Wheeler Kearns Architects

#DesignDetail – At the Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, the seamless appearance of the brick facade, without compromising the performance characteristics of a modern masonry veneer wall, is the result of a detail-driven, highly precise design and construction process. Custom-fabricated support angles are designed to position the brick veneer slightly in front of the window and spandrel system, allowing the edges of the masonry 'shawl' to remain separated and visible from the interior. The building’s structure is coordinated to support these angles below the elevation of the floor slabs, while a complex network of flashing, vents, and closure panels ensures proper drainage, ventilation, and insulation—effectively concealed within the wall.⁠ ⁠ Check out more project images here: https://lnkd.in/gUHUFT_s #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #architecturephotography #architecture #archilover #archdaily #schooldesign #educationdesign #educationalfacility #sustainabledesign #sustainability #chicagoarchitecture #educationarchitecture⁠⁠ #designexcellence #brickfacade⁠ #facadedesign #masonry #brickinarchitectureawards #designdetail⁠ 📸 Steve Hall

At the heart of Ednovate Esperanza College Prep is the 'town hall,' a double-height senior studio designed as a dynamic space for students to present their projects and engage with the school community. Stepped seating connects the first and second floors, functioning as both circulation and an informal gathering area that fosters collaboration and interaction. Surrounding this central hub are flexible 'quad-pod' learning spaces, each consisting of four classrooms or 'pods' arranged around an open studio for each grade level.⁠ ⁠ For Ednovate Charter Schools in Los Angeles, CA, WKA served as Design Architect, prototyping and adapting learning environments to support Ednovate’s educational model, with a focus on project-based learning, blended learning, and community impact at each of their five operating campuses.⁠ ⁠ Architect of Record: Artik Art & Architecture⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠Check out more project images here: https://lnkd.in/g3BdU-ee #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #architecturephotography #architecture #archilover #archdaily #schooldesign #educationdesign #educationalfacility #sustainabledesign #sustainability #highschooldesign #chicagoarchitect #educationarchitecture⁠⁠ #designexcellence ⁠ 📸 Eric Staudenmaier

At the Urban Residence, the clients' desire for a strong connection to the landscape inspired the building's massing, which cantilevers an opaque volume of private spaces above expansive glass walls and sliding bronze-framed doors. These elements open the entire first level to the outdoors, including an operable corner off the dining room.⁠ ⁠ See more project images here: https://lnkd.in/g-sGD5Js ⠀⁠⠀⁠ #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #urbanresidence #architecturephotography #architecture #archilover #designinspo #chicago #chicagoarchitecture #illinois #outdoorliving #naturallight #designfornature #contemporaryarchitecture #residentialarchitecture⁠⁠#artcollector #designforcollections #sculpturegarden #tbt #throwbackthursday ⁠ 📸 @craigduganphotography

The Lake Shore Drive house features two distinct masses: a plinth that anchors the structure to its site and a sculptural volume rising from this base, artfully oriented toward a park and Lake Michigan beyond, with a 1-1/2 story glass connector 'void' between. ⁠ ⁠ To reinforce the building's concept, domestic Oolitic limestone is applied in various ways to the two solid masses. The stepped plinth volume showcases its ubiquitous material through a laid-up load-bearing and split-faced finish. In contrast, the sculptural volume boasts a taut, honed exterior skin, utilizing the same limestone as a rain-screen.⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Check out more project images here: https://lnkd.in/gSfhNe6h #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #architecturephotography #archilover #modernarchitecture #modernhome #chicagoarchitect #modernhousedesign #housedesign #residentialdesign #residentialarchitecture⁠ #architecture #architectureinspiration #archdaily #archrecord⁠ #design #designlovers #architecture_hunter⁠ 📸 Steve Hall⁠

Built to provide an underserved community with a high-performing learning environment, Mansueto High School’s design reflects the school’s culture of high expectations and supports both short- and long-term success.⁠ ⁠ A taut, dark brick perimeter wraps the building’s exterior, transitioning to light gray metal panels that enclose a central green space. This area, designed to evoke a college quadrangle, offers students a glimpse of campus life from day one.⁠ ⁠ Playful pops of color highlight the punched window openings in the brick facade, while floor-to-ceiling windows along the inner quadrangle reflect the surrounding trees and greenery. On a typical day, students pass through a cluster of trees before entering the building at multiple points, much like a college campus.⁠ ⁠ ⁠Check out more photos here: https://lnkd.in/gtvx7vmR #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #architecturephotography #architecture #archilover #archdaily #schooldesign #educationdesign #educationalfacility #sustainabledesign #sustainability #highschooldesign #chicagoarchitecture #educationarchitecture⁠⁠ #designexcellence #courtyarddesign #schoolcourtyard⠀⁠ 📸 Steve Hall

