The Park District of Oak Park has declared three finalists in its Field Recreation Center design competition: Patrick Brown, founder of ORG Inc., Kenneth Dahlin, owner of Genesis Architecture and Gregory Klosowski, a partner at Pappageorge Haymes Partners.
The Field Center is a classroom facility in Field Park, adjacent to Horace Mann Elementary School, according to the PDOP website. The competition was split into two phases: conceptual design and design development.
The finalists will all present their design to remodel or replace the Field Center to a jury made up of three members of the jury for the first phase, three PDOP leaders and a PDOP Board Commissioner. Each finalist will be given a small stipend to develop their design further, including for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The winner will be given a $1.8 million contract for construction.
The competition was announced in February. From April 26 to May 5, those interested were able to visit the Community Recreation Center to see the 26 submitted designs. There, they were able to provide feedback to the judges through a QR code for each design.
Of the contenders, 19 submitted ideas to move the center and seven wanted to preserve it in its current location, according to Jan Arnold, the executive director of the PDOP.
Brown, of ORG Inc., said his vision, which requires a new facility, is “generously sustainable,” according to the PDOP news release. He said he wants not only the materials to be sustainable, but the building’s overall impact on the environment to be, too. He also suggested stripping down the existing Field Center into a play area to preserve the location of the original facility.
Field Center design by Patrick Brown, founder of ORG Inc. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park 
Field Center design by Patrick Brown, founder of ORG Inc. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park 
Field Center design by Patrick Brown, founder of ORG Inc. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park
Dahlin, from Genesis Architecture, has experience in organic architecture. His concept, which proposed retaining the building in its current spot, is centered around the 100-year-old fireplace. His design suggested using primarily wood for sustainability and aesthetic purposes.
Field Center design by Kenneth Dahlin, owner of Genesis Architecture. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park 
Field Center design by Kenneth Dahlin, owner of Genesis Architecture. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park 
Field Center design by Kenneth Dahlin, owner of Genesis Architecture. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park
The design by Klosowski, from Pappageorge Haymes Partners, proposed constructing a new building with a butterfly roof to promote sustainability and lighting. The existing facility would then be converted into a covered pavilion under his design.
Field Center design by Gregory Klosowski of Pappageorge Haymes Partners. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park 
Field Center design by Gregory Klosowski of Pappageorge Haymes Partners. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park 
Field Center design by Gregory Klosowski of Pappageorge Haymes Partners. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Park District of Oak Park
The finalist designs, and two alternates, can be seen on the PDOP website.
Arnold, who will be on the jury for the three finalists, told Wednesday Journal sustainability, accessibility, historical preservation and the ability to meet performance arts needs are all considerations for the judges.
“Oak Park is a unique community, and the winning design must rise to the challenge of meeting the evolving needs of our community,” Arnold said in the news release.
The design competition was inspired by the center’s original competition in 1926. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright entered the competition, but lost to John Van Bergen, who designed several PDOP parks.
The finalists will meet with a construction manager to make sure their design will be feasible within the $1.8 million limit, Arnold told Wednesday Journal. Their final plan must include a budget estimate. The winner will be announced on June 28.
If all goes as planned, construction would begin in late spring to early summer of 2025, Arnold told Wednesday Journal.
