2009 Exhibition of School
Planning and Architecture
Ralph Ellison Campus
Chicago, Illinois
Lee J. Brockway Award - Renovation
High School
OWP/P
Ralph Ellison Campus
Main Exterior Image
Exterior with Ellison quote
Community Environment:
A DESIGN PARTII THAT INFLUENCED THE
CURRICULUM AND REFLECTS THE
COMMUNITY’S HERITAGE
The design for this school on Chicago's
South Side tells the story of an
abandoned, asbestos-ridden structure
that became a thriving academic
community and source of pride for
students and nearby residents. The once
elementary school had been vacant for
14 years, a blight on the neighborhood,
when the site was purchased for the
development of a new high school.
Feeling that it was important to reflect
the students' and community's rich
African American culture, the school
was named after the reputable AfricanAmerican author Ralph Ellison, whose
novels and essays were transformative
in the realms of literature, history and
the African-American identity.
Exterior with students
Community Environment:
When Ellison wrote Invisible Man in
the late 1940’s, he created a
protagonist that was at odds with the
character of the then leading AfricanAmerican novelist, Richard Wright.
Wright’s characters were the result of
an oppressive society while Ellison’s
protagonist was sophisticated,
educated and self-aware. The design
team used the Wright-Ellison
metaphor in their design in the
context that the older, historic building
was likened to Wright’s methodology
while the new building represented
Ellison’s ideals of intellectual discovery
and introspection as the means to
freedom.
Library interior
Learning Environment:
Ninety-eight percent of the 450
students at the school are African
American. In seeking to highlight the
students' heritage while harping on
Ellison's legacy, the design team
sandblasted a quote from Invisible
Man onto the curtain wall at the front
of the building. The quote is large
enough to engage the community to
become a part of the dialogue within,
yet subtle enough to instill a sense of
wonderment and curiosity in the
students. The quote reads: “I love
light. Perhaps you’ll think it strange
that an invisible man should need
light, desire light, love light. But maybe
it is exactly because I am invisible.
Light confirms my reality; gives birth to
my form.” The entry façade’s
variegated composition of glass,
mullions and the quote is
representative of the diverse tapestry
of the neighborhood.
Library interior
Learning Environment:
The curriculum is college preparatory
with an emphasis on "topics relevant
to urban students." The school day is
7½ hours (longer than the majority of
Chicago Public Schools), and the
school year lasts from August to June,
as it has been proven that student
success correlates strongly with the
amount of time spent in the
classroom. The school held an opening
ceremony on August 16th. The
architects who attended were pleased
to learn of the design parti's impact on
the curriculum.
Lab classroom interior
Physical Environment
Many of the existing walls, wood
floors, wood trim and terrazzo were
retained. The classrooms had large
window openings, but 2/3 of the
glazing was translucent and 1/3 was
opaque. The new windows are
thermally insulated and clear, bringing
natural daylight into the classrooms,
which increases student concentration
and comfort. This also allows
instructors to use less artificial lighting.
This adds to the R-value of the exterior
envelope and allows instructors to use
less artificial lighting. Insulation was
added to the exterior masonry walls.
The mechanical systems were replaced
with modern, efficient equipment.
Locker bays
Physical Environment
The design team was faced with the
challenge of transforming an
elementary into a building that was
suitable for high school students. The
following illustrate innovative design
solutions.
– Instead of designing rows of narrow
lockers, they were clustered in bays at
the ends of the corridors. The corridors
allow for flexible, sociable and personal
learning spaces—demonstrating that
learning happens everywhere, not just
within the walls of the classroom.
– The front elevation of the addition is
a glass curtain wall sandblasted with a
quote from Ralph Ellison, the school's
namesake. The text is visible both from
the interior library and science spaces
and from the exterior to passersby and
the community. The north-facing
orientation captures the highest quality
of light.
Exterior day
Planning Process:
The most challenging aspect of the
project was convincing the surrounding
community that the school would be an
asset for their neighborhood. Local
residents felt that they weren't properly
informed when the land was purchased
for the new school. 25 community
members formed an advisory
committee that monitored the school’s
presence and presented their view. The
design team addressed the community's
concerns by meeting with the
committee and giving project milestone
updates while considering their input in
the building’s design. The advisory
committee was very involved with the
large mural on the gym’s exterior, and
the committee reviewed artist and
student concepts. The gymnasium
building was named for the
neighborhood, and the name was
prominently carved into the stone
panels at the entry.
Classroom interior
Planning Process:
Concerned residents were worried
about such things as traffic on an
already busy corner, less parking,
community safety and trash removal.
The design team addressed each of
these concerns: they incorporated
extra lighting and cameras for security
into the design, they designed a secure
parking area, and the school arranged
for garbage to be compacted and
disposed of on a daily basis. Residents
were also concerned that the charter
school would be bussing in students
from other neighborhoods while their
own children might not be admitted.
The advisory committee worked with
school officials to implement an
attendance boundary for the school,
giving priority to students who live
within a certain proximity.
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture
2008 Project Data
Submitting Firm :
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
OWP/P
Architecture, Engineering, Interiors
Rick Dewar, AIA
Principal / Project Director
111 W. Washington Street, Suite 2100
Chicago, IL 60602
312.960.8034
Joint Partner Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
N/A
Other Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
N/A
Construction Firm:
Project Role
Project Contact
Title
Address
City, State or Province, Country
Phone
Valenti Builders, Inc.
Construction Management
Jim Valenti
Construction Manager
225 Northfield Road
Northfield, IL 60093
847.446.2200
Exhibition of School Planning and Architecture
2008 Project Details
Project Name
Ralph Ellison Campus
City
Chicago
State
District Name
Illinois
Chicago Public School District 299 / Chicago
International Charter Schools
Supt/President
Thresa Nelson, CEO of Civitas Schools
Occupancy Date
June 2008
Grades Housed
9-12
Capacity(Students)
600 students
Site Size (acres)
1.08 acres
Gross Area (sq. ft.)
64,735 sf
Per Occupant(pupil)
107.9 sf/student
gross/net please indicate
Design and Build?
No
If yes, Total Cost:
Includes:
If no,
Site Development:
823,602
Building Construction:
7,249,320
Fixed Equipment:
N/A
Other:
1,677,425
Total:
11,111,743
Supporting/Supplemental
flies/Images
Imagery Credits:
Design – OWP/P
Photography – James Steinkamp