Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, Inc.

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall 

Valerio Dewalt Train Associates + FGM Architects

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates

ARCHITECTS
Fgm Architects, Valerio Dewalt Train Associates

MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Arup

ARCHITECT OF RECORD PERSONNEL
Jim Wood, Joseph Chronister, Terry Owens, Jack Krezel, Anna Harvey, Michael Johnson.

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Primera

SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTANT
Hj Kessler Associates

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Lend Lease

FP ENGINEER
Arup

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Rubinos & Mesia Engineers

IT
Primera

DESIGN ARCHITECT PERSONNEL
Joseph Valerio, Randy Mattheis, Sheri Andrews, Robert Webber, Steve Droll, Matt Gamache, Veronica Widholm, Nora Ames, Stephen Killion.

AREA
128000 M²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Chicago, United States

CATEGORY
Laboratory, Educational Architecture, University

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates

Text description provided by architect.

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
© Matt Dula
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© 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.

The first phase of the Laboratory Schools expansion and renovation project, Earl Shapiro Hall, recently opened for classes.

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates

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.

In addition to classrooms, art and music rooms, library and gymnasium, the building also has full administrative offices, counseling offices, and learning labs.

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Matt Dula

Among the building’s innovations is the incorporation of outdoor courtyards and learning labs adjacent to the classrooms.

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.

UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates


UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Matt Dula
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates


UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
© Karant + Associates


UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
First Floor Plan
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
Second Floor Plan
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
Third Floor Plan


UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
Section 1
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
Section 2
UC Lab School – Earl Shapiro Hall
Section 3

Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, Inc.
T +1 312 2607300
Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, Inc.
500 N Dearborn St 9th floor, Chicago, IL 60654, United States