Mystery House 3 update

We have some new renderings of interior spaces and the side courtyard as we work on getting the interior colors and materials right.

Construction of Limestone, Stucco, and Curtainwalls are all progressing as we race to get the exterior envelope enclosed.  Once the exterior is buttoned up, we will insulate and drywall!

Stairhall under construction

Front Facade Rendering

Kitchen rendering

Kitchen rendering

Family Room from Kitchen rendering

Master Bath rendering

Side Courtyard rendering

Living Room rendering

Front Facade, Limestone in place construction photo

Family Room rendering

NDC Ranked as Top Design Build Firm in Chicago, but why Design Build?

We are pleased to report that NCA Build Ltd., the Design-Build entity of Nicholas Design Collaborative was ranked as the top Design-Build firm in Chicago by Buildzoom Magazine. But what is Design Build, and why would a client want to build their home employing this construction delivery method?

TRADITIONAL DELIVERY: COMPETITIVE BID
Traditi.nal delivery is when the property owner hires the architect to design the project under one contract and a general contractor to build that design under another, separate contract.  Contractually, under AIA form contracts, the architect acts as the Owner's agent during the course of construction, making sure the building is being constructed as designed.  The architect designs and details the drawings and the contractor builds the building, but the contractor may have different ideas on what they want to build and how they want to build it.  This means that the architect must ensure that the GC build the project the way it was designed which can lead to conflict.  Some contractors are architect friendly, others don't want to be told what to do, especially from a "know it all" architect.  The latter typically leads to architect and GC working against, not with each other.

Most clients I encounter these days want to "bid out" the drawings we produce in order to build their houses.  This means getting a collection of 4-6 GC's to go through the process of bidding out to their subcontractors, highly detailed drawings for a nuanced, one of a kind home.  Generally GC's are given 4-6 weeks to complete this task.  Its a lot of work, and it takes a lot of time.  Because of this, and without the guarantee of being awarded a contract, many GC's do not want to participate, which usually, eliminates most of the competing GC's.

Lorel Park

Influencing this process is the fact that most of the good subcontractors are already busy and have little incentive to be competitive (or timely) with their bids.  This is because many of the contractors and subcontractors in the Chicagoland area who came here from other countries went back to their home countries during the great recession and have not returned to the US.  Presently, we are back to pre-recession levels, and the bulk of the of the departed contractors have not returned, creating greater demand for the contractors that remain, thus driving prices higher.  Typically, this means that the remaining GC's,  get inflated contractor pricing and they don't have time to get competing bids in the limited bid time frame. In some cases, they may not have received any bids for some trades, which means they will need to plug in a high number just to cover themselves.  This will generally result in inflated bids from the remaining GC's  The Owner will need to choose one of them, most likely based solely on price.  The total cost of the bid or Guaranteed Maximum Price is what is binding in the contract that the Owner signs with the GC, with no ability to negotiate after signing. After the Owner signs the contract, the GC has the right to bid out all of the sub trades over the course of the project and potentially gain hundreds of thousands of dollars for their own benefit, NOT the Owners.  If the bid comes in well over budget, the owner does have the opportunity to "value engineer" with the architect and builder in order to come up with a lower budget prior to signing the construction contract. This means coming up with changes in scope that is painful for all involved.  The Owner must take out parts of the project that he or she originally wanted, the architect needs to make changes to the drawings and the contractor needs to re-bid to subcontractors in order to bring it to a reasonable budget.  This can delay the start of the project not to mention the Owner's disappointment of not getting what they wanted originally, and loss of revenue to the architect and contractor due to extra time spent

In the currently overheated construction climate, if an owner wants traditional delivery, I would rather that they find a GC with a good reputation and engage that contractor in negotiated bid than putting the project out for bid because there is a commitment to that builder, who knows he/she will be getting the job and that their efforts will not be potentially futile.

