Introduction | History | Service | Experience | Projects

Providing Professional Architectural Design, Planning
and Project Management Services for over 30 years.

HEARD & ASSOCIATES, LTD.
Architects, Planners, Designers, Project Managers
142 East Ontario Street, Suite 1100
Chicago, Illinois 60611-1577
(312) 786-0770
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This brochure will introduce you to Heard & Associates, Ltd.. In these pages you will learn what Heard & Associates, Ltd. does and indeed has been doing for over thirty years. I hope you take the time to read it and discover the valuable services we offer.

Planning buildings takes a lot of your time and money. That's why we spend so much of our time studying your needs, listening to you and your staff, and exploring options. We think you deserve architectural design, planning and project management services that result in a building that not only looks good but really works. That you should also get it on time and within your budget simply goes without saying. At Heard & Associates, Ltd., we think that's what you pay for.

When it's time to get your job done right, the Heard team tackles the assignment with a full arsenal of resources; licensed architects, with distinguished academic credentials, computer-aided design & drafting, years of practical experience in design and construction, automated specifications, computerized schedule and budget tracking, highly qualified engineering consultants, and a full complement of support personnel. Whether it's a small renovation project or a new multimillion dollar high tech medical facility, we bring to it the mature professional judgment, attention to detail and conscientious project management necessary for its successful completion.

Many of our clients have returned year after year to use our services. With that kind of recommendation, we needn't say a word more.

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Heard & Associates, Ltd. is a qualified and experienced minority-owned, Chicago-based architectural and planning firm. Founded in 1967 by Andrew L. Heard, the firm has provided a wide range of services for both public and private sector clients, including architectural design, planning, project management, research and construction administration.

Project assignments have ranged from the design of complex and sophisticated medical facilities to public facility rehabilitation; from large multi-family housing design to the restoration and preservation of architectural landmarks; from high security penal institutions to multi-modal transportation facilities. Public buildings including fire stations, libraries, and courtrooms as well as specialized industrial and recreational facilities are also part of the firms background.

Heard & Associates, Ltd. utilizes a project management approach that relies on strong teamwork. Team members are assigned based on the needs of each specific project while senior management maintains continuous client interface. Project managers are designated based on project requirements and types of practical experience required. The project manager is responsible for day-to-day direction and coordination of project staff and activity. Job captains supplement the work of project managers. A talented cadre of technical personnel, including architects, planners, drafters and secretarial support completes the firm's staffing configuration.

A carefully designed operating plan guides all project tasks from initial project programming through construction administration and project close-out. This plan is diligently monitored using a state of the art computerized management information system. Fully committed to the use of advanced technology in the practice of architecture, the firm uses AutoCAD 12c3 computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) software to produce construction documentation, computerized specification production, a computer assisted production scheduling and cost control program, and customized software for construction phase activities including shop drawings, punch listing, and payment waiver tracking.

The strength of Heard & Associates, Ltd. lies in its key professional staff. It is their individual talents and collective commitment to excellence that has led to the growth of the organization over a quarter of a century. The high quality of work is a reflection of staff skills and expertise. These technical skills coupled with many years of "on-line" experience enable the firm to bring mature, professional and informed judgement to every project.

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The foundation of Heard & Associates, Ltd.'s client service approach stems from the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM). TQM is a holistic system of organizational management which involves employees in a comprehensive management-led effort to create an environment and business system which has as its operational premise continuous improvement of all organizational processes and systems in order to better satisfy the needs of the client.

Heard & Associates, Ltd. recognizes the client's breadth of knowledge and experience as one of the most valuable resources involved with the planning of any facility. In order for our office to utilize this valuable resource to the fullest extent, numerous meetings are held with the Owner and Using Agencies during all planning phases. At these meetings, detailed Owner and User requirements for all aspects of the facilities operations are sought out by our office. Detailed questions are requested of the Owner and Using Agencies with regards to such items as design parameters, building materials, fixed and movable equipment, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, and numerous maintenance concerns Owner and User information gathered by our office is documented, distributed to all team members, and implemented into the design of the facility. Detailed coordination review meetings are held with the Owner and User Agencies at all critical phases of each project. At these review meetings, requirements previously requested by the Owner and User Agencies are reiterated and the incorporation of all of the information into the construction documents is reviewed in detail.

