Past Events
Virtual Tour
March 16, 2021
4:00 pm Central
Jefferson Early Childhood Center, Wheaton, IL
Presented by Legat Architects
Playful patterns, sensory havens, and integrated therapy: competition-winning design supports early learners at all developmental stages.
Find out how the new Jefferson Early Childhood Center (ECC) kicks off a lifelong learning adventure for Community Unit School District 200's youngest students. The virtual tour will reveal how the design, winner of a district-sponsored competition, inspires curiosity and discovery for early learners, including the two-thirds of Jefferson ECC students who have special needs or disabilities. The 59,000-square-foot school offers collaborative classrooms and dedicated indoor/outdoor therapy spaces, as well as a community welcome center and resource room for parent training.
District and school leaders will share how community engagement sessions, early learning programming, and teacher input influenced the design. The architectural team will use 3-D models and hand drawings to help attendees visualize design challenges.
The highlight of the tour is the sensory courtyard at the heart of the facility. Visible from throughout the school, the courtyard offers a haven for students at all developmental stages to create, explore, and interact. Attendees will also experience a secondary outdoor therapy space designed to promote independence and confidence, as well as a motor skills zone that doubles as a tornado shelter. Among other areas the tour guides will introduce are a controlled vestibule entry, community welcome center, integrated therapy rooms, and corridors that encourage exercise and creative play.
The tour will show how the design exemplifies "ergonomic transposition," which considers how small children experience the world. For instance, exterior and interior glazing frames views from a child's perspective: high windows display sky and clouds, while low windows reveal grass and plants. Throughout the building, windows are aligned to create moments of discovery—some spots allow occupants to see clear through the building.
Attendees will learn about the steps the design team took to lower the building's carbon footprint and energy consumption. Lightweight fiber cement panels used on classroom wings reduce the embodied carbon load. Energy-saving features include a geothermal field and north- and south-facing classroom windows.
Come see the Jefferson ECC, where energy and discovery are around every corner.
Learning Objectives:
- Discover how community engagement and client leadership drove the design process for the early learning center.
- Illustrate how technology is a communication tool with 3-D walk throughs generated in Enscape and façade design iterations using Revit.
- Identify key design elements that differentiate early learning design through “ergonomic transposition”, how small children experience the world.
- Analyze the building’s carbon foot print and reduced energy consumption.
Tour Presenters:
Stephanie Mangini, Principal at Jefferson
Jeff Schuler, Superintendent at CUSD 200
Robin Randall, Principal, Legat Architects
Loren Johnson, Project Architect, Legat Architects
Paul Pessetti, Project Manager, Legat Architects
Members FREE | Non-members $20
AIA CEU’s pending
Must register by March 16, 2021 at 9:00 am Central.
Chapter Webinar
December 3, 2020
4:00 PM Central
Purpose Over Preference: Designing Spaces for Impact
Join members of the Glenbrook High School team and partners to virtually visit four spaces anchored to purpose over preference and discover the process that created the opportunity for impact.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the intersection between purpose, process, and change management when embarking on a journey of transforming learning spaces.
- Recognize the value of meaningful partnerships between institutions and solutions providers with shared perspectives of designing intentional learning spaces.
- Evaluate a set of strategies and tools for understanding people, place, and purpose.
- Review case-studies that apply the techniques discussed at the beginning of the session.
Panelists:
Learning Space (District Oversight) Rosanne Williamson, Assistant Supt of Edu Services
Learning Space Lead (Curriculum), Ryan Bretag Director of Instructional Innovation
Learning Space Lead (Operations), Kim Ptak Director of Operations
Partner, Lisa Martin Arcon and Associate Designer
Partner, Brad Raysby, Rally Point Endeavors Mission Chief and Visionary Officer
Moderator:
Learning Space Storyteller, Karen Geddeis Director of Communication and Studio E Strategist
Members: FREE | Non-members: $10
Deadline to register: December 3, 2020 at 12:00 PM
Chapter Event
Friday, January 24, 2020
5:30 – 7:30 PM
7 Oakbrook Center
Oak Brook, IL 60523
Join A4LE Chicagoland for a night of Bocce and fun at Pinstripes in Oak Brook! We'll share upcoming events and new opportunities for engagement with the A4LE Chicagoland Chapter.