Sawyer

DESIGN-BUILD IN GENERAL

Design-Build is a streamlined process that has become increasingly popular in large commercial, municipal and institutional projects as well as residential.  It saves time and money because the design and construction team are assembled early and utilize their collective knowledge to work together with the Owner and get the project to construction efficiently.  Architect and contractor are under contract with each other (one of which is the project leader) and the Owner signs a contract for construction with the design-build team. Because the pricing process begins early in the course of the design process, contractor and architect work together for several months prior to construction in order to determine the budget and details for the project.  This helps to give the Owner a good idea of the budget early in the process and avoiding "value engineering". By the time the drawings are complete and the permit approved, the Owner will have a clear idea of what the budget will be.  Any design changes and budget decision necessary will have already been done and a last minute budget crisis avoided.

Because the contractor and architect are under a single design-build entity, the Owner has one point of contact, and because the contractor and architect have a common interest, cooperation instead of conflict between the parties results. 

DESIGNER LED DESIGN-BUILD VS. CONTRACTOR LED DESIGN-BUILD

Design build, either designer or  contractor led,  is essentially putting the responsibility of the entire project with one entity that handles the entire project from the beginning of design until the end of construction.  Some people call it "turn-key".  The owner signs one contract with the Design Build Entity and if something isn't right about the project, that entity must resolve it to the Owner's satisfaction.  

With contractor led design-build, the GC is in charge and will hire an architect as a subcontractor.  Although not necessarily in all cases, my experience with single family residential projects, as an architect hired by the contractor, price can be the sole determining factor.  The architect is often treated as a commodity, and our services are limited to producing enough to get a permit and nothing more.  This gives the contractor the ability to build it however he/she sees fit without any architect oversight during the course of construction.  The contractor will pick finishes with the owner during the construction process. In most cases, the contractor does not have any design training.  

At NDC+, we produce one of a kind, high quality, durable homes. Clients hire us because of our ability to execute our buildings the way they were designed.  With Designer Led Design-Build, design execution and quality are paramount. Because we have the construction team in place early, bidding starts early in the design process and continues until the construction starts, and during the course of construction.  During that bidding process, competition is created by bidding out to multiple subcontractors, sometimes 3 or more per trade.  There are exceptions to this, such as when a GC is self-performing some of the trades or the subcontractor selected is someone with a long track record of quality and value with architect or contractor.  When building a custom house , getting details precise and correct is the difference between a "builder quality" house and a "custom" house.  It is even more important when building a modern house because there is not trim to hide errors. Everything is exposed, lines are often continuous and long and if something isn't straight, it is very obvious.  With designer led design build, the architect is embedded as part of the design team and will be on site daily in order to make sure that the details are being executed as drawn.  Responsibility is shared between architect and contractor.  At NDC/NCA Build, we handle the relationship with the client, pick and order finishes, and handle construction administration including payout requests, change orders and schedule management.  The contractor is relieved of those responsibilities and left to focus on managing subcontractors and building the project.  We are able to select contractors that we have had a long relationship with, who we know can produce the quality that we expect.  They in turn understand what we expect and are not surprised with that expectation.  They understand our details from past projects, which streamlines our drawing process.  We draw less because they know more, which results in savings for the owner.  In summary, the contractors are able to focus on building, while the architect is most deeply involved in the design from start to finish.

We have had great success in producing superior results when delivering project using the design-build  delivery method and we have many clients that will attest to these positive outcomes. Award winning design deserves award winning construction and we have been recognized to have the ability to do both.

Peter Nicholas
President
NDC+/NCA Build

peter@nicholasdc.com

Highland Park Modern approved unanimously by City Council

The Highland Park City Council voted unanimously to approve the development of our four house single family development at 2107-13 St. Johns Avenue. The project has received unanimous approval at every level of government scrutiny and no public opposition.  We can now move forward with building permits and ultimately the start of construction, which is expected to start this fall.  

Private Courtyard at each residence

House Entries

Livning/Dining

Accessible Master Bath

The sales team has been busy with inquiries and as pre-construction sales are in full swing. Buying pre-construction assures that the design team will work with buyers to select finishes that exactly meet their tastes.  These are custom level houses designed and built by a company that primarily designs custom houses for individual clients.  Buyers have been maneuvering for position, and we expect to sell out before the start of construction.  Several people, including members of the Highland Park Zoning Commission have commented that this highly unusual and distinctive design will one day "be on the historic register".  It combines privacy, accessibility, energy efficiency with manageable indoor and outdoor space with award winning California influenced design that cannot be found in the area.

