Headquarters Zurich North America Goettsch Partners. Prodex Prodema ventilated facade.
Zurich North America Goettsch Partners Headquarters. Prodex Prodema.
Area: 783,800 ft2
Year: 2016
Location: Schaumburg, Illinois, United States
Product: Facade cladding
Finish: Rustik Parklex Prodema
Architectural solutions: Panels architectural, Exterior Soffit Panels, Faceted Architecture
Project Type: Offices
Awards: LEED Platinum Certified; 2017 International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies; Silver Award from Building Design+Construction’s 20th Annual Building Team Awards; Award of Merit in the 2016 Excellence in Structural Engineering Awards; Build to Suit Project of the Year in the 29th Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards
Photography: James Steinkamp
Zurich’s North American headquarters in Chicago, USA, was designed to reflect the company’s core values of strength and stability. The modern structure consists of three stacked glass prisms. The bottom of the largest prism, which is located on top of the other two, is covered with characteristic NATURCLAD-W panels.
The building’s sustainable initiatives mean it has earned LEED Platinum certification; the highest level of green certification possible. To achieve this certification, the headquarters had to meet a variety of environmental criteria, many of which were met in the project’s energy-efficient design.
The facades increase the amount of natural light entering the building while regulating the temperature inside. The double walls help to moderate the temperature difference between the interior and exterior. Both of these innovative design features have led to significant reductions in energy consumption.
For most people, the Zurich headquarters will be viewed from a speeding car on Interstate 90, which runs just west of the facility. Others may have the pleasure of viewing it while stuck in traffic on the same stretch. In both cases, the Goettsch Partners design team thought about presenting the project to the masses of cars. The building’s form is clear, even at high speeds. 
The massive bridge spans two other large glass rods. In many ways, the design is reminiscent of what is often considered the Dutch style of diagrammatic design rarely seen in Chicago. It was only a matter of time before a major Chicago office brought the technique to a major local project. The project’s super-truss bridge also recalls the work of firms like OMA and MVRDV, which have successfully used this livable structural system for decades. Yet this simple formal move is in some ways very Chicago—reminiscent of Downtown’s modernist monoliths. The project’s gleaming curtain wall lends the project that blue, glassy sheen so common to many of the city’s current high-rise buildings. The company’s name is also carefully incorporated into the façade in large letters, another aspect that seems to be a topic of conversation surrounding so many Chicago projects, old and new.
https://parklexprodema.com
Ventilated wood-like facade is a modern a solution that combines the aesthetics of wood with the functionality of a ventilated façade. The installation of such a façade requires precise planning and execution to ensure the durability and energy efficiency of the building. The construction of a façade includes several key stages, such as selecting the right materials, preparing the frame, installing insulation and installing façade panels.
