Wight & Company Wins AIA Northeast Illinois Award for Design of Michigan Avenue Headquarters
Wight & Company (Wight) has been honored with an Interior Architecture Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Northeast Illinois chapter, for its transformative design of four floors of Michigan Avenue office space for a not-for-profit medical organization. Wight’s design solution for its client, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), helped cultivate a collaborative workplace culture.
The design team, led by Wight’s vice president, director of interiors Janet Lougée, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, developed a vision for the client’s new space after the ACGME decided to vacate its longtime facility. The aging facility had limited opportunities for employee interaction and lacked the ability to host large committee meetings, which is a key business function of the organization.
The ACGME’s new headquarters is a vibrant corporate environment. Wight’s design features lounges and open hubs on each floor to encourage informal employee interaction. An open, internal stair symbolizes connection. A full-floor conference center allows for fluid transitions within and across the space, and features interesting places in which to interact with colleagues. Abundant natural light enlivens the space. Lougée describes the finishes throughout the new space as “simple, but elegant.” Lougée’s project team at Wight included Matthew Duggan, AIA, Mark Nelson, Jim Smiley, Matt Aquino, PE, SE and Divya Jain. Project partners included Executive Construction Inc., McGuire Engineers and Gwen Grossman Lighting Design. Christopher Brooks of JLL served as the owner’s project manager. The new 89,000-square-foot ACGME headquarters was completed in 2016. The award winners were announced at the AIA Northeast Illinois chapter’s biannual awards ceremony on October 12.
About Wight & Company
Established in 1939, Wight & Company is a leading Design & Delivery firm based in Chicago. With a professional staff of specialists, including 60 LEED® Accredited Professionals, Wight & Company effectively connects its planning, architecture, engineering, construction, and transportation and infrastructure services to provide clients in the public and private sectors comprehensive solutions. As the first firm to receive Green Firm Certification from the Sustainable Performance Institute (SPI) and the architect of more than 80+ LEED certified or registered projects including silver, gold and platinum designations, Wight & Company is committed to sustainable planning, design and construction principles. For more information, visit www.wightco.com.