Peter Nicholas

peter@nicholasdc.com

Interviews can be scheduled with architect/developer Peter Nicholas along with the sales team, Linda Levin.

Selling architecture in the real world

5250 Brown Ave. in Skokie, Illinois is a 4,800 square foot (plus a 2,700 sf built out basement) single family house built in 2009 for some good friends.  The house is about to go on the market for $1.45 million.  It has 5 generously sized bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths, with 2 master suites, one on each of the first and second floors.  The exterior is built of stone, stucco and some stained cedar with copper gutters and a slate roof.  The interior has wide plank walnut flooring and large format (2'x 4') porcelain with radiant heat underneath it in the heavily trafficked kitchen, family room and mudroom.  Kitchen cabinets were fabricated in Europe and the rest of the cabinetry and wood paneling was custom built by craftsmen in Chicago.  I could go on, but you get the idea.  

Master Bath

This is a 100% custom house, impeccably designed with high quality finishes, designed and built by my firm. The landscape has matured beautifully and the house fits the site like a glove, with spaces oriented towards Lorel Park, the local neighborhood park.  It has been meticulously and lovingly maintained, like new.  

Dining Room and stair

All that being said, they will not be getting close to what they should be getting for it.  The house was built in a lovely, but lower valued area.  Due to appraisal standards, evaluation of comparative property values can only be determined by sales that have occurred on public record. What this means is that if a custom house is built in the area, and the Owner's stay in the house for a period of time, it doesn't exist to the appraiser until it is sold.  The seller of a custom house does not get the benefit of considering other custom houses in the area as "comps", thus lowering the appraised value of the sellers custom house.  My friends, who knew that they were building above the value in the neighborhood, expected to be leaving the house "feet first", so it was more of a lifestyle decision that an economic one.  Plans change, so the economic concern has become more relevant.  Fortunately, they are sanguine about their position and although a little melancholy about leaving this wonderful house where they raised their children, but they are ready to sell.

KItchen with family room beyond

The house is listed by Earl Ruthman and Mark Ahmad of Century 21 Affliated. This same house in other, more valuable North Shore Communities or some Chicago neighborhoods would sell for over $3 million. Having raised my own children in Skokie, I can tell you that it is a wonderful community with high quality public schools, unequaled public services, an award winning park district and a diverse demographic.

Side yard

Its a steal!

Peter Nicholas
peter@nicholasdc.com

Inside out in Highland Park

Bringing a California style project to a place like Highland Park may seem like a bit of a non-sequitur, however, I have found that maximizing outdoor space and integrating that space with the indoor spaces makes sense whether you live in the Chicagoland area, or California.  We design houses that embrace the outdoors and the outdoor spaces are as carefully designed as the indoor spaces.  Highland Park Modern was intentionally designed to have private, manageable outdoor spaces with dining, lounging and gardening areas.  Houses still available for under $1.2 million, close to downtown Highland Park, beaches.  For full information, go to HPModernhomes.com

Access to outdoor dining and green space at Highland Park Modern

Roof deck overlooking private garden space below at Highland Park Modern

Other projects by Nicholas Design Collaborative in and around Chicago take full advantage of outdoor space whenever possible.

Alignment with the front entrance and incorporation of water elements create clues to what is next in the Cortland Residence

Where water is the theme of one courtyard, fire activates another at the Cortland Residence

Periscope House extends living space of family room to the outdoors

Folding glass wall opens the family room to outdoor seating pool access at the Cortland Residence

Sun, water and outdoor living at the Sawyer Pool House in Michigan

Mystery Project 03 - New Urban House takes shape

Having been in the architecture and building business for over 30 years, it is nice to have a portfolio of work that draws customers to the style of work that I prefer to do.  More and more, clients are discovering our work through online searches.  The clients for the featured custom single family house we are calling "Mystery Project 03"  came to us from an online search.  The house is now under construction.  There are several reasons why we are guarding the location of the project, but we will reveal more details about it as it progresses.  

My clients are a young family who were living for a time in my native California who came to Chicago to take advantage of a professional opportunity.  They recognized the modernist architecture that we are producing, and the similarity what has been designed in Southern California for over a century. 

