Northwestern University

BUILD

Chicago's Northwestern University embarked on the creation of a remarkable lakeside sailing and visitor center, a project that also included a two-story car parking facility. The challenge was to design a parking garage facade that would not only conceal the vehicles within the elevated garage but also enhance the building’s architectural impact with a distinctive visual statement. The design brief called for a sailing theme that could serve as a signature element, contributing to the building's striking aesthetics while reinforcing the identity of the sailing center.

The solution lay in a dynamic approach that used PTFE membrane fabric to create a series of custom-shaped sails, designed to evoke the movement of water and the essence of sailing. A total of 94 vertically curved, thin-width fabric panels were carefully set at right angles to the structure. Some panels were designed to curve inward toward the building, while others curved outward, creating a visually compelling wave pattern. The outward-curving panels were designed with varied heights at their points of maximum extension, crafting an undulating waveform that stretched along the entire length of the structure.

The project involved a high level of collaboration between designers, engineers, fabricators, and contractors to ensure the sails and their supporting structure would be not only visually striking but also structurally sound. Each panel frame had multiple attachment points, and their precise locations required detailed coordination with the contractor to ensure alignment. The careful planning of tensioning the fabric panels was crucial, as the frames needed to maintain their structural integrity without becoming overstressed.

The installation process was equally complex, requiring the membrane panels to be positioned several stories above ground, which demanded precise coordination and careful attention to weather conditions. The final result was a facade that brought the sailing theme to life in an unexpected way, transforming the parking structure into an artistic element that engages pedestrians and cyclists alike. The wave-shaped pattern created by the fins on the east facade stands out as a striking visual feature, a testament to the power of innovative design in creating architecture that both serves a functional purpose and contributes to the surrounding environment.