flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Missner Group completes construction of Chicago auto dealership

Missner Group completes construction of Chicago auto dealership

The Missner Group also incorporated numerous sustainable improvements to the property including the implementation of a vegetative roof, and the utilization of permeable pavers for the parking lot.


By Posted by Tim Gregorski, Senior Editor | July 23, 2012
The Missner Group recently completed construction on the new 57,550-sf McGrath A
The Missner Group recently completed construction on the new 57,550-sf McGrath Acura of Chicago.

The Missner Group recently completed construction on the new 57,550-sf McGrath Acura of Chicago located at 1301 N. Elston Avenue.

This project represents the first Acura dealership within the City of Chicago.

Located along the North branch of the Chicago River, the site for the new McGrath Acura underwent extensive renovations. The project included the addition of a new Acura service center, parts department, and car wash. The service center features three drive-in service lanes and 21 service bays. The Missner Group also built-out seven glass-enclosed, private offices for the service manager and advisors which look out over the service area to maximize workflow and productivity. 

The project also featured the construction of a 10,550-sf addition to the facility which includes a new car showroom, service reception area, and mezzanine with a catwalk. Enhancements and high-end finishes are incorporated throughout including two towers with the iconic Acura logo, a café, a television lounge with a fire place, and a “Zen room.” The two-story glass and metal paneled new car showroom is accentuated by a large skylight allowing for an abundance of natural lighting and scenic views.

The Missner Group also incorporated numerous sustainable improvements to the property including the implementation of a vegetative roof, and the utilization of permeable pavers for the parking lot. The pavers are designed to reduce the impervious area of the project and allow for storm water management in keeping with the City of Chicago’s best management practices. The pavers also serve as a walkway which extends along the Chicago River to an outdoor patio and sitting area where an ornamental fence frames the property.

Judd and Glen Missner were the principals overseeing the project. Jess Knigge was the firm’s project executive and Drue Stohr was the senior project manager. Architectural services were provided by Balay Architects. +

Related Stories

Green | Apr 8, 2024

LEED v5 released for public comment

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has opened the first public comment period for the first draft of LEED v5. The new version of the LEED green building rating system will drive deep decarbonization, quality of life improvements, and ecological conservation and restoration, USGBC says. 

Codes and Standards | Apr 8, 2024

Boston’s plans to hold back rising seawater stall amid real estate slowdown

Boston has placed significant aspects of its plan to protect the city from rising sea levels on the actions of private developers. Amid a post-Covid commercial development slump, though, efforts to build protective infrastructure have stalled.

Sustainability | Apr 8, 2024

3 sustainable design decisions to make early

In her experience as an architect, Megan Valentine AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, WELL AP, Fitwel, Director of Sustainability, KTGY has found three impactful sustainable design decisions: site selection, massing and orientation, and proper window-to-wall ratios.

Brick and Masonry | Apr 4, 2024

Best in brick buildings: 9 projects take top honors in the Brick in Architecture Awards

The Ace Hotel Toronto, designed by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, and the TCU Music Center by Bora Architecture & Interiors are among nine "Best in Class" winners and 44 overall winners in the Brick Industry Association's 2023 Brick in Architecture Awards.

Retail Centers | Apr 4, 2024

Retail design trends: Consumers are looking for wellness in where they shop

Consumers are making lifestyle choices with wellness in mind, which ignites in them a feeling of purpose and a sense of motivation. That’s the conclusion that the architecture and design firm MG2 draws from a survey of 1,182 U.S. adult consumers the firm conducted last December about retail design and what consumers want in healthier shopping experiences.

Healthcare Facilities | Apr 3, 2024

Foster + Partners, CannonDesign unveil design for Mayo Clinic campus expansion

A redesign of the Mayo Clinic’s downtown campus in Rochester, Minn., centers around two new clinical high-rise buildings. The two nine-story structures will reach a height of 221 feet, with the potential to expand to 420 feet.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Apr 2, 2024

How university rec centers are evolving to support wellbeing

In a LinkedIn Live, Recreation & Wellbeing’s Sadat Khan and Abby Diehl joined HOK architect Emily Ostertag to discuss the growing trend to design and program rec centers to support mental wellbeing and holistic health.

Architects | Apr 2, 2024

AE Works announces strategic acquisition of WTW Architects

AE Works, an award-winning building design and consulting firm is excited to announce that WTW Architects, a national leader in higher education design, has joined the firm.

Office Buildings | Apr 2, 2024

SOM designs pleated façade for Star River Headquarters for optimal daylighting and views

In Guangzhou, China, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has designed the recently completed Star River Headquarters to minimize embodied carbon, reduce energy consumption, and create a healthy work environment. The 48-story tower is located in the business district on Guangzhou’s Pazhou Island.

K-12 Schools | Apr 1, 2024

High school includes YMCA to share facilities and connect with the broader community

In Omaha, Neb., a public high school and a YMCA come together in one facility, connecting the school with the broader community. The 285,000-sf Westview High School, programmed and designed by the team of Perkins&Will and architect of record BCDM Architects, has its own athletic facilities but shares a pool, weight room, and more with the 30,000-sf YMCA.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category



AEC Tech

Lack of organizational readiness is biggest hurdle to artificial intelligence adoption

Managers of companies in the industrial sector, including construction, have bought the hype of artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative technology, but their organizations are not ready to realize its promise, according to research from IFS, a global cloud enterprise software company. An IFS survey of 1,700 senior decision-makers found that 84% of executives anticipate massive organizational benefits from AI. 


Codes and Standards

Updated document details methods of testing fenestration for exterior walls

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) updated a document serving a recommended practice for determining test methodology for laboratory and field testing of exterior wall systems. The document pertains to products covered by an AAMA standard such as curtain walls, storefronts, window walls, and sloped glazing. AAMA 501-24, Methods of Test for Exterior Walls was last updated in 2015. 

halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021