LCM’s master plan for the 210-acre mixed-use site establishes standards for future planned development throughout the site.

The plan draws upon pre-war industrial architecture of the area while creating a contemporary ‘live-work-play’ community.  The design standards draw from the area’s architectural tradition, specifying use of brick, stone, wood, and minimal ornamentation. Outdoor cafes, plazas, landscaping, and park benches create vibrant gathering spaces.

The plan takes advantage of the rural prairie setting, incorporating pedestrian trails, green spaces, and natural plantings. Sidewalks connect buildings to the trail network, creating an urban oasis in an open setting.

LCM collaborated with residents, the planning department, and Illinois Department of Transportation to ensure the plan maximized access from Interstate 57 and main roads yet remained sensitive to nearby residential developments. A ‘town center’ approach places anchor buildings – an administrative office building, an ambulatory care facility, and a hotel – near road access but diverts traffic away from the pedestrian-friendly interior of the development.

LCM has designed many of the residential, office, and retail buildings on the site.