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CA/ds Portfolio – Luxury, LEED, Value and Style

Residential Portfolio

  • New Construction
  • Renovations/Additions
  • Multi-Family
  • Before and After
  • Renderings and Videos
This hillside rowhouse overlooking Presidio Park was completely renovated and expanded to incorporate enlarged living spaces, a skylit stair hall and a roof terrace. Large north-facing windows on each floor capture views over the park and bay while multiple skylights fill the living spaces with natural light. Both the exterior and interior are skillfully detailed with dark-stained timber and wrought iron accents blending the Spanish mission style character of the existing house with modern amenities.The addition and renovation of this French Provincial-inspired home integrates seamlessly with the existing residence featuring a limestone exterior, slate mansard roofs, and copper accents. Expansive arched openings and interior art glass open up the once-segmented floor plan providing free-flowing interior spaces and an open floor plan. Taking advantage of a nearby existing tree, the rear roof terrace is nestled below the expansive tree canopy creating the sense of an outdoor room.Nestled in the woods of the western Michigan dunes this vacation home utilizes natural materials and a refined sensibility to provide a comfortable place to relax and recharge.
Inspired by the stately aesthetic of French Provincial architecture this new 10,500 sq. ft. residence is perched on the bluffs of Lake Michigan’s shoreline in Kenilworth.Carved limestone, hand forged metal work, and custom millwork instill a classic elegance to this 17,000 sq. ft. Italianate home located on Lake Michigan in Chicago’s beautiful North Shore.Perched on wooded hilltop, this historical estate home was thoughtfully restored and expanded, addressing the modern needs of a large family and incorporating the unique style of its owners. The design is teeming with custom details including a porte cochère and fox head rain spouts, providing references to the historical narrative of the site’s long history.
This Craftsman style home wraps around an outdoor courtyard, allowing natural light to spill deep into the interior living spaces throughout the home.The axial approach to this Georgian-style brick home sets the stage for the comfortable elegance found within.The Georgian Colonial inspired forms and center entry of this 4,600 sq. ft. home was designed to reflect the timeless vernacular of the surrounding neighborhood.
This city home has a traditional exterior design utilizing brick, limestone, and french doors with transoms on the first floor. The interior of this 5,000 sq. ft. home is intended to provide a tailored aesthetic that is classical in its organization and use of symmetry.This historic home was renovated and expanded to provide ample space for gathering and entertaining. Cathedral ceilings and dormer windows provide soaring spatial volumes and abundant natural light while the open floor plan enhances the fluid connections between rooms.By expanding the attic space within the existing footprint, this home design was able to accommodate the functional needs of the client without sacrificing the limited lot area available. The extended front porch also provides generous outdoor living space along the front facade of the home.
Situated on a beautiful lakefront site, the client desired to maximize the lake view from every room with a plan that was very open yet provided comfortable, defined spaces.Incorporating refined stone and masonry details, this Chicago neighborhood home greets guest with its expansive front porch, providing a comfortable and sheltered respite from the bustling urban surroundings.Carved limestone, hand forged metal work, and custom millwork instill a classic elegance to this 17,000 sq. ft. Italianate home located on Lake Michigan in Chicago’s beautiful North Shore.
The approach to this lake front home is deliberately understated allowing the beautiful setting and landscaping to take center stage.The distinctive Georgian character of this home was meticulously restored and renewed through sensitive design solutions and finely crafted detailing. Additionally, refinements to the landscape design and front approach help reinforce the symmetry of the front facade.This home was completely renovated and expanded to enhance the original Dutch Colonial character. The addition of the covered stone front porch, which wraps around the house and ties into the new sunroom, offers a variety of outdoor living spaces appropriate for every season.