At every phase of a project detailed cost estimates are prepared by our office and compared with the Owner's budget requirements. These detailed cost estimates incorporate all Owner and User requirements discussed at review meetings or otherwise noted. Cost estimates prepared at each project phase are specifically prepared based on all of the building components and systems identified for the facility at that particular phase. We recognize the need to provide independent cost estimates at all phases so that as the design and client requirements for a facility become increasingly defined, all additions, deletions, and refinements to the planning of the facility from previous phases are accurately taken into account and compared with the Owner's budget requirements. Detailed independent cost estimates also allow for useful comparisons of cost estimates for alternate building components and systems.

In addition to acknowledging the importance of planning facilities within Owner's budget requirements, Heard & Associates, Ltd. recognizes the significance of establishing realistic and aggressive project schedules and adhering to these schedules at all phases of the project. The framework for successfully establishing and maintaining project schedules is based on careful planning and monitoring. Prior to the design of any facility, our office prepares detailed checklists for all phases of the project. These checklists identify specific tasks to be performed, such as, comprehensive drawing cartoon sets indicating each drawing layout and required details, required meetings with local, state, and federal agencies, weekly coordination meetings, on-going checking, etc. All tasks identified in these checklists are assigned specific durations, which cumulatively can be completed by the project team within the client's project schedule. As work progresses during the planning phases, checklists are updated and the planned duration for remaining tasks are reevaluated and compared with the client's project schedule.

Heard & Associates, Ltd. recognizes the importance of thorough checking and coordination of construction documents during all phases of planning. Our overall project plan includes time set aside for daily checking, weekly checking, and concentrated checking prior to the completion of each planning phase. Our office considers daily and weekly checking to be as critical as concentrated checking the end of each phase because we understand that if errors and miscoordinated information is identified early, the escalating effects of these potential errors can be greatly minimized.

Heard & Associates, Ltd. considers the construction phase of every project to be vital to providing the client with a facility that meets their needs. Heard & Associates, Ltd.'s services during the construction phase include thorough, diligent construction observation and documentation. We believe that the client is entitled to every detail and requirement described in the construction documents and our job is to observe the construction of the facility and enforce all of these requirements with the contractor. We provide the Owner and Using Agencies with on-going updates of construction progress and construction items in non-compliance.

Heard & Associates, Ltd. recognizes the need to devote significant attention to providing a thorough project closeout. Complete project closeouts are accomplished with the use of our customized computerized punchlist software, the ability to update project record documents prepared using AutoCAD 12c3 software, and the use of our customized computerized shop drawings log software which tracks and sorts all required and submitted operating and maintenance manuals, training requirements, attic stock, warranties, and shop drawings so that all of this information is collected from the contractor, organized, and presented to the Owner and Using Agencies in a timely manner.

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Heard & Associates, Ltd. has a broad range of experience to draw upon when planning, designing, documenting and administrating the construction process of any project. We are able to consistently produce quality, appropriate design solutions because of our commitment to client service and management. We have successfully completed a diverse list of projects including the following types:

Detailed project descriptions follow:

Educational Facilities | Correctional Facilities | Multi-Family Housing | Transportation Facilities | Laboratories

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TERMINAL FIVE - INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL
O'Hare Airport, Chicago, Illinois

Terminal 5, O'Hare International Airport's new International Terminal, is the final component of the largest and most ambitious airport expansion program in the world. (This project was completed in 1993) Scheduled for completion in 1993, with a construction cost of $330 million, the new 21-gate terminal will accommodate all foreign flag departures and international arrivals at O'Hare. Designed by a team of Heard & Associates, Ltd., Perkins & Will, and Consoer, Townsend & Associates, Inc., the building is organized around three primary levels capped by a mezzanine housing administrative and mechanical services. The upper level features a departure hall housing 150 ticketing stations, security checkpoints, concessions, departure holdrooms, VIP lounges and airline offices. The lower level features arrival services such as a federal inspection station capable of processing 4,000 passengers per hour and a "meeters and greeters" area. Between those floors, an intermediate apron level houses an airport transit system station and airline support services such as baggage handling, employee facilities and ground-handling equipment.

