The Opus Group (Opus) and JLL (NYSE: JLL) announced today the completion
of a new corporate headquarters for the
American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in Itasca. The
183,000 square foot building is the new home for the company’s 455 employees
and serves as a national hub for the organization’s 66,000 primary care
pediatricians, pediatric medical sub-specialists and pediatric surgical
specialists both in person and virtually through state-of-the-art audiovisual
and connectivity technology.
“We're thrilled to have been a part of the collaborative design and construction effort to make this project come to life," said Nick Melaszus, project manager, Opus Design Build, L.L.C. “The completion of this building is an exciting milestone for the organization and will allow them to continue to grow well into the future."
In 2014, AAP sought out commercial real estate firm JLL to craft a strategic real estate plan. Led by executive vice presidents Eric Kunkel and Scott Ohlander, the site team toured several downtown and suburban sites and ultimately decided that a build-to-suit was the best choice for AAP's unique needs.
The new headquarters is located in the Hamilton Lakes Business Park conveniently near O'Hare International Airport, allowing ease of access for members and event attendees traveling to the location from all across the country. The building was completed in October 2017 and AAP was fully operational in the space in early December.
“With so many organizations evaluating their need to replace or redevelop their offices and headquarters, there is a lot of opportunity to help them along the way," said Eric Kunkel, executive vice president, JLL. “Hamilton Lakes Business Park offered proximity to AAP's valued employee base and future expandability. As one of the largest build-to-suits in the suburbs, AAP's new headquarters is a shining example of world-class design in a modern workplace environment."
The five-story building, just down the road from the organization's former space, boasts a modern design with functional spaces to fit all of AAP's needs. The building grows the number of meeting spaces from 23 to 81 rooms. Multiple large spaces and a full catering kitchen will allow AAP to host hundreds of members and medical professionals for conferences and in-house events. Flexible workspaces for employees, including convertible standing desks and wireless networks throughout, accommodates the organization's current workforce and will allow for future expansion.
"Our vision for this project has always been quite simple: to create a place that enables our child health mission," said AAP CEO and executive vice president Karen Remley, M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H., FAAP. "This new headquarters is designed to support the work of our staff and our 66,000 members at the highest level. Our new headquarters is more than just an office building. It is designed to be the new home for the profession of pediatrics and through state-of-the-art surroundings and communications. It is where we can pursue the AAP's mission together."
The building's exterior perimeter features 10-foot-high floor-to-ceiling windows and unique multi-colored glass fins around the entire building, which transition in color from blue to green to yellow to clear. The distinctive feature provides an aesthetic element inspired by European designs, and also aids in preventing solar heat gain. A large open atrium area also welcomes guests and employees to the space. The building's design also incorporates other sustainable elements throughout, including high performing and high efficiency HVAC units, high performing glass and LED lighting. The site also features bioswales and water filtration areas, electric car charging stations and permeable pavers.
Using its unique design-build approach known as
Opus DB3™, Opus has worked on 57 Client Direct Services
construction projects for clients throughout the country in the past 24 months
including remodels, tenant improvements and new construction projects across
sectors. Opus Design Build, L.L.C. was the design-builder for this project, Stantec
was the architect of record and JLL was the Owner’s Representative from initial
site search to completion of construction. Opus Development Company, L.L.C.
provided development support services.
About The Opus Group
The Opus Group® is a family of commercial real estate development, construction and design companies headquartered in Minneapolis with offices and projects across the country. Opus operates as an integrated, multidisciplinary team with expertise in development, capital markets and finance; project management and construction; architecture, engineering and interior design. The Opus Group includes Opus Holding, L.L.C. and its operating subsidiaries: Opus Development Company, L.L.C., Opus Design Build, L.L.C. and Opus AE Group, L.L.C. Specializing in industrial, office, residential, retail, healthcare and institutional projects, The Opus Group has broad capabilities, deep experience and a proven design-build model that delivers solutions for customers on time and on budget. For more information, visit www.opus-group.com and follow @TheOpusGroup on Twitter.
About JLL
JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2016, JLL had revenue of $6.8 billion and fee revenue of $5.8 billion and, on behalf of clients, managed 4.4 billion square feet, or 409 million square meters, and completed sales acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $145 billion. At the end of the third quarter of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 80,000. As of September 30, 2017, LaSalle Investment Management had $59.0 billion of real estate under asset management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com.