Editor’s note

Perhaps you’ve seen the heavy equipment demolishing an asphalt parking lot on South Sixth, just north of South Grand? We are pleased to announce that the “paradise” being put up in its place is a new office for Illinois Times. It is being built and will be owned by architect John Shafer, to be occupied by our company on a long-term lease. The new building is designed to complement John Shafer and Associates’ own sleek office building next door, which won an award for sustainable design when it was completed in 2010. Our building will be energy efficient with geothermal heating and cooling, and is designed to harvest natural light. The parking will be behind the building, screened from Sixth Street, while easily accessible from the side street (Vine). The building reflects the values we share with John about urban planning and design, reusing the urban core with its existing infrastructure. For both of us, this is an investment in the future of our companies in Springfield. We plan a move in early 2013 from the building that has housed IT for the past decade at 1320 S. State. –Fletcher Farrar, editor