SUMMER 2012 THE Click here to visit us on the web! News on the projects that make us tick. TEST KA BEA LET’S TAKE THIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE NEXT LEVEL, LIKE US ON FaCEBOOK! ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: 40 ACRES . $150 MILLION . 425,000 SQFT . 1200 JOBS PAGE 3 Astellas Pharma Opens $150 Million North American Headquarters M eet Our New “Creatives” NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS Meet the newest additions to our Teska Team. Land- scape Architect, Josh McCarn, Urban Planner and LEED T he former home of a Culligan water Green Associate Malika Ramdas and Planning Interns, bottling plant is now one of the most Alex Simmons and Beth Chamberlin. | Read More prime pieces of redevelopment prop- erty on the North Shore of Chicago. PAGE 4 GlenStar Properties of Chicago, Teska’s South Suburban TOD Study Client, has changed water into gold. Market conditions lend insight on how to better foster TOD. Teska and Business Districts, Inc. collaborated to pro- Located at the intersection of I-294 and Willow vide economic analysis and site planning for sites located in the Villages of Richton Park, Olympia Fields, Flossmoor Road, the 40 acre site is now home to Astellas and Hazel Crest. Each site development plan is unique to Pharma US, Inc. The pharmaceutical headquarters, local market conditions, land uses and environmental which is expected to house 1,200 employees, characteristics. | Read More includes a first-phase of two six-story buildings totaling 425,000 s.f. Astellas Pharma, Inc. is a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical company. Teska was involved throughout the project, from initial con- cept design, fiscal analysis, testimony and zoning approval, through final landscape design. In 2007, the Villages of Glenview and Northbrook created a vision plan for the unincorporated lands lying between their communities - the goal for the Culligan site was to attract a large corporation. PAGE 5 Before Culligan sold the site, joint agreements Retail Investment Study between Glenview, Northbrook and Prospect Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, and Richton Park Heights were signed to govern development of comprise a market estimated to spend nearly $780 mil- the site and regulate sharing of tax revenues be- lion on retail goods and services. This 2-year planning effort sought to understand why investment was lagging cause parts of the property laid in all three juris- in the South Suburbs and find solutions to improve the dictions. Based on Teska’s fiscal analysis, Glenview quantity and quality of study area shopping and dining Village President Kerry Cummings confirmed that options. | Read More the move is expected to generate $1.1 million in property tax revenue in the first year and $2.4 million by the 12th year. As a follow up to site design services for this 40 Astellas Headquarters Wins Top acre parcel, Teska was pleased to continue involve- Prize at 2012 Chicago Building ment with landscape architectural services for the design and development of the headquarters. Congress (CBC) Merit Awards Teska landscape architects prepared schematic Astellas Campus Landscape design through construction phase services. The buildings, site development and landscaping are designed to contribute to the development’s goal to achieve LEED Gold certification. - 1 - SUMMER 2012 THE TESKA BEAT Astellas Pharma Implementation Timeline 2010 PHA SE 1 DESIGN Goettsch Partners (GP) • Building designed to achieve LEED PHA SE 2 CONSTRUCTION Gold certification 2011 • The decision to purchase land and proceed with a build- to-suit development • Illinois Governor enabled Astellas to Pat Quinn at procure additional Groundbreaking acreage and expand Ceremony in April the project’s scope to 2010; photo courtesy include amenities such of illinois.gov as a covered parking structure, fitness center, and high-tech conference center. • Bold, geometric planting designs reference the dynamic architecture of the building. 2012 PHA SE 3 COMPLETION • The rear terrace includes a Japanese inspired, granite fountain that serves as a focal point for outdoor gatherings. - 2 - SUMMER 2012 THE TESKA BEAT An introductory welcome to our newest 2012 Speaking Engagements T eska Creatives FEB GLENBROOK SOUTH HS Welcome aboard Beth, Josh, Alex, and Malika! Teska is excited to have four creative and Jodi Mariano, proud alum of Glenbrook South High School, engaging individuals join our lineup of professionals. Seeing as the Teska Team is com- returned to her alma mater this past February to speak about the landscape architectural profession to 200 high achieving prised of inspired individuals, driven by the opportunity to make ideas happen while sophomore girls who demonstrated top performance in their bettering our built and natural environment - these folks are a perfect fit. math and science