Rauner Family Veteran Studios
A five-story residential building provides studio apartments for veterans behind a lively façade of patterned fiber cement board rainscreen panels punctuated by wood panels and aluminum clad awnings that protect fixed windows from excessive sun exposure. The design provides dedicated spaces for murals on the building exterior, which will allow for the exterior’s enhancement through site-specific art work. The building deploys a “hospitality” approach to its public spaces, reminiscent of a boutique hotel. The large lobby and additional tenant support spaces are open to the exterior with extensive floor-to ceiling glazing. Upper floor public areas are expressed on the exterior as façade “anchors.” Apartment finishes include warm wood flooring, paneled kitchen cabinets, and sleek modern fixtures. Exterior spaces with picnic benches, bike racks, and outdoor furnishings expand these welcoming areas beyond the building envelope.