Title/Name/Summary
Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center - Certificate of Appropriateness
History
QUICKFACTS
Project
Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center - 2013-0079
Petitioner
Village of Orland Park
Purpose
The purpose of this petition for the Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center is to rehabilitate the existing Orland Park Landmark building and make it more functional for day to day operations by constructing a new 1,260 square foot entrance and reception office.
Requested Actions: Certificate of Appropriateness
Project Attributes
Address: 14650 Ravinia Avenue
Size: 1,260 square feet
Comprehensive Land Designation: Community Intensity Commercial Office
Existing Zoning: Village Center District and Open Land District
Existing Land Use: Government
Surrounding Land Use:
North: OL Open Land District - Humphrey Woods
South: VC Village Center District - Village Center Campus
East: VC Village Center District - Recreation Administration Building
West: OL Open Land District - Humphrey Sports Complex
OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND
The Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center (FLC) is a local Orland Park Landmark according to the Local Register of Significant Places in Section 5-110 Landmarks Designation of the Land Development Code. It is one of the buildings in the “Orland Park Village Center” campus.
The campus was designed and built by Ralph Johnson of Perkins & Will, a renowned and award winning architect and architectural firm. In 1990, the Village Center Campus was nationally recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) with an AIA Certificate of Merit for Good Design. The campus is also considered an excellent example of modernist architecture in the Chicagoland area. It was modeled after the Town Hall of Hilversum, Netherlands (c. 1930s, a famous Dutch town known for its architecture and planning) by the famous Dutch architect Willem Marinus Dudok, who was influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Chicago Prairie style. As a result, the campus is the best example of late 20th Century Prairie style architecture in Orland Park and arguably the region.
For these reasons, the campus and its three buildings, the Fredrick T. Owens Village Hall, William R. Vogel Civic Center and the Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center were landmarked in 2008 according to the criteria of Section 5-110.C.1, which are similar to the criteria of the US Secretary of the Interior’s for the National Register of Historic Places.
Section 5-110 only requires buildings listed on the National Register to follow the US Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. The Village Center Campus is not listed on the National Register. However, considering the architectural significance and importance of the campus to the community and its contribution-functionally and architecturally-to the Chicago region, it has the potential to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the future. As a result, any changes made to the Village Center Campus buildings should be done according to the Secretary’s Standards to preserve the original architectural integrity as much as possible and maintain the ability to achieve National Register status.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION & CONTEXT
The Village of Orland Park is proposing to build the 1,260 square foot expansion in order to rehabilitate the function of FLC. The building was originally designed by Perkins & Will to have its main entrance facing west, toward Humphrey Woods. However, those plans were changed and the building’s functional main entrance became what was supposed to be a side entrance, and the designed main entrance became a side entrance.
The reversal on entrances meant that the lobby and reception area were now located further inside the building than originally intended since these are currently immediately adjacent to the west entrance. Today, visitors enter the FLC from the parking lot and walk passed a number of pre-school classrooms to reach the reception or information desk. Functionally, this access does not provide an appealing experience for visitors and causes conflict with classes that are in session.
The proposed expansion rehabilitates the original design by moving the reception offices, information desk etc. and all those functions to the north entrance, where it will be designed as the new main entrance. This adds the extra layer of security required to run a pre-school facility. It also adds convenience and familiarity to staff and visitors working in and using the building.
No variances or modifications are requested for this project.
No conditions are proposed in the recommendation motion.
Overall, the project conforms to the Village’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Codes and policies for this area.
Overall, the project conforms to the Village’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Codes and policies for this area.
Additional details about the project are discussed in the Historic Preservation Review Commission report, which is attached for reference.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW COMMISSION MOTION
On March 19, 2013, the Historic Preservation Review Commission, by a vote of 5-0 moved to recommend to the Village Board to approve the elevations titled “Franklin Loebe Center Addition and Renovations for Village of Orland Park”, prepared by Studio GC, last revised Feb. 27, 2013, project number 11133, sheet COA-2.
and
Moved 5-0 to recommend to the Village Board to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for 14650 Ravinia Avenue, the Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center.
This case is now before the Village Board of Trustees for consideration.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the expansion of the Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center at 14560 Ravinia Avenue, an Orland Park Landmark, as recommended at the March 19, 2013 HPRC meeting and as fully referenced below.
THIS SECTION FOR REFERENCE ONLY (NOT NECESSARY TO BE READ)
I move to approve the elevations titled “Franklin Loebe Center Addition and Renovations for Village of Orland Park”, prepared by Studio GC, last revised Feb. 27, 2013, project number 11133, sheet COA-2.
and
I move to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for 14650 Ravinia Avenue, the Franklin E. Loebe Recreation Center.