December 2020 – UIC Outpatient Care Center
TKB delivered design services for the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Outpatient Care Center. Simple in concept, the project involved the replacement of a tile floor which had failed that covered public corridors on all four floors of the building. TKB studied various replacement materials; UIC decided upon terrazzo, the preferred but more costly option, for the major public areas including the adjoining public bridge. Upper floors utilized a high-performing resilient flooring material.
The complexities of the project involved noisy and dusty demolition of old tile in a medical building operating six days a week. With a team effort among the contractor, UIC’s project manager, and TKB, most demolition work occurred after hours, and the project was phased to retain the necessary pathways to exits and the adjoining hospital. Construction documents outlined stringent protection, separation, public access, and exit requirements throughout the course of the project.
The public corridor changes adhered closely to the building’s original design concept, with simple patterns for the terrazzo and flooring designs.