We have been blessed to have people with good taste and a property that is larger than the standard 25' x 125 lot in Chicago.  As in all of our projects, we have done our best at bringing in an abundance of natural light and the warmth of the sun, while at the same time, protecting the privacy of the occupants. Our intent to create a house that fits its surroundings in terms of its scale, material and repose.  Our manner of design is different than that of the neighboring buildings but we are respectful to the history of the neighborhood.  The neighborhood is which it sits, and most neighborhoods in Chicago are eclectic and we feel that the  of this house is our expression of the diversity of the neighborhood and the  continuum of that diversity moving forward.

The house will be light filled but private, spacious with a hierarchy of scale and a sense of procession as one moves through the spaces.  It will weaving interior spaces with outdoor spaces.  It is designed is modern spatially but there will be a warmth and comfort to the spaces that are created.  

We look forward to reporting on the construction as it progresses.

Peter Nicholas

peter@nicholasdc.com

Highland Park Modern Website up and running

The website for Highland Park Modern, our 4 house single family courtyard enclave designed and developed by Peter Nicholas of NDC is up and running with all relevant information including pricing, floor plans, images, descriptions and specification. Homes are comfortable, Interest has been high since we announced sales 2 weeks ago, and there are only 4 units available.

Go to the website at  HPModernhomes.com

Sales appointments can be made with Linda Levin of Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 
312.320.6741
llevin@jamesonir.com

Peter Nicholas
Nicholas Design Collaborative
peter@nicholasdc.com
nicholasdc.com

Nicholas Design Collaborative Awarded Best of Houzz 2017 for design

NICHOLAS DESIGN COLLABORATIVE has won “Best Of Design” on Houzz®, the leading platform for home remodeling and design. The 29 year old Architectural Design and Construction Company led by Peter Nicholas was chosen by the more than 40 million monthly unique users that comprise the Houzz community from among more than one million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.

The Best Of Houzz is awarded annually in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 40 million monthly users on Houzz.

“We’re so pleased to award Best of Houzz 2017 to this incredible group of talented and customer-focused professionals, including Peter Nicholas,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “Each of these businesses was singled out for recognition by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts for helping to turn their home improvement dreams into reality.”

Follow Nicholas Design Collaborative on Houzz http://www.houzz.com/pro/petermnicholas

MARKET TRANSFORMS CASE STUDY HOUSES 2111 INTO HIGHLAND PARK MODERN

Case Study Houses 2111 

Within the shifting and sometime unpredictable business of real estate development, we sometimes have what seems to be a well thought out beautifully conceived idea and we are convinced that people will fall in love because they cannot resisting envisioning themselves living there. This is what we had hoped for our Case Study Houses 2111 project, a four house single family enclave near the heart of downtown Highland Park.  The design won a 2015 Association for Licensed Architects (ALA) Design Award in the unbuilt category and we were excited to see it built.  

It takes a lot more than a design award to get people to invest in a new single family home.  When we started the process, the economy and home sales were emerging from the great recession and seemed ripe for this kind of project. The construction industry has recovered to pre-recession levels, however, the work force has far less people to meet the increased demand.  Due to this increase in demand, I have found that over the past two years, the cost of construction has gone up, in many cases, 33-50%. As a result, we have decided to redesign the project to a smaller unit size and to a more affordable price point.

So here we are, but we are not done yet!  We still love the location and we love the new product even more than the original,  but this time with more private and usable outdoor space, huge south facing floor to ceiling glass and best of all, for less money.

HP Modern - Private courtyard garden

HP Modern - Site Plan

Meet HP Modern.  Our initial thought was that our market would be empty nesters from Highland Park and other communities in the North Shore and young families that may be looking for a more contemporary house in a suburban location with excellent public schools,convenient transportation to Chicago and goods & services within walking distance. We still believe in our market and our pricing is significantly less than before.

HP Modern - birdseye

The new design is still true to the work of the great Southern California modernists from the mid 20th century, but with a more compact plan and consolidated private outdoor space.  The quality of the construction and architectural design remains the same, but in a smaller package.  The indoor-outdoor living spaces are even better and more private and we have re-positioned the spaces in such a way that all units have tremendous access to south light and complete privacy from the other houses on site as well as the neighboring structures.  