The departure hall is flooded with natural light from an exposed structural steel truss system, enclosed by expansive glazed sidewalls. From the hall, passengers enter the "galleria" which, with its curvilinear roof, guides them to airline departure gates. Numerous moving sidewalks carry passengers through the terminal, which features both landside and airside views to enhance passenger pleasure and provide a continuous sense of orientation with less reliance on signage. Located adjacent to the airport's main entrance roadway, the 1 million square foot International Terminal project is one of the final components in O'Hare's 10-year redevelopment program.

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COOK COUNTY INSTITUTE OF FORENSIC MEDICINE
Chicago, Illinois

This facility was a new building for the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office designed to replace the old morgue facility. This building is one of the finest and most efficient facilities for forensic medicine in the United States

Working closely with the staff of the County Medical Examiner's office, Heard & Associates, Ltd. specified and coordinated the installation of all the medical and scientific equipment for this state-of-the-art forensic medical facility. Included in this equipment were radiological and hematological equipment, custom designed autopsy equipment and sophisticated computerized date collection systems. Additionally, Heard & Associates, Ltd. specified and installed all interior furnishings.

The facility utilizes reclaimed heat from the building to operate an environmental system within the building. The specialized ventilation systems were required to contain such odors that are inherent in this type of facility. This environmental system was developed through close coordination and design with our engineers.

The various scientific and testing laboratories that are a part of this facility required plumbing and ventilation systems capable of safely controlling and eliminating dangerous acids and fumes from the working environment. The histology laboratory's work on blood accumulate, is a cancer-producing agent. This problem led to the design of a localized exhaust system in addition to the general ventilation system for that space.

The architects and engineers for this project worked very closely together to design and detail completely new systems and equipment for the body handling and autopsy processes. This included such items as stainless steel body carts which can be interlocked with wall-mounted custom autopsy sinks, raised and lowered, and used for the actual operation without ever removing the body from the tray that it will occupy throughout its stay at the facility. We also developed new equipment for the handling of decomposed bodies including battery-operated lift trucks, support frames and tray attach mechanisms.

Working closely with the staff of the County Medical Examiner's office, Heard & Associates, Ltd. specified and coordinated the installation of all the medical and scientific equipment for this state-of-the-art forensic medical facility. Included in this equipment were radiological and hematological equipment, custom designed autopsy equipment and sophisticated computerized date collection systems. Additionally, Heard & Associates, Ltd. specified and installed all interior furnishings.

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COOK COUNTY JAIL - DIVISION X DORMITORY FACILITY
Chicago, Illinois

As a direct response to on-going U. S. District Court proceedings and judicial orders to alleviate an extreme overcrowding problem at the municipal correctional complex, the Cook County Board of Commissioners commissioned Heard & Associates, Ltd. to design and plan a new correctional facility on an urgent schedule. Construction documents were completed on an expedited schedule of only six months for a 786 bed, maximum-security men's jail dormitory facility. Administered by the Cook County Illinois Department of Corrections, Division X is a separate addition to the existing jail complex which houses more than 7,000 male and female inmates.

The Division X site is a truncated triangle of 151,639 square feet located at the southernmost end of the entire 115 acre correctional facility complex. Although it is situated within a residential community, the 12 ft. high brick wall surrounding the perimeter serves as a noise control barrier, separation from street and pedestrian traffic, as well as security control of the inmate population within. Security was further enhanced by the use of a barbed wire and razor ribbon fence inside the brick wall. Perimeter guard towers are located at the southeast and southwest corner of the site within firing range of every point along the outside barricade. The tight site dimensions and configuration play a key consideration in the design and layout of the facility plan. Major civil engineering work was necessary to resolve storm drainage problems and connections to existing city sewer lines. The exterior building aesthetic was designed to blend with the existing correctional center complex as well as the residential community beyond the boundaries of the jail.

