Earles Architects and Associates (EAA) has completed the design on a new education space at NBC Tower, 455 Cityfront Plaza Drive in Chicago. The University of Chicago Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies, which is based at 1427 E. 60th Street on the university’s Hyde Park campus, is adding supplemental space on the 28th floor of the building.
The 18,452-square-foot space includes classroom, lecture and lounge areas as well as offices for school staff and lecturers, student study rooms, additional ADA compliant restrooms and a mother’s room for nursing. Construction is scheduled for completion in October.
“EAA has been pleased to work with such an historic and esteemed institution whose reach extends from Chicago to the international community,” said EAA project manager A.J. Finn. “Graham School programs enroll more than 4,500 students annually and this new space is a vital component of [the] school’s efforts to provide programs and continuing education to support professional studies and liberal arts education.”
The Graham School provides educational opportunities for learners at all stages of their lives and careers, so the space will be open for extended hours. This created a need for additional environmental control. EAA completed the interior design of the space and worked with McGuire Engineers and Wiss, Janney and Elstner Associates to design a mechanical room and exterior façade louver system to hold a supplemental unit with a cooling capacity of 590,000 BTH/HR.
