.

Moreover, the museum’s expanded space and enhanced learning opportunities will provide valuable resources for students, educators, and researchers from across the country. This increased accessibility and educational value will not only enrich the lives of our community members but also contribute to the vibrant cultural landscape of the region.

The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art will serve as a beacon of creativity, inspiration, and connection, offering transformative experiences that resonate far beyond the walls of the museum itself. We are excited to see the positive impact it will have on our community for generations to come.

The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art maintained an exemplary safety record throughout its project duration. With over 250,000 manhours worked, there were zero incidents reported. Additionally, the project underwent thorough safety audits, with 95 safety inspections conducted.

Berglund managed the restoration of the University of Chicago’s Bartlett Hall Dining Commons. We restored all four of the exterior walls, rebuilt all turrets and parapets, and tuckpointed 100% of the building. Additionally, we replaced damaged ashlars with new stone, matching the existing stone, and removed the existing roof and skylight with a clay tile roof and a 200-foot-long skylight.

On this project, we had limited space for activities and for material laydown surrounding the building. We implemented detailed site logistics and safety plans to keep workers, staff, students, and visitors safe during construction. Our team worked in constant collaboration with the design team and the University of Chicago to ensure all activities happened on schedule.

Weekly AOC meeting with UC personnel as well as weekly foreman’s meeting.  We worked the schedule with all subs using LEAN method.  The architect had a continuous walking punch list that was addressed ever other week.  All meetings were held onsite during the project duration.

University of Chicago prides itself in helping to lead the industry in terms of diverse participation, setting some of the highest construction diversity goals in Chicago. Berglund shares the same goals, often helping client to set diversity goals if none are required. While the project targeted Minority-owned involvement at 35%, and Women owned involvement at 5% Berglund was able to exceed those targets. We did so through various efforts including regular outreach events, a well-maintained subcontractor database, and many other proprietary practices.

There were no recordable accidents on this project.