It’s that time of year, and thecountdown has begun for thebig event of the season. No, I

am not talking about MarchMadness, the NCAA basketballtournament, or St. Patrick’s Day.Though I do look forward to both ofthose spring events, I am talkingabout Prairie Grassroots. It hasthe suspense of the tournamentand the moderate celebratory bev-erages of the latter.

Prairie Grassroots is our annualday of meeting with our legislatorsin Springfield. This year it willoccur the day before our regularmonthly meeting so there won’t bethe typical opportunity to firsthave Mike Waldinger visit with usto give us the lay of the land andissues in our capital. The eventregistration is open on the AIAIllinois website.

I have attended many PrairieGrassroots. I would say that I havehad some great experiences inSpringfield meeting with my legis-lators. For the first couple of

events, Iwas theonly onef rom myd i s t r i c tmeeting withthe senator andrepresentative. It was not easy atfirst to meet one-on-one with a legis-lator; I was nervous. But after thefirst couple of visits, it has becomemuch easier to talk to them aboutissues and to relate that to how theyaffect us. Since then, I am now on afirst name basis with my representa-tive and senator.

Needless to say, I encourage every-one to make time to attend PrairieGrassroots this year. The event isfree for all members, and there isthe opportunity to ride down toSpringfield on a chartered busfrom the park and ride outside ofJoliet. Our chapter has always hada history of being well representedat Prairie Grassroots. It would begreat to share our experiences thenext day at our regular meeting.

I hope to see you on the bus!

John F. Benware, Jr., AIAEIC President

in this issue...

Chapter Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

March Chapter Meeting . . . . . . . . . .3

Rear View Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4­5

Distinguished Building Awards . . .6­7

2017 Officers and Board . . . . . . . . .8

President’s Messageby John F. Benware, Jr., AIA

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­ Advocacy­ Information­ Advancement

March 2017March 2017Issue 3.17 Issue 3.17 w w w . a i a e i c . o r gw w w . a i a e i c . o r g

March 29, 2017March 29, 2017

Chapter Meeting

Program

Learn a Lesson But Ditch the Test:

Risk Management from Recent Court Decisions

Presenter:

Melissa Roberts, AAISponsor:

USI Insurance Services LLC

See page 3page 3 for details and

registration.

Chapter CornerAIA/EIC news and events

page 2

2017 AIA/EIC CALENDAR

March

8­10 AIA Grassroots 2017

Washington, D.C.

28 Prairie Grassroots, Springfield, IL

29 Regular AIA/EIC Meeting,

Flossmoor Station Restaurant

April

26 Regular AIA/EIC Meeting,

Flossmoor Station Restaurant

27­29 AIA National Convention

Orlando, FL

May

24 Regular AIA/EIC Meeting,

Flossmoor Station Restaurant

June

23 Summer Outing:

Chicago White Sox vs. Oakland Athletics

28 Regular AIA/EIC Meeting for Students

Flossmoor Station Restaurant

August

TBD Saturday Afternoon Conference

September

22 AIA/EIC Golf Outing

27 Regular AIA/EIC Meeting,

Flossmoor Station Restaurant

October

25 Regular AIA/EIC Meeting

Flossmoor Station Restaurant

November

29 Regular AIA/EIC Meeting,

Flossmoor Station Restaurant

December

10 (tentative date) AIA/EIC Annual Meeting

and Holiday Celebration

®

2021 Spring RoadSuite 100Oak Brook, IL 60523Email: melissa.roberts@usi.bizwww.usi.biz

Direct: 630.625.5222Main: 312.442.7200Mobile: 708.476.5113Fax: 610.537.9270

Melissa S. Roberts, AAIVice President

USI Midwest

®®

MidwestUSI

PresidenticeVViAARoberts,S.Melissa

www.usi.bizmelissa.roberts@usi.bizEmail:

60523ILBrook,Oak100Suite

RoadSpring2021

AI

610.537.9270Fax:708.476.5113Mobile:312.442.7200Main:630.625.5222Direct:

z

Presenter: Melissa Roberts, AAIMelissa is a Vice President at USI Insurance Services LLC (formerly EuclidInsurance Agencies) where she helps design firms avoid claims, manage risks,and purchase Professional and Cyber Liability insurance. She has served asPresident of a/e ProNet – a national organization of insurance brokers forarchitects and engineers, the AIA/NEI awarded her their service Award forOutstanding Affiliate Member, and she has had articles published byAIArchitect. Melissa is a member of the IL ACEC Risk ManagementCommittee and is currently serving as Affiliate Director of the Northeast ILChapter of the AIA. She has presented risk management seminars and work-shops on behalf of clients, professional associations and educational institutions.

