STL Architects, which has previously shared with us their UNO Master Plan for the Gage Park community of Chicago, has now submitted a modular school for the same client. Images and a description of the newly designed UNO School after the jump.
Schools should not be perceived as institutional fortresses nor be structures that overpower their surroundings through large scale interventions but rather they should be integrating beacons of light, hope and familiarity for the community.
STL envisions a school where the children take center stage and natural light fills spaces through the articulation of large glass openings, skylights and courtyards. We believe that a modular design approach will provide the solution to budget and schedule challenges.
This approach allows multiple permutations and alternatives all conceived under the rigor and order of a system. Far from limiting the architectural result, it enriches it by providing a road map to a symphony of controlled forms and spaces. The materiality of the school should be clean, essential and sustainable. Glass, concrete and green walls should articulate continuous and clean surfaces.
The school should be open, transparent and easy to understand, ensuring a clear visual connection to the neighborhood and community that surrounds it. This approach allows multiple permutations and alternatives all conceived under the rigor and order of a system. Far from limiting the architectural result, it enriches it by providing a road map to a symphony of controlled forms and spaces.
Architect: STL Location: Chicago, IL, USA Size: 90,000 sf GFA Type: Education Concept: Modular Unit Grid
