PROJECTS: General Municipal

Sangamon County / Springfield Sangamon County Transportation Center

M2 is proud to team with Hanson to design this new Multimodal Transportation Center, "The Hub" in Springfield, IL. Construction phase of this project is slated to be completed in the fall of 2023. This portion of the project includes a new SMTD Bus terminal, a café, exterior plazas, and gathering space. The expanded and improved bus terminal opened in the spring of 2022.  

Village of North Aurora / Silo Park

Muller & Muller, Ltd. (M2) has been retained by the Village of North Aurora to transform a village owned concrete silo, uniquely situated along the Fox River, that will become a significant point of interest along the Fox River Trail. Standing at nearly 100-feet tall, the height of the structure will be utilized to strengthen North Aurora’s identity along the heavily used trail, with great potential to highlight this beacon with accent lighting.Repurposing the silo offers a great opportunity for a playful recreational space with an impressive civic presence. The project includes new restrooms, an integrated play/recreation feature, a path-level observation pedestrian bridge and deck, and a rooftop observation deck.

Illinois Department of Transportation / IDOT Stevenson Maintenance Facility

M2 provided architectural services to develop bridging documents for the construction of a new 35,230sf IDOT highway maintenance facility. It was designed to incorporate, under one roof, all of the various functions, including a material testing lab, offices and storage areas that were housed in multiple structures on site. One major challenge of this project was that the new facility would be constructed on the same site as the existing in phases so that the existing 24-hr facility could remain operational throughout the construction process. Additional site constraints included a single point of access to the site that is shared with a neighboring property. M2 developed traffic and vehicle circulation studies that were key to determining the optimal site development…

City of Chicago / Chicago Cultural Center Master Plan Study

M2 is providing a Master Plan Study for activating additional program spaces and creating an outline for improving existing infrastructure to create more interest, excitement, and visitor traffic to the Cultural Center. The landmarked building, built as Chicago’s Central Library in 1897, celebrates an eclectic mix of cultural media interweaved with administrative offices. M2 was tasked to develop a logical order to the building and capitalize on underutilized opportunities discovered at the roof and central light core. M2 offered more flexible use of the spaces while consolidating program spaces within a “cultural mainstreet” on the busy first floor of the building.

Greater Peoria Mass Transit District / Bus Maintenance Facility & Operations Center

M2 is currently providing Master Planning and Architectural design services for GPMTD/CityLink's Maintenance and Operations Center. The project will be constructed in phases, to allow for continuous operations. Major components include a new body and paint shop, with body bay, paint booth bay, mix booth, and body parts storage. A new bus maintenance facility with a 10-bay pull-though tandem arrangement including vehicle lifts and crane bay. Support areas that include a new loading dock, parts room, foreman’s office, locker rooms and break areas. A new operations and training center that include a board room, training room, bus simulator training room, operators day room, and offices. Expanded bus storage, renovated administration space, and new visitor and employee parking is also included.

Village of Cary / Metra Cary Station

Muller & Muller, Ltd. (M2) provided architectural design services for a new Metra station for the Village of Cary along the Metra UP line. The scope included the design and construction of two structures. The primary structure, an enclosed station depot with heated and cooled waiting areas, houses the Ticket Agent office. The secondary structure is an open warming shelter further North along the platform. A narrow site presented a challenge of providing a pleasant space that is narrow enough to fit between two constraints: the IDOT Right of Way (on the highway side) and platform clearances (on the track side). It had to feel comfortable yet be practical to meet the needs of the users and the client.

Metra / 47th Street Yard Maintenance + Training Facility

M2 is providing architectural design services to Metra for expansion of their facilities at the 47th Street Yard. M2 is designing a new 34,000sf two-story employee training facility with a high-bay space for hands-on training for servicing of passenger coaches. The facility will include state-of-the-art instructional spaces and training aide components inserted into an attractive modern building design maximizing daylight and using durable, longlasting materials. M2 is also providing architectural design for a 3,800sf addition to the existing Diesel Locomotive Repair Shop. M2 provided Metra with a solution to increase capacity at their Diesel Locomotive Repair Shop by designing a new enclosed loading dock addition over two tracks where equipment and engines could be hoisted and transferred for maintenance.

Fleet and Facility Management / Chicago Riverwalk East Master Plan

Chicago’s Downtown Riverwalk has exploded in popularity in recent years and has quickly risen to one of the top five visitor destinations in the state. As a result, the City contracted with M2 to develop a masterplan to address items, such as: improved wayfinding, new vendor opportunities, improved circulation, additional restrooms, and various amenities/benches. The popularity of the Riverwalk has also necessitated the need to increase ‘back-of-house’ operations and M2 has developed concepts to improve deliveries and vendor storage, add new public safety offices, and relocate or expand administration and maintenance offices.

