Albion Evanston

Architect: Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture
Developer: Albion Residential
General Contractor: Clark Construction
Location: Evanston, IL

Clad in brick, glass, and metal panels, this LEED Silver, transit-oriented mixed-use project sits at the southern end of downtown Evanston. The shallow S-curve of the residential section is a response both to the local street grid, which follows Lake Michigan, and to the rail line running along the western edge of the site. The three-story base is scaled to adjacent storefronts, with retail on the first level along the street. Above, two levels of parking are screened on the south by a kinetic wall: suspended aluminum squares that shift in the wind, fitted with gaskets to dampen noise while admitting light and air. Together, the base and the curve of the tower ease a 15-story mass into a block of low-rise storefronts.