Primera is proud to announce that our David Rubenstein Forum project has recently been recognized with two high-profile industry awards – the 2022 American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois (ACEC-IL) Engineering Excellence Merit Award and the 2021 ASHRAE Illinois Technology Award.

The ACEC-IL Engineering Excellence Awards competition recognizes projects of engineering achievement by Illinois consulting engineering firms. Entries are judged based on engineering excellence, the degree to which the client’s needs are met, and the benefits to the public welfare and private practice of engineering.

The ASHRAE Technology Awards recognize projects that display innovative building design in the areas of occupant comfort, indoor air quality, and energy conservation.

Our David Rubenstein Forum project is a new LEED Gold-certified, 97,000-square-foot, ten-story convening hub located on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus. This new facility was developed in response to the University’s need for a multi-purpose venue to host meetings and conferences that were previously held at venues off-campus. The building was thoughtfully designed by internationally renowned design firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R), and involved several partner consultants, to create an environment that promotes interaction and quality connections. It houses a 285-seat auditorium, several multipurpose and meeting rooms, a Boardroom, demonstration kitchen, and numerous pre-function spaces with connecting levels. As the MEP/FP/Code/Life Safety engineer of record and energy consultant for the Rubenstein Forum, Primera Engineers provided the design for the HVAC, electrical, plumbing, life safety and fire protection systems.

We are proud of this stunningly unique facility that serves as a real-life demonstration of efficient and sustainable practices. Primera would like to congratulate all who helped make this project a true testament to engineering excellence.