Duo-Gard Parachute Bike Shelter Lands in Lake Forest

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.