We are committed to accommodating empty-nesters and the aging in place by placing the master bedroom and laundry on the main level with easy access to exterior spaces and the possibility of full accessibility for the disabled to the master bedroom and bathroom, kitchen and living spaces. On the first floor, all clearances meet ADA convertibility requirements and can easily be made fully accessible if the need arises.  These houses are 4,100 square feet including a built out basement and have 4 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths.  The second floor contains 2 generous bedrooms and a shared bath.  The basement has an expansive recreation room with plumbing roughed in a full bathroom, a bedroom, large storage space and a location for a wet bar if the buyer chooses to do so. There will also be 4 guest parking spaces on site.  First floor living and master bedroom spaces have floor to ceiling glass and face onto a 1,200 square foot private courtyard garden which includes a raised outdoor living/dining space at the same level of the interior spaces on the main level.  In addition, there is a second floor roof deck with a beautiful steel stair down to the first floor patio as well as a direct connection from the second floor.

Pre-Construction Sales Start on February 22nd!

Prices range from $1,150,000 to $1,199,000

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE PROJECT WEBSITE!  WWW.HPMODERNHOMES.COM

For Sales information contact:

Linda Levin
312.320.5741
llevin@jamesonir.com    

HP Modern - Living/Dining

                                             

                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                             

NDC selected among Top 20 Chicago Architects in 2016 by Expertise.com

Expertise.com selected NDC from a list of 293 Chicago Architects as one of the Top 20 for 2016.  To see all the firms selected, click on this link.

Here is the criteria they used in their selection.

"Our goal is to connect people with the best local experts. To do so, we analyzed and scored architects on more than 25 variables across six categories to give you a hand-picked list of the best architects in Chicago, IL.

• 1. Reputation

  A history of delighted customers as a signal of outstanding service.

• 2. Credibility

  Building customer confidence with licensing, industry accreditations, and awards.

• 3. Experience

  Masters of their craft, based on years of practical experience and education.

• 4. Availability

  Consistently approachable and responsive, so customers never feel ignored.

• 5. Professionalism

  Providing customers a seamless experience both online and off.

• 6. Engagement

  Actively engaged with their customers across a number of platforms."

FLITE SERIES UPDATE - 2 units under contract

Entry Hall

The Flite Series, The NDC designed 4 unit townhouse development located on the banks of the Illinois River in the Heritage Harbor boating resort in Ottawa, IL has contracted two of the four units offered.  The two end units which have 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths including two master suites and a loft space are under contract, leaving the two interior units, one with 2 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths ($399,000) and the other with 3 bedrooms and 3 1/2 baths ($405,000).  Sales have been brisk over the past several weeks at Heritage Harbor.  In addition to these units being sold, 3 lots to the west of the Flite Series recently went under contract in the past 2 weeks.

For sales information contact Diane Karpman of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services at (847) 636-0200,  or dianekarpman@gmail.com

Kitchen/Living

Kitchen/Living, Master Bedroom beyond

Dining/Entrytrs

Street View

Waterside Elevation

Peter Nicholas

peter@nicholasdc.com

FAMOUS FLAME BAR TO BE RESURRECTED

Current Condition

If you are familiar with Park Boulevard in San Diego, you no doubt have noticed the iconic Mondrian-esque bar located at 3780 Park Boulevard named THE FLAME.  Its hard to miss with its colorful facade and neon sign, but for the past several years it has been vacant while the district surrounding it has developed into a much higher density mix of residential and commercial projects.  The once vibrant facade has been painted black with red accents, undoubtedly in an unsuccessful attempt to brand it as "Goth".

One project that has not changed is the building to the south of The Flame, the Egyptian Court.  My brother Jim Nicholas of Clownfish Properties bought this predominately one story apartment building in the 1980's amidst much controversy as the previous Owner, in an effort to obliterate its architectural significant attempted to jack hammer all of the plaster Egyptian Revival ornament off of the building with the intention of replacing the building with a higher density project.  He was stopped as the tenants wouldn't allow it and an uproar erupted in the local community and media.  The previous Owner was so maligned that he decided to sell the the project.  At this point brother Jim stepped in, and being the steward of good architecture that he is, recast and replaced all the destroyed ornament and brought it back to its original glory.  He also replanted the landscaped courtyard with lush plantings consistent with Egyptian Architecture and making the environment complete.  He was nominated and won an "Orchid" at the annual design competition, "Orchids and Onions" which judges the best and worst of architecture and public art in San Diego.  Needless to say he was celebrated for his efforts.