classes. This yearly event serves as an op- portunity to challenge young women to consider pursuing a career in a math, science, or technical field. (Go Titans!) s Beth Chamberlin, Intern: MAR • Born and bred Iowa girl; CHG ICA O METRO SECTION • Thinks travel is the best education; Erin Cigliano coordinated and hosted APA’s Chicago Metro Section March Event, which focused on tech-tools, media s Josh McCarn, Associate Landscape Architect: avenues and outreach strategies to promote and market sus- tainable community plans. Special thanks to Mandy Burrell • Grew up in the City of the Black Squirrel; Booth, Communications Director at Metropolitan Planning • Believes a red pencil and bright yellow trace paper are essential design tools; Council (MPC) and Stefanie Shull, Policy Analyst at the Center • Favorite Quote: "What you see is what you see" - Frank Stella for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) for speaking and show- casing their “know-how”! s Alex Simmons, Intern: APR • Strong believer and advocate of the City of Detroit; A SLA AW RDS REVIEW • Plays an unhealthy amount of basketball; In keeping with the theme to return to alma maters, Jodi joined a jury of professional landscape architects to review student s M alika Ramdas, Associate Planner: work at the University of Illinois. Student work was evaluated and awards were recommended for the ASLA merit and honor • LEED Green Associate; awards program. The students are awarded at the department’s • Respects 3M for inventing post-its; annual Sasaki Day event in May. Beth Chamberlin, Josh McCarn, Alex Simmons, Malika Ramdas, Intern Landscape Architect Intern Planner - 3 - SUMMER 2012 THE TESKA BEAT FOSTERING TOD: Market Conditions Lend Insight South Suburban Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Study FLOSSMOOR, IL | HAZEL CREST, IL | OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL | RICHTON PARK, IL PLAN DETAILS The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) and their Each site development plan is unique to local market conditions, economic development partner, the Chicago Southland Economic Develop- land uses and environmental characteristics. ment Corporation (CSEDC), are looking to foster TOD throughout the south • Richton Park Plan: Capitalizes on walkability to Metra and suburban area. Teska and Business Districts, Inc. collaborated with the attractive open space areas to create a multi-generational SSMMA, CSEDC and four municipalities to provide economic analysis and mixed-use neighborhood. site planning for sites located in the Villages of Richton Park, Olympia Fields, • Olympia Fields Plan: Makes use of its unique location Flossmoor and Hazel Crest. These development plans are intended to be used adjacent to a first class Country Club to support high-end as a basis to solicit the development community. rental/equity housing and dining. • Flossmoor Plan: Contemplates a shared restaurant use that contributes to Downtown’s attractive dining destinations. • Hazel Crest Plan: Supports neighborhood-oriented desti- nations with social and educational services aimed to capi- talize on location along Metra. lan ichton Park Site P 3D rendering of R 3D rendering of Olympia Fields Site Plan. - 4 - SUMMER 2012 THE TESKA BEAT South Suburban Retail Investment Study STUDY AREA KEY FINDINGS MA TTESON, IL | OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL | PaRK FOREST, IL | RICHTON PARK, IL • Higher property tax rates for commercial develop- ment than nearby communities makes the cost of doing Matteson, Olympia Fields, Park Forest, and Richton Park comprise a mar- business higher, tipping the location decision away ket estimated to spend nearly $780 million on retail goods and services. from the area. • Fewer employees than in other Chicago areas with Yet residents express dissatisfaction with the quality and quantity of the stores and higher concentrations of stores and restaurants. restaurants serving this market. Traveling the high traffic corridors that contain shop- ping centers, Vollmer Road, Lincoln Highway, and Sauk Trail, and connect the area to the • Unique census tracks; includes a combination of high Chicago Metro region via Interstate 57 reveals many aging, deteriorating commercial income and majority African American populations; properties that contain vacancies. The South Suburban Retail Investment Study sought • Development community fails to differentiate the to understand why investment in these communities seems to lag behinid the Chicago study area from less affluent south suburban communities. region and find solutions that will improve the quantity and quality of study area shop- ping and dining options. Teska Associates, Inc. led this 2 year planning effort with key • Lincoln Mall does not create the type of regional draw that would be expected to attract a cluster of stores and support from Business Districts, Inc, the UIC