Sagawau Environmental
Learning Center
Grand Opening
April 17, 2010
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County opened its new 12, 800 square foot Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont, IL on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Cook County President Todd Stroger was on hand amongst Forest Preserve Officials and Cook County Commissioners for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The Staff at Camp Sagawau is excited about the new spacious and daylight filled classroom and the interactive exhibit space and is looking forward to hosting the public in its grand lodge room. A state of the art ski rental and locker facility for the onsite Nordic Ski Program offered at Camp Sagawau allows for better organization and access to equipment and nearby trails. McDonough Associates is proud to have had the opportunity to work closely with FPDCC staff to bring this project to fruition.
The new Sagawau Environmental Learning Center is a two-level structure located in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County near Lemont (12545 W. 111th Street, corner of 111th and Rt. 83, in unincorporated Lemont). The building features exhibit space, classroom facilities, a small catering kitchen, bathrooms and locker rooms. A two story lodge room with a monumental wood burning fireplace serves as the focal point of the Center and is enclosed by expansive glass walls that showcase Camp Sagawau’s picturesque environment.
The building was designed to integrate into the existing site which is sloped and consists of protected wild-life areas. MAI worked closely with FPDCC staff to situate this building within the only previously disturbed portion of the site in order to minimize the impact on the existing landscape and its native plants and to maximize the use of the site’s extensive Nordic ski trails. Worth noting is that Camp Sagawau has the only Nordic Ski Rental program in the County.
The use of natural materials can be found in both the interior and exterior of the building. The exterior features a stone facade and heavy timber structural frame including large wood trusses that support the roof. On the inside, polished concrete floors, ground face CMU block walls and limestone sills complete the material selections that give the client a low maintenance and durable building that will serve the public for many decades to come. The expansive window walls maximize the daylight and minimize the energy consumption from lighting for the building. This Center has received LEED Gold certification.
McDonough Associates Inc., provided professional architectural, engineering and construction administration services for this new ground-up facility and all associated site development work.
