Hitchcock Design Group

Something new under the sun has risen at the far northwestern edge of suburban Chicago. Venturing out of their traditional Sun Belt community locations, Del Webb Corporation has constructed its first four season location in Huntley, Illinois. When complete, this 1,800-acre, active adult community development will be home to more than 9,000 active residents in 5,000 new homes. The premier "55 and better" community has progressed beyond dynamic concepts to a stunning work-in-progress that sets new standards of excellence. Sun City Huntley is the new benchmark by which all other Chicagoland developers measure their projects. With over 700 homes sold in the first 10 months of operation, hundreds of people who desire the Del Webb lifestyle are choosing to "retire from work, not from life."

Del Webb decided to build its first four-season community after its research showed a large segment of retirees would forego warmer climates for warmer relationships with family and friends. This is a place for people who value staying close to family and friends more than they value living somewhere with pleasant weather year-round. Located in the heartland of America, the community resides on the gently rolling terrain, just northwest of Chicago. Midwestern values and culture and the decided influence of four distinct seasons are all part of what makes this Sun City so unique.

The landscaping at Sun City creates the color and richness that make it a special community. The plantings used are traditional and durable native and ornamental species (above). Similar plants in clusters of varying sizes and organic forms with simple bed shapes are the focus of lower level plantings. Flower beds of colorful perennials and irrigated turf grasses provide groundcover (facing page).

With a plan to build spectacular homes in every price range, Del Webb needed to somehow tie the community together with the surrounding land. With this in mind, they hired Hitchcock Design Group to design the main entry, the main road connecting all the neighborhoods, several neighborhood entries, the recreation core, common open space improvements and the model home park. In just nine short months, the Landscape Architects designed and documented more than $10 million in construction improvements. A unique Sun City Business Alliance firmly united all consultants into the same network.

A direct result of this Business Alliance was the relationship between Hitchcock Design Group and The Brickman Group, a prominent design-build contractor, hired by Del Webb as Sun City's landscape contractor. Brickman immediately understood the complete vision of Sun City Huntley, knew what the finish line should look like and was eager to work with the design group. Subsequently, Hitchcock Design Group felt confident in teaming with their design staff in order to keep the work on schedule. The collaborative results have been extraordinary.

Using Profiles to Design

While designing the land plan, it was important for the Landscape Architect to understand the kind of people who retire in the Midwest. Typically these people have Midwestern values and roots. They are "stayers" not "goers", in other words they have chosen to stay where they are comfortable, near their friends, families and all that is familiar to them. Rather than go to the Sun Belt for their retirement, they are proud of the Chicagoland area and it's context. They are straightforward and do not like things that aren't. They are looking for an easy transition from their current residence and embracing the lifestyle opportunities that the Sun City brand has to offer. They desire an invigorating environment, enabling them to celebrate the seasons. They want approachable, comfortable and warm color schemes on the inside and outside of their home.

Landscape and water features (above and facing page) dominate the vistas, at the location. Another focal feature in this setting is the bridge that crosses the middle and lower pools. The design of the bridge conveys the feel and character of traditional country. Other bridges share the design features of the entry bridge but with appropriate adaptation for the specific scale and location.

Designing the model home park was a critical step in ensuring the success of this new community. First impressions are everything, and the model home park is a prospective buyer's initial taste of Sun City Huntley, and perhaps the most important marketing tool in selling homes. Prior to designing the outdoor amenities in the model home park, Del Webb gave the Landscape Architects an interesting mission. They were given 14 specific profiles of would-be residents in this community and asked them to design the landscape around each resident's lifestyle. While the residents in these profiles were fictitious characters, the profiles were based on extensive research conducted on the Chicagoland, Midwestern, "55 and better" market sector. The following examples are some of the profiles Hitchcock Design Group used to plan the amenities, followed by the resulting landscape plan for each of the homes.

Profile One: "Ed & Mary Alice George"

Ed & Mary Alice have moved into Del Webb's Sun City Huntley from the south side of Chicago, where their immediate family still resides. They are still close enough to watch their grandchildren play in sporting events. They are always going on family outings. It is not uncommon for Mary Alice to be putting a picnic basket together, or for Ed to be barbecuing on the back patio. The guest room provides the perfect area for the grandchildren to stay while visiting, or for Mary Alice to create her memory books at the desk.

Landscape Amenities for Ed & Mary Alice George:

• Large wood deck with built-in barbecue preparation/presentation area.

• Separate deck spaces for food preparation and dining/living.

• Built-in wood benches - plenty of room for the whole family.

• Open lawn space for the grandchildren to play.

• Manicured, organic plantings provide an enclosed feeling for the grandchildren's safety, but open enough to provide views in and out of the backyard.

Profile Two: "Rick & Dawn Murray"

With more than 700 homes sold in the first 10 months of operation, the 1,800-acre, active adult community development will be home to 9,000 residents in 5,000 new homes. The site includes matching site amenities and numerous water features (above and facing page).