Free to attend: please RSVP
Chapter Social
Monday, October 15, 2018
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Steelcase Showroom
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 302
Chicago, IL
Drinks and appetizers will be provided.
| Schedule |
|
5:30 pm – 6:00 pm |
Drinks and appetizers |
|
6:00 pm – 6:10 pm |
Welcome and introductions |
|
6:10 pm – 6:30 pm |
- 5 current trends we are seeing within the K-12 and A&D communities
- What customers are asking for
- High level overview of our current and soon to be released research and insights
|
|
6:30 pm – 7:00 pm |
Showroom tour |
DIRECTIONS & PARKING
theMART is walking distance from the Metra stations and moments from the Ohio Street ramp of 90/94.
Get Directions
The building is easily accessible through the following travel options:
- CTA bus stops
- CTA elevated train “L” stop on the second floor
- Taxi stand on the South Drive
- Walking distance to Ogilvy and Union Stations
- Quick, easy driving access to major expressways
- MartParcWells garage, located at the corner of Kinzie and Wells Streets
Chapter Tour
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Tour: 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Drinks afterwards
British International School of Chicago
South Loop Campus,
161 W. 9th Street, Chicago, IL 60605
Members: $10 / Non-Members: $15
Parking is nearby
Chapter Event
Friday, April 8, 2016
8:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Illinois Healthy & High Performing Schools Symposium
Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy,
Chicago, IL
Please join USGBC and the Association for Learning Environments as we pave the way towards more sustainable learning environments with others who are passionate about green schools.
USGBC-Illinois and the Association invite you and your organization to participate as an attendee, sponsor or exhibitor!
School Tour
January 26, 2016
4:30 PM
Wight & Company
2500 N. Frontage Road, Darien, IL 60561
Phone: 630.969.7000
Members: $10 /
Non-Member: $15
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
School Tour & Holiday Event
December 4, 2015
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
GEMS World Academy Lower School
350 East South Water Street, Chicago, IL 60601
Tour Pictures!
GEMS World Academy, an international private school, established their first school in the United States in Chicago's downtown Lakeshore East Community. At 10 stories, the school's design addresses unique site challenges and opportunities, distinguishing the facility in its urban setting. The Lower School marries GEMS' program with local requirements, integrates state-of-the-art technology, and fosters collaboration between classrooms locally and around the world.
Members: $10 / Non-Members: $15
After the tour, please join us for drinks at:
Three Forks
180 N. Field Boulevard,
Chicago, IL 60601
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm (Cash Bar)
Chapter Tour
October 15, 2015
4:00 pm
UCLS Gordon Parks Hall (New Arts Wing)
Chicagoland Golf Event
September 14, 2015
Hilton Oakbrook Hills Resort and Golf Club
3500 Midwest Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: 630.850.5555
Chicagoland Summer Bash
Bowling, Bocce Ball, and a Bash
August 11, 2015
3:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Pinstripes
7 Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook, IL 60523
Phone: 630.575.8700
Chicagoland Annual Event
April 15, 2015
Elmhurst College / Frick Center, Prospect Room (lower level)
190 Prospect,
Elmhurst, IL 60126
| 8:00-8:30 am |
Registration |
| 8:30-10:00 am |
Keynote speaker (Dr Humor) |
| 11:00 am-12:00 pm |
Presentations
Chris Johnson- Evidence Based Design |
| 12:00-1:00 pm |
Lunch |
| 1:00-2:00 pm |
Presentations
Robin Randall- How Buildings Teach |
| 2:00-3:30 pm |
Architects Forum |
Keynote: Dr. Stuart Robertshaw aka Dr. Humor
Click here to download Healing Article by Dr. Robertshaw
In 1987 Dr. Stuart Robertshaw, teacher, psychologist and attorney, read that "preschool children laugh or smile over 400 times per day, adults over the age of 35 – only 15 times per day." That single quote started his personal journey to review scientific and medical research regarding the benefits of laughter and humor. By mid 1990, he announced the formation of the National Association for the Humor Impaired. Selected as a novelty, that very title would catch the attention of the national press and serve as a vehicle to teach others about the benefits of laughter. Through conference presentations and articles, featured in magazines such as Family Circle and Mature Outlook, the Association has received national attention in over 144 newspapers and 180 radio stations. Referred by the press as "Dr. Humor", Dr. Robertshaw currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association. He will share with you what he has learned about the psychological and physiological benefits of humor and laughter as they relate to taking care of ourselves and our loved ones.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
