SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

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Kennedy & Violich Architecture was commissioned to design the Art Institute of Chicago’s new School of Art and Design. The project is a complete renovation of an historic 22 story building in the downtown “Loop”. The project involves the implementation of extensive infrastructure: insulated windows, freight and passenger elevator core and fire stairs, and electrical, information and mechanical systems. The design was developed specifically for the Art Institute’s Design Initiative, a new academic curriculum that integrates the fine arts, design, industrial design, performance, and technology. This effort involved extensive Community discussions in a Participatory Design Process with weekly meetings organized by Kennedy & Violich Architecture in collaboration with the School, the Contractor and the Consultant Team. Major program components of the design include: an experimental performance theater clad with “junk wood” recycled from slices of glue lam beams, a public lobby, and a reception area, gallery and exhibit space in the first three levels of the building which are entirely public. Academic programs include wood, metal, robotics and kinetics workshops and “smart” classrooms with streaming video, data, and AV capacities.

Date: 2003
Status:
Client: School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Design Team:
Sheila Kennedy, FAIA; Managing Principal
Frano Violich, FAIA; Principal Consulting on Design
Veit Kugel Dipl Ing, Luis Boza, Anthony Piermarini AIA, Senan Choe
Architect: Kennedy & Violich Architecture, Ltd
Acoustic & MEPFP Engineer: Ove Arup & Partners
Associate Architect: Gensler Associates
Structural Engineer: Thornton Tomasetti, Inc