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)
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.