Community support systems such as legal aid, emergency assistance and health care organizations support Lake County residents in a myriad of ways each day. These organizations recognize the need to provide access to an array of vital services to ensure every resident can not only survive but thrive. As a result, these facilities can serve as cornerstones within a community as well as within the overall Lake County system.
Innovative architectural design principles can help support organizations and their systems in countless ways. The case study below of Michael Fitzpatrick Architects showcases just how, in the reputable firm’s capable hands, combining bespoke solutions with an energy efficient focus can support this worthy mission in a rewarding and sustainable way.
Michael Fitzpatrick Architects are a premier Chicago Architecture firm known for our distinct quality of work on modern, functional, energy efficient architectural designs. Their bespoke solutions have served to meet the specific needs of a variety of organizations throughout the Lake County area and beyond. The firm’s expertise was recently on display when they were invited to enter the national competition for a unique build. The competition would award state funding to one organization to design and build an inclusive, modern respite care facility in Lake County, Illinois. The modern respite center would be used to care for medically fragile children throughout the county, and would provide both long- and short-term pediatric nursing care and rehabilitative therapy.
Architects needed to carefully consider the range of needs of these organizations and how best to integrate them into an architectural design. Out of roughly 100 entrants to the competition, one of the legal aid organizations is proud to be among the 11 partners selected to move forward in the round 1 city competition.
Michael Fitzpatrick Architects will work closely with all partners including pediatric care providers, electronic intake and discharge organizations, and private charitable and government organizations to design a build that meets not only the medical and administrative needs of the facility but the legal framework that supports it. In other words, the right details will help the space support the organization they need to thrive now and into the future. These needs could be anything from accounting spaces and storage to emergency exits and room assignments for patients.
As legal aid client, Lake County Legal Aid advocates were consistently impressed with Fitzpatrick’s attention to detail, energy efficiency, and individualized plan in the design process. He went the extra mile to ensure every detail and his innovative architectural design principles supported the community’s needs.
We encourage other organizations considering an updated build to seek legal information on local development laws and regulations, compliance, investigative services, and other legal aid services. Having comprehensive access to legal aid can be vital in the design aspect of important builds like these. It can also be invaluable both on and offsite throughout the architecture process.
Inspiration in practice: The future of Lake County legal aid and architectural design
Below are a few example projects that may benefit from a collaboration between architecture firms and Lake County legal aid services. The results of such collaborations offer innovative ways to meet a community’s needs.
An important consideration for legal aid architects in the planning process is ensuring the resulting build will meet the necessary regulatory frameworks. In this case, Mike Fitzpatrick Architecture reviewed the relevant legal documents and building codes and integrated that information into his architectural design process. He designed the facility to be compliant with the latest IPC codes for accessibility, including the International Plumbing Code and the International Building Code. He also integrated changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Guidelines to better accommodate individuals with disabilities. In addition, Fitzpatrick created parking spaces on sidewalks and loading areas that met the legal requirements.
A general contractor and the staff of Lake County Legal Aid closely collaborated with Fitzpatrick throughout the process. This allowed the project team to make and explain the changes required to create a legal aid supported build that would safely and adequately accommodate the needs of everyone.
The team at Lake County Legal Aid can be an invaluable resource in this process. They can help architects navigate the legal requirements in a collaborative way that creates tailored solutions to meet architectural needs.