Avante Center | Tradeline, Inc.

A three-story structure that occupies more than six acres on campus, the Avanté Center stands at the campus’ main entrance and houses 27 classrooms; 38 labs, including a nursing laboratory and dental clinic; 9 lecture halls; and 70 offices. The main concourse, which features student amenities such as study areas, gathering spots, and dining services, is about the length of two football fields and serves as a unifying element between the school’s three academic buildings. The building showcases an indoor waterfall with towering bamboo trees, and design aspects in front of the structure include a 40-ft stainless steel triangular sculpture named “Jubilee”, extensive landscaping, and a trellis-topped fountain.

The composition of the Avanté Center incorporates energy-saving elements using a holistic approach. The building’s exterior is covered with panels made of Trespa Meteon, a recyclable material with a copper-colored, pebbled finish. With its 30-ft high glass curtainwall, the main connector between the three academic wings creates an airy concourse that is flooded with natural light throughout the day. Energy-efficient mechanical systems, the use of renewable and low VOC finishes, and the preservation of open space add to the overall atmosphere of the facility.

Because of the project’s immense size and scope, input from faculty and staff during the planning process was critical. Workshops were held to review every aspect of the lab teaching process, from the layouts of the cabinets and drawers to electrical locations for necessary equipment, allowing for a more accurate cost estimate early in the planning process.

This kind of attention to detail is what gives the Avanté Center its strong identity on campus. The combination of educational functionality and “curb appeal” has generated a positive response from students, faculty, visitors, and community residents.

Project Information

Building Owner:

William Rainey Harper College

Building Location:

Palatine, Illinois UNITED STATES

Project Type:

New Construction

Principal Building Function:

Health careers and teaching facility

Project Delivery Method:

Construction Management

Project Timeline

Oct 2001	Construction Start
Aug 2004	Completion
Last known status: Completed

Project Cost:

$72,000,000

Construction Cost:

$59,900,000

Cost Per Sq. Ft:

$215

About These Cost Figures

Building Information

Project Includes:

Education
Education: Biology
Education: Classroom
Education: Lecture Or Seminar Hall
Greenhouse
Laboratory: Teaching

Total GSF:

282,000

Project Team

Architect

Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum Inc. (HOK)

Engineer - Electrical

KJWW Engineering Consultants

Engineer - Mechanical

KJWW Engineering Consultants

Supplier - Elevators

Thyssen Krupp

Profile Created 07/01/2006

Last Updated 07/27/2006

About the Reported Cost Figures

The cost figures reported are supplied by the firms that submitted these projects for publication, which in most cases are the designers or builders. Whereas these sources are intimately familiar with their projects, they may not be fully aware of the owners' finally-realized and recorded costs. In some cases, costs are truly and completely accounted for, and in others they represent a near approximation of the final costs. Costs have not been adjusted for year of construction, nor has any attempt been made to make regional cost adjustments.

Further, costs are not comparable on any kind of detailed standard costing model. Hence, it is possible for the cost of one building to include a steam boiler, while the cost of a comparable building might not include the boiler, if steam is being supplied from an already existing campus grid. Or, in another case, a building might include excess boiler capacity to supply steam to another building. Some submittals include fees or unusual site improvements as part of the construction costs, which others do not.

Fig. 1

Exterior

Fig. 2

Greenhouse

Fig. 3

Lecture Hall