The Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) has recently awarded the University of Chicago’s Campus North Residential Commons with three honors, including the first Chairman’s Award for Community Impact and Social Responsibility.
After a judging process conducted by an expert panel in design-build project delivery, the residential commons also received awards for merit and excellence in design.
The Chairman’s Award for Community Impact and Social Responsibility was created to recognize design-build teams who have demonstrated their commitment to improving the economy, environment and society as well as those who have actively engaged and helped communities, according to DBIA’s CEO and executive director Lisa Washington.
Washington said the UChicago team, led by design-builder Mortenson Construction and architect Studio Gang, went “above and beyond” to engage the Hyde Park and Chicago communities during design and construction of the residence hall. Residents from both communities completed 39.87% of the project’s total workforce hours. In addition, 43.96% of the construction dollars paid to date were spent on products and services offered by minority-and-women-owned businesses.
“We are very proud to receive these awards for the Campus North project from the Design-Build Institute of America,” said Larry Blouin, executive director of capital project delivery at UChicago. “The university set ambitious and visionary goals for this residence hall, from the design and construction to LEED Gold certification and community involvement and connection, and the DBIA awards recognize these achievements.”
Construction of the residence hall was finished fall 2016, one full year ahead of the scheduled date of completion due to an efficient design-built process. The 400,000-sq. ft. project includes four buildings that range in height from a single-story dining commons to a 15-story residential tower, plazas, walkways, courtyards and retail spaces.
