Milan Readiness Center Addition
Bailey Edward Design, Inc. · Milan, IL
Overview
The Milan Readiness Center Addition inspires National Guard members in their service to the community. Morse code patterns laced in the brick façade remind servicepeople of their promise to the American people. Photovoltaic shades and a solar wall demonstrate commitment to the planet. Daylight flows inside through solar tubes and skylights before being distributed throughout by a glass wall system offering transparency and a sense of community amongst offices, classrooms, and communal spaces within.
The Milan Readiness Center addition inspires and uplifts the National Guard as they serve communities in Illinois and beyond. Creating 15,000 sf to support an additional 130 servicepeople, the addition includes key program spaces such as offices, military supply rooms, and locker rooms. As Anti-Terrorism / Force Protection protocols eliminate the need for standard windows, the façade is filled through a clay brick design infusing symbols of patriotism. Declaring in Morse code the Army National Guard’s values of loyalty, duty, respect, service, honor, integrity, and courage, contrasting brick inspires the servicepeople and reminds Americans of the importance of the space within. Visible sustainability improvements remind the onlooker of the National Guard’s commitment to the natural environment. Photovoltaic shades above the second-floor windows provide electricity while minimizing harsh light. Solar walls contain duct work to better control the air temperature before it enters building systems. Solar tubes and skylights bring in daylighting where the windows cannot, minimizing the amount of artificial light required to illuminate the interior. Inside, glass wall systems carry light beyond the solar tubes and skylights to illuminate every office, classroom, and collaborative space. Frosted glass connects the existing building with the addition, allowing light to continue its journey from the new to the old, reflecting individuals working on both sides, a reminder that neither acts independently.
Gallery