UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - Shelving, HandrailUC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - Facade, Handrail, BeamUC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - Windows, FacadeUC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - Windows, FacadeUC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - More Images+ 22

  • Design Architect Personnel: Joseph Valerio, Randy Mattheis, Sheri Andrews, Robert Webber, Steve Droll, Matt Gamache, Veronica Widholm, Nora Ames, Stephen Killion.
  • Architect Of Record Personnel: Jim Wood, Joseph Chronister, Terry Owens, Jack Krezel, Anna Harvey, Michael Johnson.
  • Fp Engineer: ARUP.
  • IT: Primera
  • City: Chicago
  • Country: United States
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Section 1

Text description provided by the architects. Founded in 1896 by educational reformer John Dewey, the Laboratory Schools at the University of Chicago continues to be a leader of education excellence in the country. As the school’s campus and population grew over the years, it became time again to re-evaluate the function, program and capacity of the campus for future students.

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - Shelving, Handrail
© Karant + Associates

Utilizing VDTA’s philosophy of research-based design, the design process for the Laboratory Schools incorporated immersions, interviews with faculty and other leading educators, best practice survey, literary reviews all concluding with a visioning session with key stakeholders. 

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - Facade, Handrail, Beam
© Karant + Associates

The first phase of the Laboratory Schools expansion and renovation project, Earl Shapiro Hall, recently opened for classes. Located on an independent site from the rest of the campus on Stony Island Avenue, across from Chicago’s Jackson Park and the Museum of Science and Industry the building has most of the programmatic elements of a freestanding school building.

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - Windows, Facade
© Karant + Associates

In addition to classrooms, art and music rooms, library and gymnasium, the building also has full administrative offices, counseling offices, and learning labs. Among the building’s innovations is the incorporation of outdoor courtyards and learning labs adjacent to the classrooms. 

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects  - Windows, Facade
© Karant + Associates

The classrooms themselves are designed to be flexible and to encourage the teaching philosophies of the Reggio Emilia approach to preschool, a 20th century education philosophy that grew from Dewey’s original principles placing the child within a larger learning community.


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Project location

Address:5800 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, IL 60649, USA

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall / Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects " 31 Jan 2014. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/472271/uc-lab-school-nil-earl-shapiro-hall-valerio-dewalt-train-associates-fgm-architects> ISSN 0719-8884

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