When it comes to schools, colors can make the difference between a bland, passive setting and an environment where attentiveness and interaction thrive. Have you ever been so angry that you see red? Or maybe something you didn’t expect came out of the clear blue sky? These are well known idioms and, as it turns […]
Learning
Moline High School’s Bartlett Performing Arts Center Completion Draws Near
Curtain soon rises on performing arts destination featuring river wall, auditorium, and music education spaces Contractors will soon finish installing glass on exterior walls at Moline High School’s new Bartlett Performing Arts Center. The addition and renovation, designed by Legat Architects and built by Russell Construction, will not only expand educational opportunities, but also create […]
North Scott High School Servery/Kitchen Renewal Improves Speed and Choices
Makeover expands high school servery and production areas by 60%, cuts student waiting time by 50% Students at North Scott High School in Eldridge, Iowa often had to wait in a long line to get their lunches. They didn’t have much time to eat and the selection was limited. Moreover, the production staff had to […]
Prussing Elementary School Breaks Ground on Annex
Expansion to 92-year-old school supports culture of academics and diversity At a June groundbreaking for an annex to Prussing Elementary School, Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Janice Jackson called Prussing “a model for how we plan to continue to improve Chicago Public Schools overall.” This year, the school achieved a “Level 1-plus” rating, the highest […]
Harper College Library Undergoes Physical and Philosophical Transformation
Renovation of 50-year-old library building breaks down the barriers and brings in the light to create a “third place” at the heart of Harper College’s campus. Harper College’s Library, built in 1969, had not had a significant renovation in over 20 years—several portions of the building and its systems had been virtually untouched for nearly […]
Glenbard West High School Expansion Wins Excellence in Masonry Award
Masonry Advisory Council honors “clean, handsome” expansion to 96-year-old high school In the spring of 2014, it was not uncommon to see Legat Architects’ Rob Wroble circling Glenbard West High School and holding brick samples against its near century-old façade. Over one month, Wroble would end up testing 25 different bricks. The reason for this […]
CCSD59 Early Learning Center: 3 Years After Construction
Post-occupancy survey reveals CCSD59 Early Learning Center design capitalizes on outdoor learning and the power of play to change attitudes [Mount Prospect, IL] – Giorgia Spentzos Dravilas’s son felt anxiety each time he stepped out of the car and approached his preschool. Then came the time for him to walk into his new school: Community […]
Academic Library Design: National Conference to Feature Harper College’s Library Transformation
Harper College and Legat Architects to reveal the changing role of academic libraries at American Association of Community Colleges’ Annual Convention The Internet era has changed the way that students absorb and use information. However, many dark and cluttered college libraries, built long before the advent of the Internet, have lagged behind. The good news […]
Moraine Valley Community College Launches Allied Health and Nursing Program at Blue Island Campus
Education Center at Blue Island renovation simulates real-world hospital settings and supports national movement to diversify healthcare programs In the 1930s, Blue Island, Illinois, residents headed to the A&P on Western Avenue to do their shopping. Little did they know that nearly 90 years later that same building would stand asthe Education Center at Blue […]
Harper College, Legat Architects to Explore Academic Library Design at National Community College Conference
Innovations Conference forum investigates community college library paradigm shift from quiet study space to enticing destination, highlights Harper College’s library renovation When he designed the iconic Phillips Exeter Academy Library (Exeter, New Hampshire) in the mid-1960s, renowned architect Louis Kahn had a concept: “A man with a book goes to the light. A library begins […]
Rosalind Franklin University Launches Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare
Build-out creates authentic hospital setting that expands university healthcare simulation program, brings professional training option to Centegra Health System’s Huntley, Illinois, campus. At first glance, the upper floors of Centegra Medical Office Building 2 in Huntley, Illinois, look much like a small hospital. Sliding glass doors open to ICU, trauma, and emergency treatment rooms. Medical […]
A Look Inside Interior Design – Part 2: Guide the Way
How to avoid navigation frustration: interior design that intuitively guides users through a space Last time, I revealed some of the techniques interior design uses to fool the eye. This time, I’ll explore how design can help support wayfinding (i.e., how people find their way through a space) and therefore improve the user experience. Colors, […]