Over the past couple of years he has been talking (obsessing) over The Flame, which sits next door, he could not stop considering what could be done with this property.  In actuality, the architecturally significant part of the project is the facade and the neon sign.  The rest of the building is a one story, 6,000 sf concrete box.  Jim's idea was to keep the bar, which would be reduced from 6,000 sf to 2,000 sf and building up behind the facade and distinctive neon sign in a respectful and complimentary way.  The sign would be repaired and brought back to its original state and the facade which although distinctive, had no windows facing the street.  The new design would enhance the existing facade by installing roll up "garage doors" with translucent glass to match the existing color of the existing painted wood panels and would open the space to the street during days with good weather.  Everything else about it would be faithful to the original design.  The residential portion of the project will have 6 apartment units, 4 of which will be two level duplexes.  Two of the units will face the street, while the other 4 units will face a private, internal courtyard. After a somewhat arduous entitlement process, the Historic Resources Board unanimously approved the project and we expect it to be submitted for permit in July and with any luck, construction will start before the end of the year.

NDC was the Design Architect on the project and is working with local architect Scot Frontis, who will be the executive architect.   

New Design

Preliminary Front with Duplex Units above

Birdseye view from the south-east

Residential court from east

Residential court from west

SKIN GAMES: VARIETY, DURABILITY, LIVABILITY AT EDGEBOX

Something that I find myself thinking while moving around Chicago, especially in new housing products is the lack of variety and diverse use of exterior materials.  It is not because of a lack of available products, both newly developed and traditional. I think because whoever is designing these buildings or the developers who are commissioning those designs pick the easiest route, which is not to consider alternatives, but just to do what worked last time and to play it safe.To me, that is just lazy.  I have no problem with being contextual in a neighborhood and, for example, putting up a building that is brick, in a neighborhood that is brick, or cladding a building in siding in a neighborhood where the house are predominately clad in the same material.  The problem is that often, the new development doesn't go nearly as far in matching the care and detail of the existing neighborhood.  How many times have we seen the hulking, scaleless three story plus basement house of 3 flat next to the cowering adjacent bungalows.  I understand and actually sympathize with a property owner building to the limit of what zoning allows, however if some thought was put into breaking down the mass into smaller volumes, adding additional planes, adding detail.

Edgebox roof deck - Cedar cladding and deck

Shingle Detail

Stainless steel shingles are a product I discovered on the Walker Library in Minneapolis by VGAA.  I liked it immediately for it's residential scale, durability and the natural variety within the color range of the surface.  I chose to use it on the front facade of the building as a new wrinkle on a block of eclectic materials.

Walker Library- Stainless steel shingles

Rear yard - Brick, Cedar, Stucco

The difference between a "builder" house and a "custom" house is the care in the layout, thoughtful detailing and use of interesting materials that help the building working with the neighborhood scale.  On our Edgebox project, located at 5945 N. Magnolia in Chicago, we decided to experiment with a combination of different materials, some traditional, some new.  Stucco, stained cedar and stucco can be found on most streets in Chicago, and for good reason. These traditional materials are beautiful and durable, can be locally sourced and are abundant.  We have chosen to use these materials not only on Edgebox, but on several other projects.

Equitone Fiber Cement Board - Example

Fiber-cement board is a product I have used in several other projects, but the product we have chosen to use on the side elevation of this project is new to the market and has a very attractive line of colors and textures that requires no finishing and will retain its look for decades

Edgebox at street level - Stainless steel shingles, cedar, brick, stone

For complete project information about Edgebox, go the project website at 5945magnolia.com

EDGEBOX UPDATE: OLD HOUSE DOWN, SIGN UP, NEW HOUSE COMING SOON

Demolition is complete and we are talking to a couple of interested parties about purchase, but nobody has yet come to the table to purchase. Take advantage of the opportunity to work with our skilled and committed team in making this house your own. The interior is an open book for you to select finishes. The house is permitted and ready to build as soon as a buyer steps up.

