Portfolio
A fire station is one of the very few buildings operational 24/7 all 365 days of the year. With firefighters placing their lives on the line every time they respond to a call, the atmosphere inside the firehouse must truly feel like home.
Gillespie Design Group was charged with designing Station 5 in Ringwood, Illinois, as efficiently as possible, for the McHenry Township Fire Protection District. In a close collaborative effort during the programming phase, Gillespie Design Group met with Fire District Trustees, Administration, and Firefighter personnel, investigating the pro's and con's, goals and objectives, of other stations within the District.
This played a key role in determining the design of Station 5, tailoring the design to the very firefighters who currently staff the station.
Gillespie Design Group was charged with designing Station 5 in Ringwood, Illinois, as efficiently as possible, for the McHenry Township Fire Protection District. In a close collaborative effort during the programming phase, Gillespie Design Group met with Fire District Trustees, Administration, and Firefighter personnel, investigating the pro's and con's, goals and objectives, of other stations within the District.
This played a key role in determining the design of Station 5, tailoring the design to the very firefighters who currently staff the station.
Residents taking pride in their local library, coupled with an uninviting facility that had a front door not readily visible, was put to the test at the McHenry Public Library in McHenry, Illinois.
Due to the previous use of the existing building, its age and condition, the Library District sought numerous improvements, including adding roughly 6,000 SF of work space, meeting rooms and study rooms, renovating the entire stacks area, lobby and book check areas, as well as providing a new easy to find, visible, entry addition.
The new entry, along with improved check-out, proved to be the crowning face of the improvements. Subsequently, Gillespie Design Group helped with the installation of about 75 solar panels on the library roof.
Due to the previous use of the existing building, its age and condition, the Library District sought numerous improvements, including adding roughly 6,000 SF of work space, meeting rooms and study rooms, renovating the entire stacks area, lobby and book check areas, as well as providing a new easy to find, visible, entry addition.
The new entry, along with improved check-out, proved to be the crowning face of the improvements. Subsequently, Gillespie Design Group helped with the installation of about 75 solar panels on the library roof.
The McHenry County Mental Health Board, located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, had staff scattered in at least three different locations prior to this project. Gillespie Design Group conducted an extensive site feasibility study generating site plans for five different locations on behalf of the agency.
Subsequently, the Mental Health Board retained Gillespie Design Group to design a facility to consolidate their functions and staff under one roof - ok, so maybe two roofs. The best suited site to fulfill the needs of the Mental Health Board was determined to be the adjacent parcel directly behind their existing main facility.
Therefore, the project scope became designing a new two-story office building of about 27,000 SF, renovating the existing 8,700 SF office building, and providing a short connecting link between the two buildings.
Subsequently, the Mental Health Board retained Gillespie Design Group to design a facility to consolidate their functions and staff under one roof - ok, so maybe two roofs. The best suited site to fulfill the needs of the Mental Health Board was determined to be the adjacent parcel directly behind their existing main facility.
Therefore, the project scope became designing a new two-story office building of about 27,000 SF, renovating the existing 8,700 SF office building, and providing a short connecting link between the two buildings.
The new Makray Memorial Golf Clubhouse in Barrington, Illinois, was designed to be reminiscent of a much older structure, the kind common to the windswept Scottish coast along the North Sea.
Taking cues from the birthplace of golf, the forms, materials and detailing of the 24,000 SF building are authentic to tradition, providing a certain old world charm in this modern clubhouse, bar, grill and banquet facility.
Taking cues from the birthplace of golf, the forms, materials and detailing of the 24,000 SF building are authentic to tradition, providing a certain old world charm in this modern clubhouse, bar, grill and banquet facility.
Balancing the needs of enthusiastic league bowlers with those less serious recreational, younger and family oriented outings was an important objective in the new 30,000 SF, 24 lane Raymond's Bowl.
The skylit entries are beacons inviting entry to what has become a main recreational and social gathering venue in the small town of Johnsburg, Illinois.
The skylit entries are beacons inviting entry to what has become a main recreational and social gathering venue in the small town of Johnsburg, Illinois.
To repurpose an existing building for a highly specialized and unique use is challenge enough.
However, to make it a boutique, one of a kind facility that spoils its occupants is to rise to a higher level.
Yet, that is exactly what this 20 lane shooting range, NorthShore Sports Club, in Lake Forest, Illinois, accomplishes, complete with an upscale members lounge and full service kitchen.
However, to make it a boutique, one of a kind facility that spoils its occupants is to rise to a higher level.
Yet, that is exactly what this 20 lane shooting range, NorthShore Sports Club, in Lake Forest, Illinois, accomplishes, complete with an upscale members lounge and full service kitchen.
Main Stay Therapeutic Farm has been providing therapeutic riding, equine and animal assisted therapeutic activities for individuals with disabilities since 1984 in a picturesque location, about 40 acres of rolling terrain, in rural McHenry County, Illinois.
When the original converted barn was no longer keeping up with operations, Main Stay chose to work with Gillespie Design Group to build a new facility. This new 39,000 SF environmentally friendly structure includes an indoor riding arena, horse stables, classrooms, club rooms and offices.
Serving as a home for families to come together, the building employs a geothermal HVAC system, among other green technologies.
When the original converted barn was no longer keeping up with operations, Main Stay chose to work with Gillespie Design Group to build a new facility. This new 39,000 SF environmentally friendly structure includes an indoor riding arena, horse stables, classrooms, club rooms and offices.
Serving as a home for families to come together, the building employs a geothermal HVAC system, among other green technologies.
Each classroom in this new K-6 school reflects the Montessori ideals, emphasizing responsibility, teamwork and independence.
Employing renewable energy features as well as energy efficient design elements, the opening of AGBMS was heralded on the Chicago evening TV news as the first green building in Wheeling, Illinois, and received special recognition from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation.
Employing renewable energy features as well as energy efficient design elements, the opening of AGBMS was heralded on the Chicago evening TV news as the first green building in Wheeling, Illinois, and received special recognition from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation.
Located in Crystal Lake, Illinois, OnTarget is a new, state of the art, 20,500 SF shooting range featuring a 12 lane, 25-yard pistol range and a 12 lane, 50-yard rifle range, along with supporting training, retail and technical spaces.
This carefully designed addition of about 50,000 SF had the dual challenge of seamlessly joining itself to both the original retreat facility, built in 1960, as well as its delicate and unique natural environment.
This 90 acre wooded setting located between Bull Valley and Woodstock, Illinois, features ponds, fen and rolling hills.
Designed to include 50 double occupancy guest suites, large and small meeting rooms, dining and kitchen facilities for 200, ownership of this beautiful retreat has subsequently transferred to Loyola University of Chicago.
This 90 acre wooded setting located between Bull Valley and Woodstock, Illinois, features ponds, fen and rolling hills.
Designed to include 50 double occupancy guest suites, large and small meeting rooms, dining and kitchen facilities for 200, ownership of this beautiful retreat has subsequently transferred to Loyola University of Chicago.
The Waterfront Hotel has been beautifully converted to achieve the status of a destination get-away along the Chain of Lakes area in northern Illinois.
In conjunction with the thorough renovations of the guest rooms, the lower level was completely transformed into the Wave Bar & Grille, decked out with the distinctive Wave Bar itself, cascading with internal colored lighting and opening up to the waterfront terrace.
In conjunction with the thorough renovations of the guest rooms, the lower level was completely transformed into the Wave Bar & Grille, decked out with the distinctive Wave Bar itself, cascading with internal colored lighting and opening up to the waterfront terrace.