Located in the South Chicago neighborhood, the area was once the center of Chicago’s booming steel industry, from the beginning of the twentieth century through the 1950’s when closures led to decades of disinvestment. The project revitalized most of a city block, building on the existing three-story brick masonry school that anchors the campus.

The design elegantly combines old and new to create a cohesive school campus that connects students to the history of their neighborhood and celebrates the architectural legacies of the site.

Students and visitors enter through a welcoming courtyard into a contemporary glass link mediating the solidity of the existing academic building and rehabilitated church building which date back to 1911 and 1952, respectively.

Outside, protected spaces that surround the former church are designed to support learning and encourage nature exploration.

With places to sit throughout, teachers can hold outdoor classes, families can socialize, and students can play in safe areas such as on the new soccer field and playground. Boulders from a nearby Midwestern quarry harmonize with the church buildings’ solid stone exterior walls while also providing places to lean, sit, and gather.

This contemporary intervention is open and lightweight, with high-performance floor-to-ceiling glass, thermally broken curtainwall framing systems, and internally-lit skylights filling the space with natural light.

The lobby and landscaped courtyard play a crucial role in providing accessibility, effectively connecting the disparate floor levels of the church and school buildings.

Inside, the voluminous former church building now serves a bright new future as the enrichment center of the school, providing access to arts, sports, and nutrition previously excluded due to lack of space.

Under the soaring vaulted ceiling, students exercise and compete in their new gymnasium using the regulation-sized basketball court, volleyball court, and climbing wall. The north half of the building, separated by a rolling curtain, houses a cafeteria that serves over 600 healthy breakfasts and lunches each day, prepared in the commercial kitchen.

The apse and former raised altar is transformed into a unique transverse climbing wall. When the gym is not in use, the elevated stage serves as a place for theatrical, music, and dance performances.

As students eagerly arrived for their first day of school, they were greeted by a campus that had undergone a remarkable metamorphosis. They saw the church building, block, neighborhood, city, and themselves worthy of investment.

Great Lakes Academy Expansion extends beyond mere adaptive reuse; it serves as a poignant reminder to the youngest members of our society, urging them to recognize the inherent potential and value that lies within themselves and their community.

“We are so proud of this newly renovated campus and all the resources and opportunities that it brings to our scholars, their families, and the surrounding community. It is our hope that this campus can start a movement to invest in and revitalize the southeast side of Chicago, a community with a rich legacy that is full of incredible people and ideas. WKA could not have been a better partner to work on this project with; they understand both function, aesthetics, and value and were highly collaborative throughout our partnership.”

Katherine Myers-Crum, past Great Lakes Academy Founder and former Executive Director

Additional Images

General Contractor: Bulley & Andrews
Structural Engineer: Enspect Engineering
MEP/FP Engineer: IBC Engineering
Civil Engineer: Terra Engineering
Landscape Architect: Kettelkamp & Kettelkamp Landscape Architecture
Acoustical Consultant: Shiner Acoustics
Photography: Kendall McCaugherty, Hall + Merrick Photographers