Residents can share their feedback with a panel of judges who are selecting an architect for a new or renovated Field Recreation Center.
The current round will narrow the field of 26 architects or architectural firms that submitted designs to three. The competition was announced in February. Starting April 26, those interested can visit the Community Recreation Center at 229 Madison St. to see the submitted designs. There, they can scan a QR code for each design and give the judges feedback. The deadline is May 5.
The questions ask whether the design reflects the values of Park District of Oak Park, if the design fits the environment, how innovative it is, how well it integrates sustainability practices and how accessible and inclusive the design is. In addition to those questions, where residents will rate their answers from one to five, there will also be an opportunity to provide written overall impressions and other general feedback.
The feedback will be reviewed by the panel of seven judges, composed of architects, designers and building or other experts. The judges will decide by May 11. The finalists will then present to a panel that keeps four judges and adds three new ones, including Jan Arnold, the executive director of the PDOP.
“We felt that this process was a great opportunity to engage firms of all sizes,” Arnold said.
The original Field Center building was designed and constructed in 1926 after a similar design competition. Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the architects who submitted a design, but he lost to John Van Bergen.
The architects in today’s competition were given two options: to preserve the Field Center on the existing site or rebuild it in the north corner of the park. Arnold said of the 26 submissions, 19 opted to move the building and seven created schemes to preserve it in its current location.
In addition to the questions about sustainability, accessibility and historical preservation, meeting performance arts needs is another important aspect of the designs that judges will consider, Arnold said.
One design proposes adding a pond to the facility. Another submitted the idea of constructing an outdoor screening schematic to have movie nights. Yet another suggests adding solar panels to the roof. One submission even designed a circular building.
The top three contestants will meet with a construction manager to confirm their design could stay within the $1.8 million limit, Arnold said. That’s how much the competition winner will be awarded to construct the building. If the winner does not exceed that limit, the extra funds will go back into the PDOP’s capital improvement plan budget, Arnold said.
“This isn’t just a competition to have us say ‘You did a great design,’” she said. “It is a competition to design and build.”
If all goes as planned, construction will begin in the late spring to early summer of 2025, Arnold said. The design that wins will also determine where the after-school program that is now hosted at the Field Center will be. If constructing a new building is the chosen plan, the old Field Center can serve that purpose during construction. If the old building is to be renovated, the PDOP will have to find another location for that program. Weather also plays a role in when construction can start.
“There’s so many cool concepts,” Arnold said. “I’m excited to see what comes out.”