The Chicago Children’s Theatre transformed a deteriorating 1948 Chicago Police Station into the nonprofit’s first permanent home.⁠ ⁠ The design exposes what is typically hidden 'behind the curtain,' emphasizing the creative process and reinforcing the idea that all spaces can be places to explore the artistry, craft, and technology of theater. Back-of-house areas, where children create scenery and props for their performances, are left in plain view rather than concealed. Upon arrival, students are greeted by a spacious reception area adorned with costumes and props from past and future performances.⁠ ⁠ Once fulfilling a role of authority and confinement, the building is now a vibrant space for unbridled, joyful interaction with the arts.⁠ ⁠ See more project images here: https://lnkd.in/gNXvkQf8 #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #nonprofitdesign #educationdesign #architectureforlearning #chicagoarchitecture #architecturephotography #archilover #designingforcommunity #communitydesign #adaptivereuse⁠ #chicagochildrenstheatre⁠ 📸 Tom Harris

Working Group 1 and Wheeler Kearns Architects are grateful to have collaborated with Lookingglass Theatre and this team to deepen their connection to the city while honoring the character of their historic home.⁠ ⁠ After more than two decades inside the landmarked Chicago Avenue Pumping Station along the Magnificent Mile, Lookingglass Theatre has grown, acquiring additional leased space to create a more engaging and accessible experience for its patrons.⁠ ⁠ The expansion project unites mainstage and city with a dedicated street-front entrance for the theatre, a vibrant lobby, expanded front-of-house support, and flexible programming spaces for rehearsal, education, and outreach.⁠ ⁠ The design features a foundational terrazzo floor inscribed with a celestial map pattern, which guides visitors past historic utilities and new amenities, up a ceremonial stair and accessible ramp to the theatre's anteroom and mainstage. ⁠ ⁠ At the heart of the lobby, a glowing amber volume—encircled by terrazzo inlay and framed by a pipe grid extending from floor to ceiling—references both the historic building's industrial character and the adaptable nature of the theater's mainstage. Part scrim, part lantern, the hand-cast amber fiberglass enclosure invites all to move through and around the essential program contained within; box office, coat check, and universal restrooms, each designed to streamline use and enhance patron experience.⁠ ⁠ Check out more project photos here: https://lnkd.in/gU9MMGA3 #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #workinggroup1 #lookingglasstheatrechicago #lookingglasstheatre #chicagoarchitect #chicagoarchitecture #theatredesign #historicbuilding #landmarkbuilding 📸: Tom Harris

Starting with the entrance and extending throughout its various learning environments, Wolcott School is purposely designed to foster a sense of safety and affirmation for students with diverse learning needs. ⁠ ⁠ To reduce the ‘first day of school’ tension, an inviting garden was designed to serve as the primary student entry point. This thoughtful approach allows students, particularly those who have faced difficulties and negative experiences in traditional schooling, to pass through a welcoming threshold resembling a small pocket park instead of a formal entry. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out more project images here: https://lnkd.in/gpbC2E8z ⁠⠀⁠ #wkarch #wkarchitects #wheelerkearnsarchitects #architecture #archilover #archdaily #colleceprep #education #chicagoarchitecture #educationalarchitecture #masonrybuilding #schooldesign #architecturephotography #schoolarchitecture #institutionalarchitecture #learningdesign⁠ #adaptivereuse #chicagodesign ⁠⠀⁠ 📸 Tara White

Instead of creating another place dominated by primary colors and synthetic play equipment, the UChicago Child Development Center - Stony Island offers children an opportunity to discover natural phenomena while being immersed in the natural world, discovering first principles first-hand. ⁠ ⁠ Natural materials from the atmosphere (trees, plants, wood) or the earth (boulders, rocks, sand) dominate. Boulders, some weighing as much as 90,000 pounds, were imported from the glacial till of central Wisconsin to create boundaries, pathways, and age-appropriate climbing opportunities.⁠ ⁠ See more project images here: https://lnkd.in/ghQdy4KX #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #schooldesign #educationdesign #architectureforlearning #chicagoarchitecture #architecturephotography #archilover #designprocess #earlychildhoodeducation #earlychildhood #naturalenvironment #designingforchildren #designingforcommunity #communitydesign⁠ 📸: Steve Hall⁠

Drawing inspiration from fire and ice, Snowmass Retreat blends warm and cool elements to create a welcoming mountain refuge.⁠ ⁠ Clad in mountain quartzite stone, the exterior’s dynamic texture flows indoors, anchoring a hallway wall opposite the glass-lined courtyard. Full-height sliding doors blur the boundary between inside and out, connecting the media room to a sunlit terrace with a hot tub and pool.⁠ ⁠ Throughout the interior, natural finishes such as oak millwork, dark oxidized bronze hardware, burnished plaster walls, and walnut shelving are complemented by white acoustical ceilings, creating a balance of warmth, light, and comfort.⁠ ⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Check out more project images here: https://lnkd.in/gd79cUxW #wkarch #wheelerkearnsarchitects #architecturephotography #archilover #modernarchitecture #modernhome #snowmassretreat #snowmass #colorado #chicagoarchitect #modernhousedesign #housedesign #mountainretreat #residentialdesign #residentialarchitecture⁠ 📸: Steve Hall