Today’s school should be much more than a place to learn — it should be a nurturing setting that celebrates achievements and responds to the challenges of many different users. School leaders, architects, and interior designers face a challenge when it comes to educational settings: how can they create a facility that improves the lives […]
Laraway School
Illinois school tornado shelters: an architect’s perspective
From ventilation and projectile defense to water supply and signage: a closer look at the complex code requirements for tornado shelters at Illinois schools In June 2021, an EF3 tornado swept through several suburbs located 20 miles southwest of Chicago. It struck residential areas just after 11 pm . . . only minutes after wireless […]
School architecture: 3 examples of research transforming educational design
A design process that starts and ends with research results in school environments that energize learning. When it comes time to build, whether it’s new construction or renovations, design teams can transform purpose into place by putting the educational institution’s mission at the center of the design approach. But how can we bridge the learning […]
Laraway School Puts Joliet Students at the Forefront
Community supports new preK-8 school that promotes independence, improves safety, reduces operations costs, and celebrates Joliet’s heritage Laraway School, built in the early 1950s, had many problems: overcrowded corridors and classrooms, sparse natural light, an aging infrastructure, and skyrocketing maintenance costs. Then there were the trucks. The 18-wheelers, going to and from nearby warehouses and […]
