In response to comments from the Village of Wilmette and residents received during the zoning and neighborhood outreach process, we postponed the January 11th presentation to the Appearance Review Commission to make significant changes to the design. A summary of the changes we have made throughout the process is outlined on pages 5-7 and below is a summary of some of the most significant changes we have incorporated into our current Version 5 design:
Percentage of Glass & Window Wall System
The design of Optima Lumina has been updated with an infill window wall system with terracotta and is 62% opaque and 38% glass.
Exterior Material Update: Terracotta
The design of Optima Lumina has been updated with terracotta, a building material that has been used for over a century, with a focus on providing privacy and protecting views at the floor line from below.
Length of Continuous Green Bay Road Facade
We have added an additional break in the facade along Green Bay Road north of the 75′-0″ gap between the buildings in order to further break up the massing along Green Bay Road.
Glass Color & Transparency
The color of the glass has been changed to grey and we have reduced the amount of transparency through the glass by 10%.
Bird Strike Prevention Plan
By reducing the glass to only 38% on the exterior elevations, this change significantly improves bird strike prevention plan.
Separation Between Buildings & Public Plaza Update
The ground floor separation between Optima Verdana and Optima Lumina has increased from 70′-0″ to 75′-0″. We have increased the depth of the plaza significantly from our original design and it has increased from 2,277 sf in Version 1 to 6,154 sf in our current Version 5 (170% increase).
Density
We have decreased the number of residential homes from 150 in Version 1 to 128 in our current Version 5.
Traffic Update
By reducing the density from 150 to 128 units, daily traffic trips have been significantly reduced.
Located adjacent to Optima Verdana on Green Bay Road, this site is specifically identified as a “redevelopment opportunity site” in the Wilmette Village Center Master Plan. Our proposal for Optima Lumina has undergone five (5) significant design revisions since September 2023. It is comprised of approximately 128 luxury one, two, and three-bedroom condominium residences* and an additional 5,718 GSF of destination commercial and retail space. Optima Lumina is now designed as a unique standalone building adjacent to Optima Verdana with vibrant sustainable architecture that now incorporates terracotta, a building material that has been used for over a century, that covers 62% of the exterior facade. The project is designed to provide high quality housing and commercial space that will further enhance the vitality of the center of the Village of Wilmette.
The building is designed with a 75′-0″ wide and 92′-0″ deep separation at grade level between Verdana and Lumina creating a combined open space of approximately 8,849 SF. This open space consists of an approximately 6,154 SF open plaza with public art and landscaping, with the remainder dedicated to private outdoor dining and landscaping for high-end destination retail and commercial along Green Bay Road. Additionally, there is private outdoor dining and public landscaping at the corner of Green Bay Road and Washington Avenue with the relocation of the existing Starbucks. The atmosphere created by the architecture, landscaping, and open space will ensure pleasant surroundings at the plaza to engage the community. The enhancement of the streetscape and the addition of the plaza have been designed to align with the Village Center Master Plan goals. Above the plaza, 63′-0″ wide openings between facing terraces and a 40′-0″ opening between the buildings creates additional separation.
Optima Lumina is designed to step back on the upper floors along Washington Avenue, at the entire 6th floor along Green Bay Road, and at the entire 6th floor along the alley. Consistent with Verdana, Lumina will feature the signature Optima Vertical Landscaping System™ with coniferous planting providing year-round greenery. Strategically located private terraces provide visual interest to the undulating façade on all sides of the building.
Lumina will include approximately 30,000 sf of amenity space located at grade level and on the roof.
The roof is designed with a sky deck, glass-enclosed heated pool, spa, cold plunge, year-round steam room & sauna, outdoor firepits, barbecues, seating areas, perimeter plantings and sheltering arbors, a residents’ club and party room with chef’s kitchen, games, bocce court, conference rooms, and business center. Level 1 features a spacious lobby, library lounge, as well as a management office. A fitness center that looks out over the courtyard will include an indoor pickleball/basketball court, strength and aerobic training equipment, a yoga studio, a Pilates studio, golf simulator and sports lounge. A massage room, kids’ playroom, and pet spa will round out the amenities at grade level.
The immediate adjacency of the site of Optima Verdana enables us to efficiently and logically incorporate the design and also infrastructure established in the existing Optima Verdana. The ability to share physical facilities such as access to the underground garage creates an efficiency in the development of the project. Further, shared branding and operations by Optima will deliver the same elevated experience within the Village of Wilmette.
