The Morton Arboretum, The Firefly Pavilion

The Morton Arboretum
The Firefly Pavilion

Lisle, Illinois

Date
2022-2023

Facility/Site
13,284 sf New Construction Special Event Facility
 

 

Project Scope

The 13,284 sf three-season event space is located on the East Side of the Morton Arboretum just south of the new Gerard T. Donnelly Grand Garden. Known as The Firefly Pavilion, the 8,352-sf banquet pavilion can accommodate 360 dining guests with a full dance floor. The Pavilion also includes 4,932 sf of a conditioned support wing containing pre-event space, prep kitchen, storage, restroom facilities, and mechanical room.

Location

The Morton Arboretum
The Firefly Pavilion
Lisle, Illinois

Reference

Kris Bachtell
Vice President of Collections and Facilities
(630) 719-2437

The Featherstone Difference

Built on a 25-year successful relationship, Featherstone was engaged 7 years before the groundbreaking of this long-awaited facility. A complete financial analysis was prepared from the multiple conceptual design cost options to better understand the business side of this amazing venue while still providing the much-needed amenities to this event space. The cost of the infrastructure was closely monitored as the design developed to ensure options would be available to potential clients while maintaining the approved project budget. Challenged with supply chain and escalation, materials were procured well in advance while committing to The Morton Arboretum’s Annual Gala shortly after the start of the project. It is the 25-year commitment of the Featherstone team always finishing on time and under budget that excited the event planners with preselling this new three season space.

Category: New Construction

Budget: $8,514,505

Featherstone Facts

Average Bid to Build Variance -3.11%,
Average Value for Fee at 145%
Last 5 years – 5 Fabulous Parks
Last 5 years – 5 Fantastic Libraries
Multiple, Decades-Longstanding, Client Relationships – The Morton Arboretum, Chicago Botanic Garden, Brookfield Zoo, the Wauconda Public Library, The Schaumburg Township District Library