Located 30 miles north of Chicago, perched high on the bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, the City of Lake
Forest was platted in 1857 with principles of English gardens and American rural landscapes. Historic
preservation has always been a priority in this city of almost 20,000 that claims many notable architects as
past residents and designers of the area’s impressive estates.
Integrating a shelter to serve the city’s cycling community, which includes commuters and recreational
riders, was challenging, says Catherine Czerniak, director of community development. “We wanted to
provide a solution that would encourage biking,” she adds. That meant covered bike parking.
The shelter needed to be close to the historic East Lake Forest Train Station, dating back to 1899, and
undergoing renovation and restoration. Close and complementary. Neither totally traditional nor sharply
contemporary. The solution was Duo-Gard’s standard Parachute shelter in a custom size 31 feet long by 14
feet wide.
A curved batten roof of 8mm translucent multiwall polycarbonate in a clear tint, coupled with steel framing
in black, gives the structure a clean, streamlined aesthetic. Because of the shelter’s size, Duo-Gard’s
engineers worked with custom 6”x6” purlin tubes.
“It’s very functional and transparent in nature,” says Czerniak. “It doesn’t dominate the station, and it
doesn’t compete with the area’s other structures. Planned landscaping will fill in the area.”
Installed in the Spring of 2015 after what Czerniak calls a “very smooth process,” the shelter is being
heavily used. In fact, she recalls, when the shelter was being installed, passing bikers yelled “Thank you!”
to the installation crew. The shelter contains parking racks for 48 bikes.
Landscape architect Orenthal Jeffries of Altamanu, an urban design and planning firm, was involved in the
shelter selection. “At first, we considered something reflecting the historic station. That wasn’t feasible
economically. The Parachute shelter features a lighter canopy and doesn’t hide the station. It looks good
and is obviously in use, which I can see when I drive by,” he says.
Duo-Gard’s Parachute model is one of 13 standard styles. “Our wide range of standard styles provides the
convenience and cost effectiveness many customers want,” says Michael Arvidson, executive vice
president, “while the architectural aesthetics satisfy today’s demands for visual appeal as well as
functionality.”
Duo-Gard Parachute Bike Shelter