“Optima Lumina is now designed as a unique standalone building adjacent to Optima Verdana. The use of terracotta, a traditional building material, provides a rich natural color and is incorporated into the structure of the building with a state-of-the-art window wall system. Optima Lumina is designed to step back on levels four and five at the corner of Green Bay Road and Washington Avenue to create a tapering effect on the north side of the building and will appear to have a continuous roofline at level five with levels six and seven set back out of sight. The recessed balconies give residents fresh air and open space. Also included at Optima Lumina, is our Signature Vertical Landscaping SystemTM. The open plaza between the two buildings is meant to be a public punctuation point that will provide the public with a sheltered courtyard and enliven the streetscape by drawing customers to the provided retail.” – David Hovey, Sr. FAIA and David C. Hovey, Jr., AIA
With corporate offices in Glencoe and Scottsdale, Optima has a long history of developing in Wilmette beginning with 1618 Sheridan Rd. in 1991, Optima Center Wilmette in 1997, and Lake Courts in 1998, and most recently Optima Verdana.
*Optima Lumina is now intended to be a Condominium Development. Optima reserves the right to build condominiums or apartments allowing for flexibility depending on market conditions.
The schedule for the meetings and hearings of this Application for Planned Unit development will be determined by the Village of Wilmette. This formal zoning process began with our Pre-Application Submission and meetings with Village staff and will continue with meetings with Village staff, our voluntary presentation of the project to the Appearance Review Commission, Housing Commission Meeting, and hearings before both the Plan Commission and the Village Board of Trustees. Notices of public hearings will be sent to owners and occupants within 250′-0″ of the site and will be published, all in accordance with the Village’s zoning ordinance, as well as being posted on our project website (learnaboutoptimalumina.com). The Optima Lumina informational website is live and includes a link to this submission and future submissions, timeline and schedule updates, as well as future neighborhood outreach events.
Optima started the neighborhood outreach process on August 31st by holding an Open House at the Wilmette Public Library. Notices for that Open House were sent to residences in the immediate vicinity of the site. Also, a local news article appeared in The Record North Shore informing people of the Open House, and 49 people attended. At the meeting there were several requests for more neighborhood outreach events Optima responded with additional open house meetings so that we could continue to create a dialogue with the community, hear concerns firsthand and respond as appropriate.
Since August, Optima will have held seven (7) open houses on the project on the following dates: August 31st, December 12th, December 13th, January 3rd, January 4th, April 24th, and April 25th and will continue to hold additional Open Houses throughout the process.
Anticipated Schedule
Residential Homes
Optima Lumina™ is now intended to be a Condominium Development. Optima® reserves the right to build condominiums or apartments allowing for flexibility depending on market conditions.
Building Heights and Roof Stepbacks
Optima Lumina™ has been designed with a series of step backs that occur on all exterior elevations as outlined below for Green Bay Road, the alley, and Washington Avenue with more substantial setbacks than Optima Verdana®. No height element of Optima Lumina™ exceeds that of Optima Verdana®.
Open Space
Commercial Space
Terracotta System
Glass and Glazing
Parking
100% residential and public underground parking
Eight (8) sheltered surface level parking spots for Starbucks off Washington Avenue
Stormwater Management
The site design addresses stormwater management strategies that will lessen the storm surge volume during rain events on the Village of Wilmette’s storm/sewer water system. Optima Lumina™ proposal will collect stormwater on-site in a detention tank designed to allow the control of water volume released into the storm/sewer water system. This allows for more effective management of water volumes that are sent down stream, and reduces the impact caused by the Imperial Motors site on the Village’s storm/sewer water system.
Founded in 1978 by David C. Hovey, FAIA, Optima is a family owned, privately-held, design-driven real estate development firm with offices in Scottsdale, Arizona and Chicago, Illinois.
For more than 40 years, Optima has been developing, designing, building and managing striking urban and suburban luxury residential communities. From the beginning, Optima aimed to reinvent housing by integrating the functions involved in new construction within one company. Optima controls and executes every aspect of the process in-house – development, design, construction, sales and management – for a dynamic system that offers greater focus and fluidity.
Optima is committed to delivering extraordinary living through design, innovation, sustainability and management. We believe that exceptional design enhances the human experience.
In 2021, Optima was recognized as the Firm of the Year by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chicago.
Our passion for distinguished design and attention to detail build communities with a clear concept, integrated functionality and purposeful aesthetic.
Our passion for distinguished design and attention to detail build communities with a clear concept, integrated functionality and purposeful aesthetic.
We purposely seek out desirable locations in which we can operate and flourish, in unexpected, sustainable, and community-enhancing ways.
Through our holistic integration, we help sales teams anticipate and customize to the wants and needs of our markets and residents.
We stay connected to and invested in our communities, a cornerstone of our vision to provide the highest quality living experiences.
Throughout our process, we keep internal teams, partners and lenders informed and engaged through regular updates, insightful training and open collaboration.
Optima Camelview Village
Optima Sonoran Village
Optima Kierland Center
Optima Lumina™
Stay in-the-know about the
Optima Lumina™ Proposal with
timely updates and news.
For more details,
download overview PDF
Want to get in touch?
Email us at
learnaboutoptimalumina@optima.inc
Please sign the linked letter of support for Optima Lumina™ by clicking the button below.
Some benefits of supporting the project include:
Thank you for supporting Optima Lumina™