The four story high, 204,579 square foot building contains four inmate pods which each consist of sixteen 24-cell tiers with two beds per cell, together housing 786 inmates. The 24 cells of each tier are arranged on three sides of a rectangle around a dayroom. A guard station and computerized security entry control are located at the fourth side of the rectangle along with a six-man gang shower. Plumbing pipes and ventilation air is provided via a vertical shaft between every two cells. Baseboard perimeter radiant heat is provided on the outside wall of each cell and the entire building is fully air-conditioned. The enclosed dayroom has fixed seats and tables for 48 prisoners to dine and fixed benches for viewing guard-controlled television. In addition, each cell tier provides space for contact and non-contact visitation by correction officials, attorneys, family and friends.

The entire structural system above grade is constructed of precast concrete which constitutes approximately 10% of the $45 million construction cost. In addition to construction speed and economy, the use of precast offered desirable features such as high security, low maintenance, and the longest life expectancy of any building material. The use of precast cut the conventional construction time by 8 to 14 months as well as provided an optimum facility within the County's budget constraints.

Security systems for Division X include fully automated locks, intercom system, paging system, sound monitoring system, and a closed circuit television system all operated from either sixteen local secondary security control stations or one base control center located in the building central core. The Building Automation System (BAS) is a fully-automated environmental system controlled and operated from a computerized monitoring system of pneumatic and electronic control devices from one central engineer's station.


KANKAKEE MINIMUM SECURITY UNIT
Manteno, Illinois

This is a new building of approximately 5,500 square feet which is added to an existing minimum security prison campus plan. The new one-story brick building is designed to house 94 female residents with six of those in cells designed for handicapped persons. This project also includes new electrical power to the campus and a new water tank and septic system. This work was done for a very limited budget and tight schedule due to pressure from the Federal Courts.


PONTIAC CORRECTIONAL CENTER HOSPITAL
Pontiac, Illinois

The Illinois Capital Development Board commissioned Heard & Associates, Ltd. to plan the complete renovation of this 31,000 sq. ft. prison hospital building. These services included the replacement of interior partitions, HVAC and electrical systems. Designed to meet JCAH standards, the building was completely remodeled to support functional relationships of various areas to be used for health care services. In addition to administrative offices, utility rooms, patient wards and employee lounge, design included areas for laboratories, x-ray, nurses station, dental clinic and medical records department. Security, handicapped accessibility and energy conservation were major considerations in the planning.


YOUTH CORRECTIONAL CENTER - Residential Units
St. Charles, Illinois

These units were adapted from a design provided by the Capital Development Board to provide minimal security, uncrowded living conditions and improved supervision for 96 youths at this correctional facility. Heard & Associates, Ltd. was selected for this project after a review by the CDB of our record for on-time and on-budget project delivery, since the Department of Corrections had an urgent need for the facility in a short time frame and within an extremely limited budget. The two 9100 square foot units contain dormitories with day rooms, small kitchens, laundry areas and central interviewing rooms, all consistent with current penal code standards. The building floor plan is star- shaped to allow total surveillance by one guard in a protected control station.

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WARREN E. BROWN APARTMENTS
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

The Warren E. Brown Apartments are located on a prominent hill side site in downtown St. Thomas overlooking the main harbor. The existing buildings are four stories high and dilapidated due to poor construction and inadequate maintenance. Two recent hurricane's have caused extensive damage. The existing building housing 272 units will be demolished and replaced with 89 units of townhouse style buildings.

These buildings of varying size and height will be arranged over 11 acres to reduce density by 64%. This will allow increased space for parking, patios, recreation and landscaping. This community will also have a new community center with a day care center and tot lot. Future home ownership is an important consideration in the arrangement of all utilities, unit entrances and private balconies.