Program: Learn a Lesson But Ditch the Test: Risk Management from Recent Court DecisionsLearning Objectives:w Review the ethical and legal obligations you may have outside your contract requirements.w Learn the importance of key contract provisions and their impact on limiting risk.w Discuss contractual responsibility for job site safety.w Examine the critical first steps when a crisis occurs.

Sponsor: USI Insurance Services LLCKnowledge. Resources. Experience. We’ve got your firm covered.

USI’s specialist brokers deliver services of great value; they are your advocate in the insur-ance marketplace and serve as your risk management advisor. Throughout the policy, they lis-ten to your questions and plans, and advise how to best manage risks involved. When you facea potential claim situation or summons they can help you steer a safe course through an uncer-tain and unfamiliar landscape.

From their origin as Euclid Insurance Agencies through the evolution to USI, they bringdecades of specialized risk management experience, a proprietary risk analysis process, and alocal team supported by the expertise of more than4,000 professionals nationwide. Let them show youhow the right program and partner can help protectyour design firm’s most valuable assets.

Location: Flossmoor Station Restaurant and Brewery 1035 Sterling Ave., Flossmoor, IL 60442 Phone 708-957-BREW

Time: 5:00 AIA/EIC Board of Directors meeting6:00 Open Bar 6:45 Products and overview 7:00 Dinner 8:00 Presentation

Cost: $30.00 / AIA/EIC Member $35.00 / non-memberDinner selections are made at the restaurant.

Upcoming Meeting t Wednesday, March 29, 2017Learn a Lesson But Ditch the Test: Risk Management from Recent Court Decisions

page 3

Reservations by: Monday, March 27th

Click hereClick hereto register online, or go to: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=tyspsnlab&oeidk=a07edw0dxlca2a868fd

If you are unable to register online, contactJonathan Murawski, AIA/EIC V.P. & ProgramCoordinator

815-806-0146 x3j.murawski@rjaarchitects.com.

Payment accepted at the door with cash,check, or credit card.

Last month’s presentation was dedicated tographite enhanced polystyrene (GPS) rigidinsulation. We learned the basic chemistry and

composition of GPS and how it contributes to occu-pant comfort, the difference between GPS and othercommonly used rigid insulation, how the moisturemanagement properties ofGPS contributes towards thedrying strategy of the wall,suitable applications forGPS insulation, and avail-able LEED Credits. Also,thanks to Dean Walker, welearned the importance oflabeling your samples.

GPS is manufactured from apo lys tyrene res in . I texpands greatly during itsmanufacturing process, andit can be easily cut with hotwires in the factory.Because of its lightweightand higher compressiveproperties, it is used under

highways, runways, railways andauditorium seating. GPS can beinstalled directly to a metal roofdeck while still passing UL 790 andUL 1256 Full Scale tests.

GPS is composed of a primary rawmaterial of polystyrene and isembedded with high puritygraphite in a polymer matrix. Thegraphite acts as an infraredabsorber and reflector, which con-tributes to more thermal resistanceusing fewer raw materials. GPS istypically less dense and thinner (up

Rear View MirrorRear View Mirror

page 4

a look back at our February chapter meeting by Jonathan Murawski, AIA/EIC Vice President

Graphite Polystyrene GPS Rigid Insulation:

High Performance Thermal Innovation

Presenters: Kristopher Eschmeyer and Mike Lowery

Sponsor: Insulfoam

L-R: Jonathan Murawski, AIAKristopher Eschmeyer (presenter),

and Mike Lowery (presenter)

Continued on next page u

to twenty percent), providing lessmaterial and less labor with ahigher R-Value. Most rigid insula-tions perform by reducing conduc-tion and convection components ofheat loss. The IR-Absorbers/Reflectors in GPS address energyloss through the third componentof heat transfer, radiation; hencethe R-Value is increased.

Unlike XPS (which retains waterover time), GPS releases anywater that it absorbs and driesquicker. The R-Value of GPS ismuch more stable over time sinceit is breathable. If needed, faceroptions are available to addresspermeability. GPS is versatile andcan be used for exterior continuousinsulation, roof insulation, underslab insulation, below grade wallinsulation, cavity wall construc-tion, insulated garage doors, struc-tural insulated panels, EIFS, insu-lating concrete forms, integratedinsulated vinyl siding, radiantflooring OEM products, and one-coat stucco tongue and grooveapplications. GPS can attribute toseveral LEED credits including

Material and Resource Credits,Sustainable Sites and Energy andAtmosphere.

