The Downers Grove Civic Center (DGCC) brings together Village Hall, Police Department and School District administration in a vibrant, modern civic hub that replaces outdated facilities and reimagines public engagement. The timeless building celebrates government transparency and serves as a gateway to a revitalized downtown. An inviting northwest plaza links a popular pedestrian path to public transit, while the main Blackburn Civil Rights Plaza honors founder Isrel Blackburn and provides flexible gathering space.

Constructed directly adjacent to the BNSF Metra rail line and within an active municipal campus, rigorous logistical and heightened safety protocols were employed to maintain uninterrupted police and village operations throughout construction. Our team developed a detailed phasing and continuity plan to relocate critical functions while demolition and foundation work proceeded, allowing full operation of essential services from groundbreaking to occupancy.

Sustainability anchors the project, with permeable pavers, bioswales and rain gardens managing stormwater, and an efficient envelope, laminated glazing and solar panels reducing energy use. The DGCC saves an estimated $168,000 annually and lowers carbon emissions by 37% compared to the former buildings. The $52M facility reflects Downers Grove’s commitment to civic excellence and long-term environmental stewardship.

The Downers Grove Civic Center is a powerful beacon of civic unity and public engagement, representing years of Village planning. The facility reflects a bold vision of a single, sustainable center where transparency and communication flourish. This vision solidified from the development of two new Village documents — the Downtown Design Guidelines and an award-winning Environmental Sustainability Plan developed concurrently with the project. As the first civic project built within both guidelines, it was important that this building stand as a showpiece of the government’s desired direction for both. The resulting design is a facility instantly recognizable as a center of local government that achieves three critical goals: celebrating community heritage and pride; providing a warm, welcoming environment that enhances productivity; and demonstrating the community’s commitment to sustainability.

Transparency of government was an important theme in this building’s design, along with providing connections between civic employees and the public they serve. Inside, a two-story atrium connects major public functions including the Council Chambers, which is designed with flexibility for meetings and training as well as community events. The Chambers features floor-to-ceiling windows as a deliberate gesture of civic accessibility and transparency.

As a project for the community, engagement was key. The design team led visioning sessions with key stakeholders to uncover needs and wants and establish design goals for the project. Community meetings were held to explain the project and receive further input on desired aspects of the facility. Full scale material mock-ups and site visits of example projects helped bring ideas to life and establish the design vision. Many design iterations for key elements were also studied to arrive at the right balance between vision and budget. The result is a contextual exterior design that fits into the downtown fabric while conveying an inviting feel that welcomes residents inside.

The largest design challenge involved limited siting options for the new building, as the existing Police Department and Village Hall buildings needed to remain in operation during construction. Designers carefully positioned the Civic Center on the remaining available site with prominent frontage along a main downtown artery and connection to regional transit, with a resulting clearance of just eight feet between the new facility and existing Police Department that was carefully secured during construction.

The exterior expression is rooted in prairie style architecture with brick, stone and generous canopies, blending timeless civic character with daylight-rich, energy-efficient performance. Celebrating the Downers Grove community, the public lobby features wood tones and vertical strips that echo the feel of a grove of trees from which the Village draws its name. Other lobby features include ballistic protected customer service windows, comfortable seating, and large video monitor displays. A FEMA-rated storm shelter accessible directly off the main lobby was located in one of the two opaque corner masses that frame the council chambers and help to anchor the building.

Creating collaborative and comfortable spaces for employees was a main driver for interior spaces. Within all departments, individual workspaces are designed for comfort and productivity. Bringing Village Hall, Police Department and School District administration together under one roof is a more efficient use of space that promotes collaboration as well. At the center of all three second floor departments is a shared staff social hub with a large island and kitchen that invites conversation and connections. The shared staff hub includes multiple seating zones with comfortable furniture, giving people the choice for privacy, socializing or collaboration, all with expansive natural light and views out to the roof terrace.

Shared wellness spaces promote health and well-being for all employees, including a fitness center, a mat room usable as police training or yoga/fitness space, and a quiet room that allows staff to decompress after a traumatic or difficult situation. The space design of the three-level facility (including the basement) provides safe and functional workflows that enhance productivity and a positive experience for building users and visitors.