Residential buildings consist of excavation including rock removal and the construction of ninety- eight (98) apartment units in fourteen (14) one and two story buildings. Each unit to have an individual cistern for rainwater collection. Exterior walls are concrete beams and columns with concrete masonry unit in fill and plaster finish. Roofing is prefinished steel roof panels over a prefabricated wood truss structure with a plywood deck steel gutters and PVC downspouts. Trusses to be anchored with hurricane clips and continuous metal strapping to comply with the latest code requirements. Ceilings at trusses to be grooved, textured plywood. Interior partitions are wood stud framed with plaster finish. Windows are aluminum single hung type with security screens. Wood doors are used throughout with interior wood frames and exterior steel frames. Kitchens and baths to have wood cabinets with plastic laminate countertops. Finishes consist of painted walls and ceilings with resilient tile flooring and base. Baths to have ceramic tile floor and base with some ceramic tile wall surfaces in kitchens and baths. Plumbing work shall consist of supply and waste piping, plumbing fixtures in kitchens and baths and an equipment room for the unit's water pump as well as an electric water heater. Electrical work shall consist of electrical conduit, wiring, boxes, devices and light fixtures.

Community Center Building is a two story building containing the housing manager's office, community offices and meeting room, a Headstart Center for 18 children, a maintenance shop, storage and offices, steel band storage, public toilets and an outdoor play area for the Headstart children. The building's construction is to be the same as the residential buildings except roof trusses are cold formed galvanized steel members with plywood deck; interior partitions are steel stud framing with gypsum board faces; ceiling system is suspended steel framing with lay-in acoustical tiles; interior door frames to be steel and the upper level space is air conditioned.

Demolition removal and proper disposal often (10) existing four buildings including the abatement of lead based paint and asbestos. Also the demolition and removal of existing cisterns, roads, walks and site utilities such as water distribution, sewer, electrical and telephone.

Sitework consists of earthwork including rock removal for the installation of two-way roads, parking, walks, retaining walls, stairs and site amenities such as terraced recreation spaces for tot lots, covered seating areas, a basketball court, private concrete patios with wood fences and clothes drying lines at each apartment unit, garbage collection stations, landscaping and a perimeter fence at the property line.

Site utilities include pumphouse, storage tank and water distribution system, fire hydrants, sanitary sewers, storm sewers and drainage, power poles for electrical, telephone and cable television distribution. Electrical meters and equipment are contained within an enclosed structure (kiosk) located at the ends of each building. Rainwater is collected from the roofs and piped to individual cisterns.

Summary:

• Demolition and removal of existing buildings, cisterns, road, walks and utilities

• Construction of (98) ninety-eight apartment units in (14) fourteen one and two story buildings.

• Construction of a Community Center Building.

• Construction of new roads, walks, parking spaces and site utilities including a pumphouse.

• Construction of site amenities such as tot lots, covered seating areas, private patios and a basketball court

 

ESTATE TUTU APARTMENTS
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

In response to the evident deterioration of an entire housing development, the Virgin Islands Housing Authority called upon Heard & Associates, Ltd. to redesign the 400 units of housing contained in 22 buildings, the community center and the surrounding site of Estate Tutu Apartments. Our design approach was guided by seven key criteria including; cost-efficiency of construction & function, durability and maintainability of building materials, functionality of design elements; security enhancement/vandalism resistance, environmental soundness, aesthetic detail which contributes to resident/community pride & dignity and compliance with all applicable regulatory codes. In order to maintain available dwelling space during the construction phase of the project, a phased construction operation was implemented in coordination with the availability of relocation facilities for the tenants as secured by a Relocation Specialist.

Given the special requirements for structures and sites located in areas subject to tropical weather conditions and extreme storms, Heard & Associates, Ltd. designed the renovation to Estate Tutu to address site and site structures, hardscape and landscape, parking and circulation, dwelling and nondwelling buildings and spaces. In addition, because potable water is a limited commodity in St. Thomas, a system was devised to collect rain water. This rain water is collected from roof gutters and piped through a downspout into cisterns located in the basements of several buildings for storage. Eventually it is piped to the pumphouse where it is treated for potable use within the community.


OSWALD E. HARRIS COURT
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

At the final component to an existing modernization program, the Virgin Islands Housing Authority contracted Heard & Associates, Ltd. to provide architectural services to design the complete renovation for 72 3-bedroom units in the last seven buildings in disrepair at the Oswald E. Harris Court housing development. These services constituted the last phase of the renovation at this development and, as such, incorporated the design concepts of the previous renovation work. In addition, our approach and methodologies sought to improve the original renovation design concepts.

