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Renishaw, Inc.
Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Renishaw is an English company, which produces and manufactures laser and other highly accurate measuring devices. This facility is their North American sales and service headquarters. Epstein provided complete architectural and engineering services, from conceptual design through construction, including programming, schematic design, final design/construction documents and administrative services for this headquarters office facility. The project consists of approximately 40,000 square feet contained within a 2-story office wing and a one-story general storage wing located at 5277 Trillium Boulevard in Prairie Stone Park in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The parcel of land was approximately five acres and there were no improvements on the site itself. Utility improvements did exist in the public right of way of Trillum Boulevard.
This particular parcel is unique in Prairie Stone Park, in that it has the stand of mature trees in the park. The site plan has been designed to preserve those trees while making maximum use of the site. The building has been placed on the site to present the maximum façade exposure to the street and the employee parking and asphalt has been placed in the rear of the site. The loading dock has also been placed to the rear of the site, shielded from the street by the building. The entry drive and circulation road on the Renishaw property has been located in a manner that preserves the magnificent stand of existing trees. The forested nature of the site will be preserved in a manicured fashion and utilized as an amenity for the occupants of the building. The ground floor contains employee-training facilities, a workshop/laboratory area, with a demonstration room for potential clients. The bulk of the sales activities and general office space occur on the second level. A customer reception area projects above the main vehicle drop-off zone. A bridge to the administrative area connects it across the 2-story atrium lobby.
The exterior of the building has been developed with a liberal use of glass and white panels. The juxtaposition of a high-tech look with the natural character of the site creates an attractive overall image. The provision of natural light is an important design parameter for Renishaw, reflected in the 50-foot width of the office/lab area. Proportionally, the building has been designed as linear structure with specially developed areas at each end. The East Side features a second level building extension that serves as a protective canopy for a formal entry/drop-off area. As an employee amenity, an outdoor terrace has been incorporated at the West End, adjacent to the lunchroom. This not only adds visual interest to the building, but also provides an element that relates strongly to the natural character of the site. Complementing this idea is the use of natural materials, such as wood paneling and stone floors for the interior finishes of the public areas of the building.
The overall design program provides the Prairie Stone Development with an architectural statement composed of the highest level of aesthetics and with the utmost respect and sensitivity to the natural elements and composition of the site.
Epstein’s design was awarded a Professional Design Award by the Society of Registered Architects (SARA) and a Distinguished Building Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 2003.
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