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The built environment plays a crucial role in healing. For organizations dedicated to helping individuals recover from addiction, like the Gateway Foundation, creating spaces that promote well-being is paramount. The Gateway Foundation's campus in Lake Villa, Illinois, is undergoing significant enhancements designed to provide enhanced campus-wide services for recovery. At the heart of this initiative is the creation of a new Health and Wellness Center, featuring a renovated gymnasium and a compelling new mass timber addition.
We're diving into this project to explore how design and material choices come together to support a holistic approach to healing. Specifically, let's look at the striking new Multipurpose Room addition – a space built with mass timber that stands as a testament to how architecture can directly contribute to patient well-being.
Gateway Foundation is dedicated to helping patients recover from addiction through robust programming and treatment options. The campus-wide improvement project at Lake Villa aims to enhance these offerings through state-of-the-art improvements designed to treat the mind, body, and soul. The planned upgrades include a comprehensive renovation of the existing gym and the addition of new spaces that prioritize health and wellness.
The new Health and Wellness Center concept brings together several key components: a refinished gymnasium, a new fitness center, and a significant new addition known as the Illumination Room. This addition is also referred to as the Larson Family Wellness Center, envisioned as a multi-purpose patient community center. It will feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering sweeping views of the surrounding Fox Lake naturescapes, allowing patients to connect with nature. Within this space, individuals will engage in holistic treatment options like yoga, art therapy, and meditation.
Surrounding the new addition, gardens designed for healing and well-being are planned. The healing garden, specifically, will wrap around the exterior of the Larson Family Wellness Center, featuring Eastern design principles, including a Zen rock garden and a mindfulness labyrinth within a serene natural setting.
Beyond the new construction, existing facilities are also receiving attention. The mezzanine level of the gym is being updated with an accessible lift, a roof terrace, and updated material finishes, ensuring greater accessibility and providing new spaces for patients. The existing gymnasium itself will receive a new basketball floor, lighting, and an ADA accessible lift leading to a loft and roof terrace. A new Fitness Center is also part of the master plan, offering a dedicated gym workout space with cardio and weight training equipment, allowing patients to focus on restoring the connection between mind and body. Additional parking is also being created to improve guest and client visits.
The project incorporates universal design principles to ensure that indoor-outdoor client community areas are accessible to all. Gateway Foundation emphasizes that these improvements support their holistic approach to treatment, which aims for a lifetime of recovery.
While the entire Lake Villa project is exciting, the Larson Family Wellness Center addition (also called the Illumination Room or Multipurpose Room) is particularly notable for its structural material choice. This new building is being constructed using mass timber.
The choice of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) is a key feature. CLT is a structural panel system known for its strength, stability, and sustainability credentials. Sterling Structural, a major manufacturer of CLT in America, supplied their TerraLam ® CLT panels for this project.
Why choose mass timber, specifically CLT, for a space dedicated to healing and wellness? Mass timber offers a unique combination of structural performance, aesthetic appeal, and environmental benefits. The decision here seems aligned with creating a therapeutic environment.
This mass timber addition isn't just about the material; it's about the design that leverages it. The project features an exposed CLT deck, which not only serves as the structural ceiling but also showcases the inherent beauty and strength of the wood. Imagine the warmth and natural feel this brings to a space intended for yoga, art therapy, and meditation – doesn't it just feel more conducive to calm and connection than other materials might?
Beyond the exposed structure, the addition boasts a unique architectural round shape. This curved form likely contributes to a softer, less institutional feel, promoting a sense of community and flow within the space. Think about how curved spaces can feel more inviting and less rigid than rectilinear ones – a fitting choice for a multi-purpose community center focused on well-being.
Sustainability is also woven into the design with the inclusion of a green roof. A green roof enhances the building's environmental performance and seamlessly integrates the structure with the surrounding healing garden and natural landscape. This thoughtful integration reinforces the project's goal of connecting patients with nature as part of their recovery journey.
These architectural features – the exposed timber, the round shape, and the green roof – work together to create a space that is not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing and therapeutic, embodying the project's holistic vision.
No ambitious construction project comes to life without a dedicated team of professionals. The Lake Villa mass timber addition was brought to fruition through the collaboration of several key firms.
The design was led by MKB Architects, serving as the Architect for the project. MKB Architects is known for working with community-based non-profits in specialized areas including health and wellness. It's worth noting that MKB Architects is also a Women-Owned Business Enterprise.
Executive Construction Inc. served as the General Contractor, overseeing the overall construction process. Thornton Tomasetti provided the engineering expertise as the Engineer on the project.
The specialized installation of the mass timber components was handled by Denk & Roche Builders, the Installer. Rothoblaas provided the rigging services necessary for lifting and placing the heavy timber elements. As mentioned earlier, Sterling Structural was the supplier of the Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels.
This project highlights how specialized roles and effective collaboration among architect, engineer, general contractor, and material suppliers are essential, especially when incorporating innovative building systems like mass timber.
The Gateway Foundation's Lake Villa campus expansion and renovation, particularly the Larson Family Wellness Center mass timber addition, represents a forward-thinking approach to designing spaces that support recovery. By integrating a renovated gymnasium, a new fitness center, healing gardens, and the innovative mass timber multipurpose room, the project creates a comprehensive Health and Wellness Center tailored to the unique needs of patients on their recovery journey.
The use of mass timber, specifically CLT, with its exposed structure, unique round form, and integrated green roof, demonstrates how material selection and architectural design can contribute significantly to creating a therapeutic and sustainable environment. This project serves as a compelling example for the AEC community on how mass timber can be effectively utilized in healthcare and recreational civic buildings to enhance user well-being and connect occupants with nature.
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