The main areas of renovation at Harris Court consisted of improvements to the site as well as the interior and exterior of the buildings including replacement of the entire electrical and plumbing systems with their associated fixtures, replacement of all window opening louvers, provision of new apartment entrance and closet doors, connections for washers and dryers, reconditioning of bathrooms and kitchens in their entirety, installation of exterior lights, improvement to the garbage collection areas, improvement to existing recreation areas as well as installation of new ones, and replacement of the existing roof and related components.

With great emphasis placed on the necessity to provide accessibility for the physically handicapped, all seven buildings being renovated were designed to accommodate the needs of disabled residents. Heard & Associates, Ltd. not only met HUD's requirement for 5% of the units to be handicap accessible but exceeded it by designing 30 apartments to meet the needs of the physically, visually and hearing impaired.


SCATTERED-SITE HOUSING PROGRAM
Chicago, Illinois

Heard & Associates, Ltd.'s services to the Chicago Housing Authority for this project consisted of field survey, construction cost estimating, plan and specification review for approximately 875 units of multi-family housing. Mandated by federal court order to desegregate and disperse public housing, the CHA acquired numerous properties "scattered" throughout the City with intentions to rehabilitate them for low-income residential use. These two-to-three story existing structures, ranging from two to twelve dwelling units per building were mainly constructed prior to World War II. With an estimated $37 million rehabilitation construction cost, the Chicago Housing Authority required an independent review and assessment of rehabilitation costs and planning documents. Our services to this agency, which date back to 1969, included:

A field survey and analysis of interior and exterior dwelling unit deficiencies, site deficiencies, building systems and project viability.

• A review of compliance with HUD Minimum Property Standards

• Recommendations for cost savings and expeditious construction
  

Two-man survey teams staffed by architects and engineers, experienced with housing survey and data collection processes, inspected all of the dwelling units according to a carefully planned schedule. Field survey data was recorded on custom-designed forms for the use of CHA administrators and construction crews. Based on the field survey data, cost estimates were prepared and reported on HUD form 52396. Working closely with CHA personnel, we devised changes to the scope of work to allow for rehabilitation of the dwelling units for less than prototype cost. This work led to the rapid rehabilitation of hundreds of units which had been stalled for several years.


ELDERLY HOUSING
Chicago, Illinois

Commissioned by the Chicago Housing Authority, Heard & Associates, Ltd. Designed two high-rise towers, located on the northeast corner of 55th Street and South Michigan Avenue, to provide new living accommodations for elderly public housing tenants. Thoughtful consideration was placed on the needs of elderly housing with special emphasis placed on handicap accessibility and security. Combined, Elderly Housing offers 150 one-bedroom living units. One unit on each floor was designed for handicapped resident. As well, the 31 vehicle parking area located on the site also offers handicapped parking.

In addition, to the living units, the first floor of each building houses management offices, maintenance space, a community room with a kitchen and storage area, men's and women's toilets with handicapped access, a mail room and lobby space.


GUYON APARTMENT
Chicago, Illinois

The conversion of this fourteen-story apartment hotel to 117 units of low-income subsidized housing represented a major planning challenge for Heard & Associates, Ltd.. Designed in 1927 by the noted architect Jens Jensen, this building is listed on the National Register of Architectural Landmarks. The U. S. Department of the Interior carefully regulated the storefronts, building windows and terra cotta clad exterior which required special care and restoration of surfaces. Located on the West Side of Chicago, this project was conceived and implemented by Bethel New Life, Inc., a well-known, local community-based organization.

Our major task was the reconfiguration of the floor plan to convert hotel rooms to one, two and three-bedroom units with optimum utilization of kitchens and baths. Heating and electrical systems were completely renovated and expanded with emphasis on energy efficiency. Corridor lighting, access control and mail facilities were also substantially improved. Working closely with a construction management firm to increase the value received for construction dollars and to accelerate the construction schedule, this $4.4 million project was carefully phased for minimum disruption of existing tenancy. This moderate rehabilitation was funded by the City of Chicago Department of Housing and several public service foundations.


