Title/Name/Summary
Village Hall - 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue - Certificate of Appropriateness for HVAC Improvement Project - Phase 2
History
QUICKFACTS
Project
14700 S. Ravinia Avenue - Village Hall HVAC Improvement Project - Phase 2 - Certificate of Appropriateness
Legistar ID: 2026-0385
Project ID: PPA-26-0027
Petitioner
Joel Van Essen, Public Works Director, Village of Orland Park
Purpose
The purpose of this petition is to obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for exterior rooftop mechanical equipment improvements at the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, which is part of the designated Orland Park Village Center Landmark at 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue. The proposed work includes the removal of existing Village Hall rooftop HVAC equipment and installation of new rooftop mechanical equipment as part of the Village Hall HVAC Improvement Project - Phase 2. The updated proposed equipment sheet dated May 5, 2026 reflects the revised air handling unit configuration that will be used for this project.
Requested Action: Certificate of Appropriateness
Project Attributes
Address: 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue
P.I.N.: 27-09-219-005-0000
Comprehensive Plan Planning District: Downtown Planning District
Comprehensive Land Designation: Community and Institutional
Existing Zoning: VCD - Village Center District
Existing Land Use: Village Hall
Landmark: Yes - Orland Park Village Center / Frederick T. Owens Village Hall
Surrounding Zoning/Land Use:
North: VCD - Village Center District, Government (VOP Recreation) and Open Space
South: VCD - Village Center District, Government (VOP Civic Center) and Open Space
East: VCD - Village Center District, Financial Institution (Peoples Bank), Vacant land, and Commercial Retail (Walgreens)
West: VCD - Village Center District, Government (VOP Loebe Center) and Open Space
BACKGROUND
The Frederick T. Owens Village Hall is located at 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue and is part of the Orland Park Village Center Landmark. Section 5-110. D.2.a.21 of the Land Development Code lists 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue, “Orland Park Village Center,” as an Orland Park Landmark, including the Frederick T. Owens Village Hall, William R. Vogel Orland Park Civic Center, Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center, and Ara Pace Veteran’s Memorial.
Although the subject property is not located within the Old Orland Historic District, the Village’s landmark regulations apply. Section 5-110.E.2.a states that landmark designation requires review by the Plan Commission and Village Board for major or minor changes to the appearance of the landmark or site plan of the landmark, as defined by Section 6-209.G. Such review requires issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness pursuant to Section 6-209.
The petitioner is requesting approval for rooftop HVAC improvements associated with the Village Hall HVAC Improvement Project - Phase 2. The project scope includes removal of four existing Village Hall rooftop units and variable air volume (VAV) boxes, followed by installation of two air-cooled chillers, two air handling units, fifty-four VAV boxes, and associated electrical, mechanical, control, testing and balancing, commissioning, and site work.
DETAILED PLANNING DISCUSSION
The proposed improvements are intended to modernize and replace existing Village Hall HVAC systems while maintaining the continued municipal use of the landmark building. The exterior portion of the project is primarily limited to rooftop mechanical equipment and related rooftop appurtenances. No demolition of the landmark building, public-facing masonry, primary architectural elevations, window systems, or character-defining exterior features is proposed.
The submitted materials identify the following exterior/rooftop work:
• Removal of four existing Village Hall rooftop units.
• Installation of two new air-cooled chillers, identified as ACC-1 and ACC-2.
• Installation of two new air handling units, identified as AHU-1 and AHU-2.
• Installation of associated rooftop mechanical, electrical, control, testing/balancing, commissioning, and site work.
• Installation of fifty-four VAV boxes as part of the overall HVAC system improvements.
The submitted equipment package identifies the air handling units as custom units with a custom “Pure White” finish. The revised Scott Springfield / Modine submittal states that the paint color was updated to custom “Pure White,” and the updated proposed equipment sheet dated May 5, 2026 shows that the new AHU configuration is reduced in size from the previously proposed unit. The comparison graphic indicates the existing unit at approximately 32'-10 1/2", the previously proposed unit at 29'-0", and the new unit at approximately 24'-1 3/4". In staff’s opinion, the reduced footprint of the revised AHU equipment lessens the overall rooftop footprint and is more compatible with the landmark building than the earlier proposed configuration.