Rick and Dawn have moved to Sun City Huntley from Glen Ellyn, Ill. Rick was a mid-level executive with a grocery chain and Dawn was an elementary school teacher. Rick enjoys making his own golf clubs and can't wait to show them off when he plays golf with his friends. Dawn enjoys making pastries in the nice open kitchen. She and Rick often retire to their three-season room to enjoy her wonderful pastries after dinner. Dawn also enjoys pressing flowers and displays some of her specially framed creations in the guest room.

Landscape Amenities for Rick & Dawn Murray:

• Extensive flower garden with lots of species variety, color, etc.

• Paths located in the garden to provide easy access to flowers for cutting.

• Wooden deck with separate areas for dining/living and flower pressing preparation.

• Remote, stone patio seating area for relaxation in the flower garden.

• Cold frame structure for continuation of the flower pressing process during the winter months.

• Fully maintained putting green/golf practice area for a close location to test Rick's homemade golf clubs.

Profile Three: "John & Mary Kay Elise"

John and Mary Kay are from Elgin, Ill. Mary Kay worked for a Hallmark store and John was employed at a computer software company. They have both recently retired and moved to Sun City Huntley. John enjoys his new leisurely lifestyle and gets in a round of golf or a game of bocce ball whenever possible. He also enjoys creating one-of-a-kind bird feeders that Mary Kay paints for him. Mary Kay has been collecting antique dolls and proudly displays her favorites in the guest room. Mary Kay also enjoys making homemade jams and jellies in her new kitchen, which she gives as gifts to her family and new friends.

Landscape Amenities for John & Mary Kay Elise:

• Manicured, organic plantings with plant species that attract birds and other wildlife.

• Plantings to provide yearlong interest with spring and fall color, winter interest, etc.

• Painted bird feeders hanging from trees & ornamental posts.

• Sculptural bird bath located as a focal element.

• Curvilinear stone patio in ashlar pattern.

• Level lawn area for bocce practice.

The Arrival And Entry Experience

Street furniture includes functional elements of the streetscape that occur throughout the community. The paving uses modular, smaller scale patterns reminiscent of old brick walks and streets.

The elements of the streetscape at Sun City Huntley include all of the hardscape and landscape that the visitor or resident encounters from the point of first contact with the territorial boundaries of the community, and throughout the public thoroughfares and open spaces.

The arrival experience provides focused views into the community. Landscape and water features dominate the vistas and a focal feature in this setting is the bridge that crosses the middle and lower pools. The design of the bridge conveys the feel and character of traditional country. Other bridges share the design features of the entry bridge but with appropriate adaptation for the specific scale and location.

Depending on direction of travel, the arrival experience begins either to the North or South boundary of the property along Highway 47. The corners are defined by small coach houses or gate houses used as architectural statements. These are mini-buildings that reference the architecture to be found within the community and set the stage for the scale, quality and character of Sun City Huntley. They mark the territorial edges of the community and anchor the perimeter wall that is a primary community landscape feature. An adjacent sign wall presents the name of the community in a bold yet sophisticated setting.

Using warm tones of traditional and durable materials. The paving was employed to reinforce instinctive perceptions of ground planes (i.e. asphalt for bikes and motorists, concrete for pedestrians, brick for special spaces.)

The landscaping at Sun City creates the color and richness that make it a special community. The plantings used are traditional and durable native and ornamental species. The goal was to achieve the largest scale planting possible at the earliest point in community development. The fall and spring colors of the plants help add drama to the environment. Similar plants in clusters of varying sizes and organic forms with simple bed shapes are the focus of lower level plantings. Flower beds of colorful perennials and irrigated turf grasses provide groundcover.

The grading is natural with gently rolling profiles located to manipulate views and highlight featured areas. In addition, traditional turf grasses were planted which can be easily mowed with conventional equipment. All water forms are natural extensions of the landscape, organic in form and alignments with planted edges. Rock outcroppings and vertical drops to create movement were used to add interest.

The grading is natural with gently rolling profiles located to manipulate views and highlight featured areas. In addition, traditional turf grasses were planted which can be easily mowed with conventional equipment. All water forms are natural extensions of the landscape, organic in form and alignments with planted edges. Rock outcroppings and vertical drops to create movement were used to add interest.

Street furniture includes functional elements of the streetscape that occur throughout the community. The paving uses modular, smaller scale patterns reminiscent of old brick walks and streets. using warm tones of traditional and durable materials. The paving was employed to reinforce instinctive perceptions of ground planes (i.e. asphalt for bikes and motorists, concrete for pedestrians, brick for special spaces.)

The community capitalizes on its location and environment. It builds on the tradition and influences of the locale and the region. It is separate and apart from the surrounding development, yet connected to the adjacent historic towns and villages and to the great metropolis, Chicago. The built environment emulates the best of the timeless design of Midwestern structures and landscape. The integrity of form, scale, materials, craftsmanship and sensitivity is recreated in the land and buildings. Every aspect of the community's design is comfortable and familiar, with contemporary country warmth and charm.

Sun City Huntley was planned, designed and developed to create an environment that is a joy to its residents. Every entry, sidewalk, patio, pond and landscape feature is crucial in making this community of new houses look and feel like home. LASN