In summary, GPS retains the high-est R-Value in service over time, itdries out faster and can change itsperm rating with an appropriatefacer (Class I, II or III). It is alsothe most common below-gradeinsulation in Europe. GPS can bemanufactured up to 24’-0” inlength and up to 48” thick!

A special thanks to KristopherEschmeyer from Insulfoam andMike Lowery from R&D Productsfor sharing their vast knowledge onGraphite Polystyrene GPS RigidInsulation. Please contact them forany projects that may benefit fromGPS.

Email Kristopher Eschmeyer atKristopher.Eschmeyer@insul-foam.com, or Mike Lowery atmike@roofdealer.com. n

page 5

Rear View Mirror...continued

“Eastwords" is the monthly publication of the American Institute of Architects/ Eastern Illinois Chapter. Opinions expressed are those of theparticular author and not necessarily those of AIA/EIC. Submit articles to the editor, Roxanne Paukner, Hon. AIA, at rp.entasis@att.net. Foradvertising information, contact Edvin Mertdogan, AIA at emertdogan@yahoo.com.

page 6

Project Narrative:

As Frankfort has grown in size over thelast twenty plus years, so have greatplaces in their community and the needfor a new Village Center. The Village’sgoals were identified very simply to thedesign team: give us a functional, mem-orable design that is on budget and “fits”the community. Construction Type: non-combustible steel frame with infill light-gauge stud framing and masonry

19th Biennial Distinguished Building AwardsSpecial Recognition

Project: Municipal Center ­ Frankfort, IllinoisAddress: 432 West Nebraska Street, Frankfort Illinois

Design Team: Linden Group Architects

Contractor: Construction Solutions of Illinois

Square Footage: Existing Remodel = 14,225 SF New Addition = 10,000 SF

Construction Type: Steel Frame, Metal Stud & Masonry Veneer

Building Use Type: Government

veneer, bar joist roof with metaldeck, cut Indiana limestoneaccents, storefront light bronzeframing with tinted glazing, pre-cast floor planks over pouredconcrete basement. RooftopHVAC units w/ VAV controls.Care was taken with design andsolar exposure orientation,larger overhangs, energy effi-cient lighting and plumbing fix-tures, low VOC materials, work-ing with existing finishes andadditional building envelopeinsulation. Initially, the sitedesign was a challenge in thatthey were remodeling an exist-

ing building required to remainopen during construction, andattaching a dramatic new addi-tion with varying topography ata prime corner in the village.Most of the existing utilities hadto be relocated around a newdetention pond. With landscap-ing and pedestrian featuresadded, nothing on this site wasleft undisturbed. The addition’sdesign goal was to establish atasteful monumental structurefor municipal operations and anew Village Board Room/Meeting Room. A new focal

Continued on next page u

page 7

19th Biennial Distinguished Building Awards... continued

Frankfort, Illinois

Municipal

Center

u entrance and central depart-mental lobby was also executed toconveniently receive visitors froman expanded parking field.Operational efficiencies are dis-covered with the new design’sconsolidation of operations,increased people flow, trans-parency of meetings, and addednatural light. The Village of

Quotes fromjudging panel:

“Project successfullyexpands municipal

building into invitingspace that is welcom-ing to all users while

successfully integrating with

existing building.”

“The plan does wellto create the opportu-

nity for a generousnew entry and

functional addition.”

“Well incorporatedinto existing struc-ture, main entrancespace has clear con-

nections to boardroom, facilities, andexisting building.”

“A creative blend ofsubtle traditional ele-ments on the exteriorand a contemporary

focus on the interior.”

Frankfort has expressed tothe team how well the build-ing has been received bothpublicly and from the staff.The residents are the mostimportant element, and hav-ing a new structure reflectingthe community’s spirit andstandards is paramount. n

The American Institute of Architects

Eastern Illinois Chapter

P.O. Box 1476, Homewood, IL 60430

President John Benware, Jr., AIA

Vice President Jonathan Murawski, AIA

Secretary Gabe Hocking, Assoc. AIA

Treasurer Edvin Mertdogan, AIA

Directors Jacob Carlile, AIA

Dewain Peterson, Affil. AIA

Valerie Nawojski, AIA

Michael York, Assoc. AIA

Guenther Schmidt, AIA

Illinois Council Delegate James Maciejewski, AIA

Past President Ron Weszelits, AIA

PROVIDING EXPOSURE TO SUPERIORDESIGN AND THE MANY TALENTS OFAIA ARCHITECTSA

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