The Uptown Park Ridge is a mixed-use community featuring 189 residences and 85,000 square feet (7,897 m2) of shops and restaurants in the heart of Park Ridge, Ill. PRC Partners-a partnership of Edward R. James Homes LLC, Glenview, Ill.; Mid-America Asset Management Inc., Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.; and Valenti Builders, Northfield, Ill.-are developing the project. The architect for the project is OKW Architects Inc., Chicago.
According to John Mocarski, senior associate at OKW Architects and Uptown Park Ridge project manager, the ground level of the condominium and loft buildings feature storefront systems by Norcross, Ga.-based Kawneer that were installed by Capitol Glass & Architectural Metals Inc., Elk Grove Village, Ill. The large rotunda features approximately 965 square feet (90 m2) and the smaller rotunda has approximately 400 square feet (37 m2) of the storefront systems. The Kawneer systems utilized were the Series 350 Medium Stile Doors; Series CG451T, 2- by 4 1/2-inch (51- by 114-mm) Thermal Flush/Center Glaze; Series Encore 1 3/4- by 6-inch (44- by 152-mm) thermal offset glaze; and Series 6200 2-inch- (51-mm-) deep thermal projected vent windows.
The buildings also include approximately 11,500 square feet (1,068 m2) of metal copulas, metal panels on the fifth floor and metal copings that were manufactured by ALPOLIC, Chesapeake, Va., and installed by G&L Associates Inc., Des Plaines, Ill. The project utilized 0.16-inch (4-mm) ALPOLIC composite metal panels with a standard polyethylene core and Megaflon standard fluorocarbon exterior finish.
Approximately 1,914 square feet (178 m2) of metal sunshades are used throughout that were manufactured by Construction Specialties Inc., Cranford, N.J., and installed by CCL Construction Inc., Lansing, Ill. In addition, Kingery Steel Fabricators, Lansing, manufactured the sunshades on the second level of the large rotunda and the main structure of the second floor trellis on the small rotunda.
Situated on a 5 1/2-acre (2.2-hectare) site, the project includes 290,000 square feet (26,941 m2) of townhomes, condos, lofts and row homes. The first-floor retail space located below the lofts and condominiums, known as The Shops of Uptown, is now home to Trader Joe’s, Chicos, Jos. A. Bank, Lens Crafter’s Optique, Kriser’s pet boutique, Noodles & Co., Jason’s Deli and Houlihan’s. The project will be completed at the end of this month. Downtown Park Ridge is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with many one-of-a-kind boutiques, cafes and family-run businesses. The Metra station is located just steps from the development.
