Gensler and J.C. Anderson, Inc. announced the completion of a new office and classroom space on behalf of City Year at Orr Academy High School on Chicago’s West Side.
City Year is an education focused, nonprofit organization that unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service to keep students in school and on track to graduation. City Year operates in 20 U.S. locations and with two international affiliates including Chicago. As tutors and mentors, City Year Chicago corps members provide critically needed services to some of Chicago’s most underserved youth.
City Year representatives came to Gensler for their assistance in the transformation of the organization’s offices within Orr Academy High School, which also serve as an academic and social gathering space for students and corps members. Gensler embraced the opportunity and then enlisted J.C. Anderson, Inc. to contribute their construction expertise.
The project began with Visioning Sessions hosted by Gensler during which the Orr High School students were asked to contribute their visions for the new space, particularly as they related to learning, hanging-out and celebrating. The students then broke-out into groups and prepared visual presentations to share their ideas. Gensler’s initial concept for a “College Parlor” themed space stemmed directly from the students’ posters and presentations.
The City Year transformation took place within the short time frame of one week and included a custom designed bookcase, tile carpeting, ancillary furniture (including lounge pieces, desks, chairs, benches, team tables and coffee tables) a custom 40’-0” long writable millwork mdf marker board with a student designed wall mural at one end and custom graphic film patterns for three existing storefront walls. Volunteers from Gensler, J.C. Anderson, Inc., City Year and the school were on hand to assist with the implementation of the design.
Susan Harrington led the architectural and design team on behalf of Gensler and Tom Raveret assembled the team from J.C. Anderson, Inc. Both Gensler and J.C. Anderson, Inc. provided services at no charge to City Year. +
Related Stories
| Jan 9, 2014
16 recommendations on security technology to take to your K-12 clients
From facial recognition cameras to IP-based door hardware, here are key technology-related considerations you should discuss with your school district clients.
| Jan 9, 2014
Harley Ellis Devereaux, BFHL Architects announce merger
Effective January 1, 2014, Ralph Lotito and Brett Paloutzian have merged BFHL, comprising 15 healthcare architects, with Harley Ellis Devereaux. A national architecture and engineering firm in practice since 1908, Harley Ellis Devereaux has offices in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, CA.
| Jan 9, 2014
Special report: Can design prevent another Sandy Hook?
Our experts say no, but it could save lives. In this report, they offer recommendations on security design you can bring to your K-12 clients to prevent, or at least mitigate, a Sandy Hook on their turf.
| Jan 8, 2014
Dan Noble succeeds H. Ralph Hawkins as president/CEO of HKS
H. Ralph Hawkins, FAIA, FACHA, LEED AP,current chairman, president and CEO, named Dan Noble FAIA, FACHA, LEED AP, his successor as president and CEO, effective January 1, 2014. Jeff Stouffer, AIA, will succeed Craig Beale, FAIA, FACHA, FACHE, as director of the firm's healthcare practice.
| Jan 8, 2014
Architect sentenced to a year in jail for firefighter's death
Architect Gerhard Becker was sentenced to a year in LA county jail after pleading no contest to the manslaughter of a firefighter who died while trying to contain a fire in a home the architect had designed for himself.
| Jan 7, 2014
Concrete solutions: 9 innovations for a construction essential
BD+C editors offer a roundup of new products and case studies that represent the latest breakthroughs in concrete technology.
Smart Buildings | Jan 7, 2014
9 mega redevelopments poised to transform the urban landscape
Slowed by the recession—and often by protracted negotiations—some big redevelopment plans are now moving ahead. Here’s a sampling of nine major mixed-use projects throughout the country.
| Jan 6, 2014
What is value engineering?
If you had to define value engineering in a single word, you might boil it down to "efficiency." That would be one word, but it wouldn’t be accurate.
| Jan 6, 2014
Green Building Initiative names Jerry Yudelson as new President
The Green Building Initiative announced today that it has named Jerry Yudelson as its president to accelerate growth of the non-profit and further leverage its green building assessment tools, including the highly recognized Green Globes rating system.
| Jan 6, 2014
An interview with Jerry Yudelson, President, The Green Building Initiative
Green building consultant Jerry Yudelson has been named President of the Green Building Initiative and the Green Globes rating program. BD+C's Robert Cassidy talks with Yudelson about his appointment and the future of Green Globes.