The Kaplan Institute at IIT

Innovative Facade Design

The Ed Kaplan Family Institute for Innovation and Tech Entrepreneurship at the Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) is the newest and most innovative building on campus, featuring a one-of-a-kind Texlon^® ETFE facade by Vector Foiltec.

Focus on Sustainability

John Ronan Architects designed the entire 6,503 square meter two story building. The second floor, which cantilevers over the ground floor, includes a Texlon^® ETFE facade that was planned with sustainability in mind. Architect Magazine recently announced John Ronan Architects as R+D Award winner for this dynamic ETFE facade. The ETFE system is a vario shading system that uses a customized white ink print pattern and pneumatics to control the amount of light transmission that will enter the building. This will assist in the building’s overall energy costs savings, as well as comfort, offering an enhanced educational experience for the students.

Great Team of Innovative Designers and Engineers

The unique 1,280 square meter Texlon^® ETFE facade wraps around the entire second floor exterior. It is made from four layers of ETFE, forming 57 cushions. Along with the uniqueness of the customized print pattern, this project also showcases a special corner transition of ETFE on an exterior facade, specifically designed for this building. The team of designers and engineers collaborated to find the ultimate solution to the corner transitions. Power Construction, responsible for the construction management, has worked with the design team since the preconstruction phase.

The building has been certified LEED Gold. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. This is the ideal building of the 21st century.

Additionally the innovative building received the 2020 AIA Architecture Award.

Visit the architects website for some more beautiful images – John Ronan Architects.