Chicago-based Omega Yeast, the largest supplier of brewer’s yeast in the U.S., has recently moved to its new 13,800-sf production facilities after the company outgrew its former space.
The company purchased an existing building a block away from the original space, but during the renovation, Omega Yeast realized it was already outpacing this new space as well. The company then purchased the lots behind the Phase 1 building to further expand the operations across the alley and to build a new building tailored to the unique business needs.
Because it is located in a residential area, the loud production facilities were pushed to the back of the building while the quieter lab spaces, offices, and the break room were moved toward the residential street front. Lab spaces on the second floor have wrap-around windows that are elevated to face the Metra platform on the east side.
Adjacent to the eastern wall are large silos for spent grain and dry grain, one of which is painted in brand colors. By the alley on the north side, a small patio faces a large glazed opening that exposes the brewing facilities.
The company’s recent rebrand informed the look of the building with white brick, black and white corrugated metal, warm wood finishes, and “Omega Yeast Blue” highlighting the design.
The build team included Valerio Dewalt Train (architect), J.T. Magen & Company (general contractor), Calor Design Group (civil, fire protection, and MEP), and Klein & Hoffman (structural engineer).
Related Stories
| Oct 3, 2011
Balance bunker and Phase III projects breaks ground at Mitsubishi Plant in Georgia
The facility, a modification of similar facilities used by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc. (MHI) in Japan, was designed by a joint design team of engineers and architects from The Austin Company of Cleveland, Ohio, MPSA and MHI.
| Apr 12, 2011
Mitsubishi commissions electric power manufacturing plant in Memphis
Greenville, S.C.-based design and construction firm O’Neal Inc. is providing design, engineering, procurement, and construction services for Mitsubishi Electric Power Products.
| Feb 23, 2011
Data center trends: green design, technology upgrades
While green data centers will continue to be a trend within the industry, technology is also driving infrastructure upgrades that have never been seen before, according to the 2011 Data Center Technical Market Report from Environmental Systems Design. The report also includes an overview of the national data center market, construction costs, blackouts and disaster prevention, and site selection.
| Jan 4, 2011
Grubb & Ellis predicts commercial real estate recovery
Grubb & Ellis Company, a leading real estate services and investment firm, released its 2011 Real Estate Forecast, which foresees the start of a slow recovery in the leasing market for all property types in the coming year.
| Nov 29, 2010
Data Centers: Keeping Energy, Security in Check
Power consumption for data centers doubled from 2000 and 2006, and it is anticipated to double again by 2011, making these mission-critical facilities the nation’s largest commercial user of electric power. Major technology companies, notably Hewlett-Packard, Cisco Systems, and International Business Machines, are investing heavily in new data centers. HP, which acquired technology services provider EDS in 2008, announced in June that it would be closing many of its older data centers and would be building new, more highly optimized centers around the world.
| Nov 3, 2010
Public works complex gets eco-friendly addition
The renovation and expansion of the public works operations facility in Wilmette, Ill., including a 5,000-sf addition that houses administrative and engineering offices, locker rooms, and a lunch room/meeting room, is seeking LEED Gold certification.
| Oct 12, 2010
The Watch Factory, Waltham, Mass.
27th Annual Reconstruction Awards — Gold Award. When the Boston Watch Company opened its factory in 1854 on the banks of the Charles River in Waltham, Mass., the area was far enough away from the dust, dirt, and grime of Boston to safely assemble delicate watch parts.
| Oct 12, 2010
Building 13 Naval Station, Great Lakes, Ill.
27th Annual Reconstruction Awards—Gold Award. Designed by Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt and constructed in 1903, Building 13 is one of 39 structures within the Great Lakes Historic District at Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill.
| Oct 12, 2010
Full Steam Ahead for Sustainable Power Plant
An innovative restoration turns a historic but inoperable coal-burning steam plant into a modern, energy-efficient marvel at Duke University.