LAKE GROVE VILLAGE APARTMENT
Chicago, Illinois

Commissioned by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, Heard & Associates, Ltd. developed a cost-effective rehabilitation and replacement plan for the Lake Grove Village Apartment complex located in Chicago, Illinois. This multi-family housing development has 458 dwelling units in three 10-story buildings and five 3-story buildings. The apartment mix is 162 one-bedroom units, 236 two-bedroom units and 60 three-bedroom units. Each high-rise building also has commercial spaces on the ground floor. We conducted a room-by-room physical survey and audit of the entire housing development.

Our field review consisted of existing site, interior and exterior building conditions. Our services and final report to HUD included:

• itemized survey of existing conditions

• computerized data assemblage, analysis and management

• rehabilitation recommendation including detailed cost estimates with emphasis on life cycle cost alternatives, maintenance, repair and future renovation

• recommended rehabilitation program schedule

• description and evaluation of complex utilization in terms of management, economics, population density, energy usage and life cycle.

This project represented a real planning challenge as it was in an advanced state of disrepair and deterioration. The damage to the existing buildings was extensive and diverse. The ravages of Chicago's harsh weather, the strain of heavy occupancy by low income families and a lack of adequate maintenance had taken its toll. The building materials proved to be of limited durability and maintenance had been difficult.

Our planning objective was three-fold:

1. to identify and realistically address all items that needed to be corrected and/or improved.
2. to identify potential future problems before they become major issues.
3. to establish a rehabilitation schedule that would not interrupt occupancy and that addressed particularly significant problems before they reached irreparable proportions.

We were successful in development solutions that will last far into the future, so that the existing problems, once corrected, will not repeat themselves, necessitating additional expense and repairs.


PAUL G. STEWART HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Chicago, Illinois

Heard & Associates, Ltd. was commissioned by the City of Chicago Department of Housing to conduct a detailed survey of multi-family residential structures which had fallen into varying states of disrepair. A comprehensive field inspection was executed and cost estimates as well as a feasibility report were prepared to determine requirements for repair, maintenance and improvement of the residential structures.


LAKE FRONT PROPERTIES
Chicago, Illinois

In 1985, the Chicago Housing Authority impaneled a group of top housing professionals, developers, elected officials, community organizers and public housing residents to develop plans for rapid implementation of a $14 million CIAP grant. Envisioned was a comprehensive modernization of 900 units of housing located in six high-rise buildings on Chicago's lakefront. The modernization program had stalled due to concerns expressed by public housing residents and local politicians about relocation benefits and first right-of-return to renovated housing. Selected by the CHA chairman to preside over the Task Force, Andrew Heard worked skillfully to facilitate the often arduous process of community input. Working against a tight deadline for utilization of CIAP funds, several meetings were held with developers, residents, community organizers and housing administrators to address the disparate concerns of the various participants. The Task Force successfully resolved the disputed issues and approved recommendations to the CHA Board that permitted rapid implementation of the comprehensive modernization program. All work done by the Task Force was documented in a lengthy report to the Chicago Housing Authority administration.


WHERRY MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING
Great Lakes Naval Base, Illinois

The U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command commissioned Heard & Associates, Ltd. to provide professional services for the inspection, rehabilitation and improvement of 838 units of military family housing. Phase I services for this $40 million project consisted of a comprehensive on-site inspection of Navy family housing units and related facilities to clearly identify maintenance and repair deficiencies, and improvement plans (including energy conservation). In addition to the interior and exterior technical inspection of quarters, completion of records necessary to identify deficiencies with cost data for maintenance, repair and improvements is included.

Heard & Associates, Ltd. provided rehabilitation planning of all aspects necessary to enhance family housing for Navy personnel. Project scope includes site work exterior supporting utilities and garage and storage areas. A fundamental planning objective was the correction of serious deterioration and obsolescence of existing quarters while raising tenant morale regarding Navy family housing.

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