New front

New rear

Entry Foyer

EDGEBOX UPDATE - DEMOLITION HAS BEGUN

We are making progress on the demolition of the dilapidated single family residence that currently exists at 5945 N. Mangolia Avenue in Chicago.  Never on a project that I have been involved has the neighborhood been so glad to see an old house go away.  

Before

After

There has been alot of interest in the new construction home that we have designed, but it is still available for purchase.  For complete information, go to 5945magnolia.com

CASE STUDY HOUSES 2111 SHOWROOM OPENING TOMORROW

Our sales showroom for Case Study Houses 2111 is open to Brokers tomorrow May 3rd at 607 Elm Place in downtown Highland Park, a few blocks from the building site.  General Public Grand Opening will be May 5 - 8 from 12-5.  Showroom will be open weekly Thursday through Sundary from 12-5.

EVERYBODY WINS - New house to replace environmental hazard and visual eyesore in Edgewater

When I signed the standard real estate contract for the purchase of an decrepit single family house at 5945 N. Magnolia Ave.  in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago in January 2015, I would have never guessed that it would have taken 15 months to complete the transaction.  But after much effort and the support of the surrounding community, the members of the EPIC block club and the help of Alderman Harry Osterman's office, the deal was consumated and the house will be demolished starting this Friday, April 15th.  I am normally not so gleeful about the demolition of an existing structure, but this particular house was beyond repair, infested with animals and filled with literally tons of soaked papers, old furniture and rusted bicycles.  

The previous Owner finished collecting his salvagable belongings and has gone back to his homestead in rural Southwest Wisconsin.  He had not been living on Magnolia street for decades and it has become a environmental and and visual disaster.  The emotional attachment to the memories the seller had for the place rendered him unable to complete the deal, but after the mobilization of concerned neighbors by super organizer Lynn Pierce, we were able to move the transaction to completion with the help of a reasonable presiding judge who was able to apply the appropriate amount of legal pressure.  I am happy to say that never did my communication with the seller become contentious and the conversation was civil until the end.  He walked away with a tidy sum of money for a property that had become a legal and emotional burden, and although I cannot speak for him, I believe that letting go was the best thing for him on several levels.  I on the other hand am beyond pleased to have the opportunity to add a new piece to the urban fabric in a neighborhood that is very familiar to me, having completed the renovation and addition to a building just two blocks to the south on the same street, our Periscope House, finished in the summer of 2014.

Like the Periscope House, this new project, which we are calling EdgeBox is a custom quality product that will offer buyers the opportunity to work with us on the selection of interior finishes and design and to participate in the construction experience.  We will be involved as architects and builders from start to finish in order to ensure that all the details, that are the essence of a successful piece of architecture are managed and executed to match the vision of the design.  For complete details about the project including specifications and sales data, visit www.5945magnolia.com

Front - Before

Rear - Before

Front - Before

Rear - After

Interior - Before

Interior - After

New Entry Foyer

Peter Nicholas

peter@nicholadc.com

New Roof Deck

CASE STUDY HOUSES 2111 FEATURED IN TWO TRIBUNE ARTICLES

Case Study Houses 2111, our award winning 4 house single family enclave to be built near downtown Highland Park, IL was featured online on February 29th in the Chicago Tribune Highland Park News and another article, published online on March 16 and in print tomorrow, March 24th, also in the Chicago Tribune Highland Park News

Construction planned to start this summer.  Award winning design of these new construction houses stands out in a market with seemingly stagnant and aging houses with little appeal.

Visit our new website CaseStudyHouses2111.com 

For sales information contact Diane Karpman of Bershire-Hathaway (847) 636-0200 and dianekarpman@gmail.com

Front unit from Autocourt

Front Unit Kitchen/Dining

Front Unit Entry Court

The Beat Goes On - Article in ARCHITECTS NEWS

Article published today in Architects News entitled HIGHLAND DESIGN about our upcoming development project in Highland Park, IL, Case Study Houses 2111.