Commercial Portfolio

  • Offices
  • Civic/Community
  • Retail
  • Mixed Use and Multi-Family
  • Renderings and Videos
Located on a primary thoroughfare in Lincoln Park, this building is designed to fit comfortably into its urban context in its massing and use of materials. Although it is a relatively large building, its facade is designed as a series of smaller components that are visually appropriate in proportion and scale. The brick structure with its masonry detailing and limestone base is reminiscent of many of the surrounding buildings built after the turn of the century.Seeking to establish a signature office space in downtown Chicago, Farleys and Sathers Candy Company asked COOK ARCHITECTURAL to revitalize an existing office space into one that blends a professional office environment with the colorful world of confections.Toyota Technological Institute (TTI) needed a new facility on the campus of the University of Chicago to provide more space, but more importantly, to attract the best minds in theoretical math research. Their new 31,000 sf. space, occupies the top two floors of this 5-story structure, which was renovated from its former use as a phone switching station.
This 2,900 square foot showroom for a wallcovering and fabric supplier is designed to highlight their wide range of textures and materials.  A subtle color scheme created by white-washed plank flooring and white laminate millwork allows for the full expression of the continuously changing product lines.  Not only can the removable panel wallcoverings be updated seasonally, but the custom sliding track system was designed to create spatial flexibility as well.  An endless combination of panel layouts gives the showroom the ability to arrange comparisons for a particular client or built-in cabinets millwork details were also designed to provide future flexibility while providing the much needed storage for their vast catalog of textiles.  As a premier retailer of high end outdoor and casual furniture, Brown Jordan turned to COOK ARCHITECTURAL Design Studio to help completely revamp their showroom in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. The design solution included opening up the site lines inside and out. Doors with iron bars were removed from the exterior walls, openings were made much larger with floor to ceiling glass. Inside, walls were removed to reveal the magnitude of the space and the product line. The new showroom received rave reviews at its unveiling for the Casual Furniture Show in September, 2011.The goal of this project currently being developed is the construction of a new five-story 140,000 sq. ft. mixed-use building. The ground level will have approximately 30,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. The second, third and fourth floors will contain approximately 65 residential condominium units averaging approximately 1,200 sq. ft. per unit.
This project involved the localization of cultural buildings in the city center. The primary functions of the buildings are that of a concert hall/theatre, slooping museum, and a library. The design solution incorporates a new Culture House, Library, Rhythmic Center and Slooping Museum into a campus surrounding the inner marina. In 2008, this project received a Citation of Merit Award for design from the Chicago Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.Aging well engenders a community that promotes living well. Our design approach to Senior Communities focuses on invigorating all facets of healthy living, providing design solutions that support active lifestyles within all dimensions of wellness including physical, intellectual, social, emotional, and vocational. Residential and social spaces are specifically designed around each area of wellness, addressing the needs of the residents while maintaining a high level of independence in a community setting.COOK ARCHITECTURAL Design Studio (CA/ds) worked with the New York based LALIQUE team bringing to life their new showroom in the Merchandise Mart.  CA/ds provided space planning services for this 1,700 sq. ft. tenant relocation and build-out.  The scope of work included integrating leather fabric walls to create the ambience the client desired to display its crystal line.
For their new 4,800 sq. ft. marketing and sales offices, Merrick turned to CA/ds to create a space that had a hip vibe that embraced the rural roots of their brand.  Wood, leather and galvanized metal were utilized in spaces including private offices, conference room, kitchenette, work area for outside sales representatives, product display/storage and reception area.  The creative design had to embrace the unusual footprint of the building, wanting an open plan; we used glass partitions and curved walls to allow ample daylight to flood the space.The main body of this 62 unit condominium building includes four floors of residential units. The lower level provides 112 parking spaces.Hill Mechanical Group looked to the COOK ARCHITECTURAL Design Studio to realize their vision of converting neglected office space into an innovative, technology-driven facility that functioned as a useful resource for collaboration with their peers and demonstrated their digitally-guided fabrication capabilities. The carefully coordinated design effort and demonstrative details resulted in a professional workspace that functions as a living model of the clients technological and fabrication capabilities.
COOK ARCHITECTURAL Design Studio has been involved with the renovation and expansion of many different churches throughout the Midwest.As requested by the Village, this project analyzed the existing building context of downtown Northfield including the Village Hall, Police Station, and Library buildings, and developed a long term vision plan for the Village Center retail district. Guidelines were specifically created to provide potential for a traditional urban downtown district. The work involved close cooperation with the Village Center Task Force, Community Development Director, and the Village Manager.
 State of the art full service fitness facility located in the LEED certified Merchandise Mart. The design takes advantage of the skyline views with cardio equipment oriented at the window line, in addition to the Pilates room and yoga studio. With more than 13,000 S.F. the facilities includes full locker rooms and showers, private lockers, lounge with beverage center, and personal training areas and office. The cracked glass walls of the Pilates room maintain an open feeling while providing a level of privacy. Cork floors at the reception and lounge areas provide comfort and durability and as a renewable natural resource are environmentally friendly.Located in the exciting Bucktown area, Wabansia Row creates the ambiance of a European courtyard with rich masonry detailing. The facade of each rowhome is distinguished through the use of varied architectural elements, details and materials including copper and limestone.CA/ds  provided complete architectural services for the renovation of an existing office building and warehouse space of approximately 240,000 square feet.  <br />
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The scope of work included the design of 11,500 square feet office space creating a new reception area, work-stations, offices, conference room, break room area, and restrooms.  In addition CA/ds assisted with the 2,500 sq. ft. retail area, 4,000 sq. ft. product showroom, and the large material warehouse and the fabrication shop.
CA/ds worked with the owner and the interior designer to renovate an existing 7,400 sq. ft. bow truss structure to create a new boutique for the clients’ hi-end fashion business.<br />
The space was renovated to create display vignettes to optimize the space and elegantly showcase the designer pieces.  We created unique wall mounted display areas, as well as inlay tile patterns to draw your eye through the space.  <br />
The original bow truss roof structure was revealed after being covered for 70 years and became the central feature of the space.  New skylights cascade the space with natural light.Located in the heart of downtown Winnetka, Winnetka Galleria offers exceptional design, expansive outdoor terrace space, and superior living standards currently unparalleled on the North Shore. Offering the freedom and prestige formerly reserved only for Oak Street and Michigan Avenue, Winnetka Galleria captures the spirit of a “walk to everything” address. This project was honored with the Grand Award for recognition of outstanding design in the Mixed-Use Commercial/Residential category from the National Commercial Builders Council Awards of Excellence.This building is uniquely located on the edge between a single-family residential area and Glencoe's business district. The facade facing Park Avenue reflects the features of many of Glencoe's retail buildings along the same street, while traditional gabled roof forms and red brick were utilized to bestow a residential character to the remainder of the building. Arched limestone entries, transom windows, and iron railings and gates all adhere to the aesthetic qualities and contextual fabric of Glencoe.
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150 North Wacker Drive, Suite 2360 - Chicago, Illinois 60606
312.846.6292
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