The submitted chiller package identifies two Trane CGAM 90-ton air-cooled chillers for the project, tagged ACC-1 and ACC-2. The chiller package indicates the units are equipped with a super quiet sound attenuator package and have physical dimensions of approximately 146.2 inches in length, 88.4 inches in width, and 92.5 inches in height. The equipment is proposed within the existing rooftop mechanical area and grouped near the central portion of the building roof, rather than placed directly on the primary public-facing building elevations.
A rooftop equipment line-of-sight survey was also provided. The survey analyzed visibility from the east, south, north, and west viewpoints using a pedestrian eye height of 5.5 feet. The survey indicates that some of the proposed equipment will be visible from certain pedestrian viewpoints. Specifically, AHU-1 is visible from the east, south, and north viewpoints and not visible from the west viewpoint; AHU-2 is not visible from the east viewpoint but is visible from the south, north, and west viewpoints; ACC-1 is visible from the east and north viewpoints and not visible from the south or west viewpoints; and ACC-2 is visible from the north and west viewpoints and not visible from the east or south viewpoints. However, the equipment remains rooftop-mounted and grouped in the existing mechanical zone rather than on the principal public-facing wall planes of the landmark building.
Section 6-209.G classifies changes as Major Changes, Minor Changes, or Routine Maintenance, depending on the scope and impact of the work. Routine maintenance includes repair or replacement where there is no change in design, materials, or appearance. Minor Changes include alterations that do not have a substantial impact on the exterior appearance of the structure or site. Major Changes include substantial changes to exterior appearance, changes to impervious coverage, additions, demolition, relocation, or significant alteration/removal of historic or architectural features.
Because the project involves replacement and installation of visible rooftop mechanical equipment on a designated landmark, staff has treated the work as a minor exterior alteration to a landmark requiring a Certificate of Appropriateness. The work does not appear to constitute a Major Change because it does not include demolition of the landmark, an addition to the building, relocation of a structure, a change to impervious coverage, or removal of character-defining historic or architectural features.
Section 5-110.F also references the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of landmarks. The proposed work supports continued use of the Village Hall as a municipal facility, does not remove distinctive architectural materials or features, and is generally reversible in that the rooftop mechanical equipment could be removed or replaced in the future without impairing the essential form and integrity of the landmark building. As proposed, the work is compatible with the continued civic use of the building and does not substantially alter the landmark’s historic, architectural, or civic character.
As proposed, the rooftop HVAC improvements meet the applicable Certificate of Appropriateness review intent for a designated landmark. The project will modernize necessary building systems while limiting exterior impacts to rooftop mechanical equipment and related rooftop improvements. The revised proposed air handling unit size further improves the project from an appearance standpoint by reducing the footprint of the previously proposed rooftop unit while maintaining the overall rooftop mechanical concept. The work will preserve the building’s primary public-facing architectural character and allow the landmark municipal facility to remain serviceable for long-term use.
Recommended Action/Motion
The Certificate of Appropriateness for rooftop HVAC improvements at 14700 S. Ravinia Avenue, as depicted in the petitioner’s submitted petition, updated proposed equipment sheet, equipment specifications, rooftop layout materials, and line-of-sight survey, case number PPA-26-0027, is subject to the following conditions:
1. Meet all Building Code and Land Development Code requirements.
2. Obtain all required building, mechanical, electrical, and related permits prior to construction and installation.
3. The rooftop mechanical equipment, supports, rooftop penetrations, conduit, piping, and related appurtenances shall be installed substantially in conformance with the submitted plans, specifications, updated proposed equipment sheet dated May 5, 2026, and line-of-sight survey.
4. The proposed work shall not remove, damage, obscure, or alter character-defining exterior architectural features of the landmark building. Any incidental damage to visible exterior building materials or roof-edge conditions shall be repaired to match the existing materials, color, texture, and profile, subject to staff review.
5. Final rooftop equipment placement, equipment finish, supports, conduit routing, piping, and any required screening shall be reviewed through the building permit process to minimize visibility from public rights-of-way and preserve the civic/landmark character of the property.
6. Any material change to the approved equipment location, height, size, color/finish, screening, or visibility shall be submitted to the Development Services Department for review to determine whether an amended Certificate of Appropriateness is required.