Chicago Department of Transportation / Union Station Transit Center

Muller2 provided full architectural services as prime consultant for Phases I and II of the new Union Station Transit Center (USTC). The project revamps an existing ground level parking lot immediately south of Union Station into a dynamic modern transit center serving patrons of CTA, Amtrak, and Metra. Further, the USTC will simultaneously launch Bus Rapid Transit in the south loop as its new hub. The USTC includes three off-street dedicated bus lanes and a fully accessible underground pedway extension, connecting directly to Metra and Amtrak trains. The project will provide easier more direct connections: consolidation of numerous curb-side bus stops into a centralized transit facility; more efficient bus traffic flow; and decreased travel times.

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority / McCormick Place Roof Replacement

Muller2 provided full architectural services for the complete removal and replacement of the existing 525,600 square foot roofing system of the McCormick Place North Building, consisting of the main exhibit hall building and the crate storage building. The existing original roof system has been in place for approximately 30 years and is at the end of its useful life. Design of a replacement roof will include consideration of the following aspects: Building and energy codes, code review to determine if elimination of smoke hatches would comply with the Chicago Building Code, and a structural review to determine the effects of proposed roof systems on the existing structures.  

Chicago Department of Water Management / Jardine Water Purification Plant Assessment

Muller2 provided assessment services for the Chicago Department of Water Management, Jardine Water Purification Plant (JWPP) to repair the existing curtain wall system. These services included a field Investigation including; leakage testing, dismantling existing window assembly and documenting conditions. The field investigation findings were then developed into an options analysis matrix, including recommendations, and potential cost, and presented to the client in a workshop presentation format.

Department of General Services / Bureau of Electricity Warehouse

This warehouse provides storage and maintenance shops for the City of Chicago's Bureau of Electricity. As a utilitarian building it was designed to meet a very tight budget and to employ simple yet unique architectural features giving it a dynamic and memorable presence in the city. M2 designed the building with efficient and logical planning allowing for maximum productivity and flexibility of use without compromise to provide a visually pleasing environment.

Pace Suburban Bus / Pace Headquarters

Muller2 provided full architectural services for the Pace headquarters building, including programming, site planning, architectural and interior design and construction administration. The building consolidates administrative functions for a major public transit agency into environmentally responsible space that provides staff with a pleasant, efficient work environment. Design began with detailed work flow studies and documentation of departmental relationships. A basic workstation module was developed which helped determine the most efficient floor plan and structural layout. In this way the building was designed from the inside out resulting in a workplace with logical integration of multiple uses both public and private. These uses include training rooms, public board room, staff lounge, large information systems server, and staff workstations among others.

Chicago Park District / 41st Street + Osterman Comfort Stations

M2 provided full architectural services to the CPD for two new comfort stations to service the beach and Lakefront Trail with public rest room facilities, a life guard station, and a concession area. M+M received LEED Silver certification for Osterman and LEED Certification for 41st Street. The buildings are naturally ventilated and tubular skylights bring natural daylight to public spaces providing enough light to eliminate the need for artificial lighting. A rainwater harvesting system captures and filters 100% of rainwater on the roof for use in flushing fixtures in the building. Educational signage and a glimpse of the rainwater tank from within the rest rooms invites the public to understand why it is important to incorporate sustainable strategies into buildings.

City of Evanston / Evanston Fire Station #5

Muller2 provided full architectural design and construction administration services for this new City of Evanston Illinois fire station. The project involved guiding the City through its first LEED building design process. The building received a LEED Gold Certification. The project includes extensive use of natural light, renewable and recycled/recyclable materials, energy and water efficiency and stormwater management. M2 coordinated the needs of fire fighters, the City and the community to create a building which complements the existing pedestrian oriented urban environment.

Chicago Department of Aviation / O’Hare Airport Maintenance Complex Expansion

Muller2 provided full architectural services for the expansion of the O’Hare Airport Maintenance Complex (AMC). Services included site evaluation, as well as the design of an 88,000 square foot building addition, expanded parking areas, code compliant upgrades, and renovations and improvements to existing buildings. The expansion and renovation house the vast array of airport vehicles including large snow removal equipment needing long structural spans to accommodate large turning movements inside the building. The facility features a variety of sustainable practices including high efficiency lighting, recycled aggregates for fill, low VOC coatings, paints, and sealants, and a building energy management system.

City of Aurora / Aurora RiverEdge Park

Aurora's RiverEdge Park's extensive program includes a park amphitheater, pedestrian bridge, river walk, botanical garden, outdoor public marketplace, and an environmental education center. The project unites a cohesive urban park with enhanced pedestrian circulation through new promenades and bridges, making the park both a destination and a gateway providing connections to the adjacent downtown developments, as well as to the greater Fox River region.  The first phase focused on the addition of a new, major outdoor performance venue, The John C. Dunham Pavilion,  and festival grounds. M2 worked with the City of Aurora to bring to life their vision for a treasured public place to its users. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy a variety of events in the venue.