Information Commons
The Klarchek Information Commons building is a cutting-edge 4-story, 70,000 square foot student center and “bookless” library designed by SCB architects and Elara Engineering with assistance from Germany-based Transsolar Associates. This high-tech student center has an open floor plan for individual and group computer work and studying. The continuous open space between eastern and western facades allows not only for dramatic lakefront views, but also an innovative hybrid natural ventilation design, which harnesses suitable ambient conditions for space conditioning.
Other state-of-the-art systems included in the commissioning scope of work are radiant heating and cooling integrated into the precast concrete floors, underfloor air distribution, energy recovery air-handling units, daylight harvesting, advanced automation/controls, and more. This is one of the first buildings in Chicago with a double-skin façade and one of only a few that employed a hybrid natural ventilation system at that time. E Cube provided LEED Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning services for this project.