John Ronan Architects
Gary Comer College Prep
Salas O’Brien provided full engineering services as well as low voltage technology and LEED commissioning services for a new construction charter high school located in the Grant Crossing neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
Our client
Based in Chicago and founded in 1999, this internationally recognized design firm uses research-based collaboration to deliver innovative and exploratory designs for their clients. Through rigorous attention to detail and a rich blend of contexts, John Ronan Architects provides worldwide, compelling, and memorable projects of all range and type, including architectural, planning, and a wide range of urban and interior design. As a result, this firm has received multiple awards and public mentions, including most recently being selected as the #4 design firm in the U.S. by Architect Magazine.
Project highlights
Their challenge
Our client wanted to construct a new charter high school for the Grant Crossing community to use in conjunction with the adjacent Gary Comer Youth Center. To do so, they needed a partner that could provide excellent engineering design services as well as fundamental LEED commissioning for this project. The new two-story structure would house classroom and office space for the new charter high school.
Our solution
Salas O’Brien provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection engineering design as well as low voltage technology and LEED commissioning services for this new 42,000-square-foot charter high school construction. The design’s sustainable features included skylight natural lighting, glass walls between the hallway and classroom, and a sustainable outdoor gateway park.
The results
Our team’s design work successfully transformed the two buildings’ engineering inOur team’s work on this project helped earn this charter school LEED Silver certification. This finished building features two floors of classrooms, a lecture room, administrative offices, a computer lab, and music rooms. Designed to be used in conjunction with the adjacent Gary Comer Youth Center, the new space creates a wonderful campus environment for school’s 650 students and the Grant Crossing neighborhood community.


