WILMETTE – The Wilmette Park District’s Lakefront Committee on November 2 will interview five architectural firms that have submitted concepts for a new beach house and parking lot at Gillson Park, and the community is encouraged to attend the meetings.
Since a $14.5 million lakefront referendum was overwhelming rejected by voters in April 2015, the Park District has been developing a scaled-back plan for the lakefront parks, which would include a new beach house for Gillson Park and a re-designed parking lot.
The Park District issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to develop plans for a new beach house and parking lot and received responses from 10 architectural firms. The RFQ asked for at least two concepts from each firm, so the Park District could get a feel for the firm’s vision, Steve Wilson, Park District executive director, told DailyNorthShore.com.
While the Park District utilized the floor plan of the rejected beach house plan to develop a program for the RFQ, the new beach house will be about 1,000 square feet smaller than the original design.
The lakefront committee reviewed each firm’s proposals, and after a lengthy discussion and input from members of the community, narrowed it down to the five firms being interviewed on November 2. Those firms include: Muller & Muller, Farr Associates, BKV Group, Woodhouse Tinucci and Ratio Design. Each firm will be allotted 60 minutes, with 30 minutes for the firm to present its design ideas and 30 minutes for the committee to ask questions.
The firms each submitted concepts for the beach house that range from a single building, to several smaller buildings that each serve a different purpose. While the architectural designs and styles vary, all the firms emphasized using durable construction material that would withstand the weather. The firms also sought to design a beach house that would blend in with its surroundings. For example, BKV Group said its building design took inspiration from nearby dunes.
Some of the concepts were unique. For example, Farr & Associates proposed solar canopy shades where visitors could store bikes and a foot rinsing area where rainwater could also be directed. Ratio Design submitted a concept it called “Vista” that was constructed of seven pods that could be broken-down and stored in the winter.
After interviewing all five firms, the lakefront committee will recommend one firm to the board commissioners, which will make the final decision.
Interviews will be conducted at the Mallinckrodt Community Center, 041A Ridge Rd., Wilmette, on November 2 beginning at 4:30 pm. The committee encourages all interested residents to attend the meeting. Please contact Wilson for more information.
The interview schedule is as follows:
4:30 p.m.: Muller & Muller
5:30 p.m.: Farr & Associates
6:30 p.m.: BKV Design Group
7:30 p.m.: Woodhouse – Tinucci
8:30 p.m.: Ratio
One of Farr Associate’s proposed designs for Wilmette’s Gillson Beach house.
One of the proposed designs by Woodhouse Tinucci.
One of BKV Group’s conceptualizations of Wilmette’s Gillson Beach House.
A Gillson Beach House proposal by Ratio Design.