Helping Secure LEED Silver Certification for Charter School

Gary Comer College Prep is a new construction charter high school located in the Grant Crossing neighborhood of Chicago. Energy efficiency was a high priority for our client in this project, but because of security concerns in the school’s neighborhood, they also wanted to ensure the building’s design kept it safe and secure.

In response to our client’s goals, we worked with our project partners to balance the building’s stronger elements—like perforated metal cladding around the exterior—with energy-efficient components such as glass walls between hallways and classrooms, skylight natural lighting, and a sustainable outdoor gateway park.

The finished building features two floors of classrooms, a lecture room, administrative offices, a computer lab, and music rooms. Designed in conjunction with the adjacent Gary Comer Youth Center, the new space creates a wonderful campus environment for the school’s 650-students.