September 26, 2003 annex|5 GARNERS DUAL 2003 AIA CHICAGO DESIGN EXCELLENCE AWARDS In a year filled with modernist winners, the American Institute of Architects Chicago chapter recognized two such designs with Honor Awards in the Distinguished Building category created by annex|5 Architects (www.annex5.net), the in-house design studio of the Chicago-based architecture and engineering firm A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. Andrew Metter, FAIA, Epstein vice president/architecture and annex|5 principal, served as principal design architect for the winning projects: Renishaw, Inc.'s US headquarters located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois and Gladstone's factory façade renovation in Schaumburg, Illinois. "These awards are exciting because they recognize not only Andrew's design talents but also the ongoing success of annex|5," stated Mike Damore, Epstein's senior executive vice president/ architecture and annex|5 principal, when speaking about the firm's year old design studio. "We formed annex|5 to complement Epstein's commercial and industrial design expertise and are very pleased at how well the studio's more socially-focused designs have been received." Renishaw's building form weaves together the office and warehouse functions of this facility. Natural light is an important element and is maintained through a maximum 50-foot width in the office building. Designed as a linear structure with special areas at each end, the east side features a second level building extension that serves as a protective canopy for a formal entry/drop-off area. The west side features an outdoor terrace adjacent to a lunchroom area - reinforcing a connection to the horizon. The L-shaped form of the building preserves a magnificent stand of existing trees on the south side of the building. Natural light and ventilation, sun shading, low-E glass and the preservation of existing vegetation all contribute to minimum site impact and prairie preservation. The simple exterior of Gladstone's factory was transformed through the use of a steel frame and infill panels attached to the façade. The frame floats in front of the existing structure and the various panels of louvers and sand-blasted security glass create a mosaic effect. The glass entrance is enhanced by floating concrete walkways and a rock garden. The result is an elegant, state-of-the-art exterior achieved with a relatively modest budget. "Both projects represent simple, workable solutions to two different design challenges," noted Metter. "The design for Renishaw's North American headquarters combines office and warehouse space in one seamless structure that blends very well with its prairie-like setting. The renovation of Gladstone's simple factory façade creates a universal strategy for bringing new life, both aesthetic and economic, to a time-worn industrial building. The Renishaw and Gladstone projects have been recognized in previous years by other professional architecture associations for their outstanding design. Renishaw, Inc.'s headquarters received a 2001 Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) Professional Design Award. The Gladstone factory facade renovation has been honored with a 2002 Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) National Design Award, a 2002 Association of Licensed Architects (ALA) Silver Medal Design Award and a 2002 Midwest Construction magazine Award of Merit in the Rehabilitation category. A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc. is a full-service architecture, engineering, construction, interior design and graphic design firm. Founded in 1921, the firm maintains its Chicago headquarters along with offices in Los Angeles, California; Warsaw, Poland; and Tel Aviv, Haifa and Beersheba, Israel. The Epstein family of companies includes A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc., ISI, the firm's interior design unit and annex|5, the firm's in-house design studio.