Designed along with AIA’s Framework for Design Principles, this sustainable building includes design for: Water, Economy, Well-Being, Energy and Equitable Communities. Permeable pavers for most parking stalls help manage 55% of stormwater on site, in addition to rain gardens and intensive green roof systems. The shared resources of three departments in one facility reduced building area by 10% and saves an estimated $168,000 annually. Staff roof terraces, large plazas, common areas for socialization and wellness rooms promote well-being. The carport’s solar PV array offsets 8% of annual building energy use, and the main building’s roof is designed to accommodate PV panels in the future. An equitable community is supported by connections to regional transit, pedestrian pathways, and a Civil Rights Plaza.

Delivering the new Downers Grove Civic Center required extraordinary coordination, precision, and planning to transform a constrained downtown site into a modern civic campus serving the Village of Downers Grove, its Police Department, and Elementary School District 58. The 75,919-square-foot, two-story facility integrates public safety, municipal administration, and community amenities—including council chambers, a public plaza, and shared fitness spaces—within a single, efficient structure.

Constructed directly adjacent to the BNSF Metra rail line and within an active municipal campus, the project demanded rigorous logistical and heightened safety protocols. Maintaining uninterrupted police and village operations throughout construction was among the most significant challenges, as the new Civic Center was less than 8 feet away from the corner of the existing (and operational) police station. Our team developed a detailed phasing and continuity plan to relocate critical functions while demolition and foundation work proceeded. This allowed essential civic services to remain fully operational from groundbreaking to occupancy.

Reworking the Burlington and Washington Avenue intersection — lowering the site by four feet to improve vehicle flow — required intricate coordination with utility relocations and a water main replacement. Close proximity to overhead power lines and rail infrastructure necessitated daily flagging and strict compliance with railway safety standards. Material shortages and volatile pricing in cement and concrete further tested the project’s resilience, but proactive procurement and early submittal approvals kept the schedule intact.

We employed advanced construction technology to enhance accuracy and collaboration. Digital layout systems ensured precision in interior framing and MEP coordination, while 360-degree photo documentation allowed the client and design team to monitor progress remotely in real time. BIM modeling supported integration of complex systems—from foundation sleeving to mechanical units—and guided installation of the building’s intricate enclosure, including green roofs, roof terraces, and varied elevations. A dedicated enclosure consultant provided third-party reviews, air barrier and window testing, and quality-control walk-throughs to ensure long-term performance.

The result is a high-performance, sustainable civic center featuring rain gardens, photovoltaic panels, and permeable pavers—delivered on schedule and within budget. Through disciplined execution and collaboration, our construction team transformed a complex urban site into a lasting symbol of civic pride and public service.

Safety was the top priority throughout the entire build. Enhanced rail-adjacent protocols, QR-based orientation systems, weekly site audits, and proactive communication achieved zero major incidents across more than 150,000 work hours. The project team worked very closely with local residents, neighboring businesses, police, fire and public works departments and many other stakeholders to ensure construction could remain efficient with little to no impact to others. Leopardo developed a traffic management plan to safely reroute vehicles during roadwork including the BNSF railroad crossing reconstruction and worked closely with the Village to time the work to miss community events like Octoberfest or the High School returning to class in the fall. The team’s carefully developed culture of safety was adhered to by subcontractor teams as well, resulting in a successful project with no incidents.

Located on a transformed 6.5-acre site, the timeless civic design of DGCC creates a gateway to Downers Grove’s revitalized downtown district. Two outdoor plazas complement the building design, drawing in passersby with formal and informal gathering spaces. The northwest plaza connects commuters to regional transit service and is also a well-used pedestrian pathway to nearby neighborhoods. The Blackburn Civil Rights Plaza pays tribute to Isrel Blackburn, a formerly enslaved person who served in the Union Army and was one of the Village’s original founders. The plaza celebrates different periods of his life through custom place-making sculpture elements cast from bronze or laser cut from steel plates set at different planes for his abstract portrait. “An entry plaza named in his honor is a concrete and permanent statement that civil rights is our first calling as a village government,” said Downers Grove Mayor Robert T. Barnett. Tables and benches encourage respite among an abundance of all-native plantings.

To create a more pedestrian-friendly walkway, the eastern leg of the Washington Street intersection was eliminated, streamlining traffic flow and encouraging a walkable downtown area. The pathways and plazas effectively integrate this new asset with the downtown community. Additionally, future plans call for a new mixed-use building on the site in the location of the former Village Hall, adding another asset to this growing area. Designed within AIA’s Framework for Design Principles of Equitable Communities, the Civic Center effectively contributes to a “diverse accessible, walkable, just, human-scaled community”.