Studio Gang Architects Selected for UChicago Project

Newswise Studio Gang Architects, led by renowned Chicago architect Jeanne Gang, has been selected to design a major new residence hall and dining commons on the north end of the University of Chicago campus, officials announced.

The signature facility, which will house roughly 800 undergraduates, is designed around the Colleges distinctive House System, with an emphasis on building community. Studio Gang will collaborate with Mortenson Construction on the project, which is expected to open in 2016.

Occupying the space where Pierce Tower and Dining Commons now stands, at the corner of 55th Street and University Avenue, the project will create a new gateway connecting the University to the Hyde Park community to the north and enhancing pedestrian flow.

John W. Boyer, Dean of the College, said the project represents a milestone in the development of the Colleges residential life.

The University is far stronger when we create vibrant communities of learning and friendship for our students in our residential system, Boyer said. High-quality collegiate housing, located centrally on the campus, is an enormous asset in supporting the educational goals of the faculty, in developing active and stimulating learning communities among our students, and in encouraging patterns of lifelong friendships among our alumni.

This building embodies our vision for our housing system, said Karen Warren Coleman, Vice President for Campus Life and Student Services. It will serve as an incubator for intellectual and personal development to the benefit of the students who live there and the entire campus community, she said.

The Studio Gang-Mortenson proposal was chosen from among dozens of entries through a rigorous process involving faculty, staff, students, and University and community stakeholders.

This world-class design from Jeanne Gang, one of the most innovative architects of our time, continues our commitment to architecture that cultivates a scholarly community, said Steve Wiesenthal, Associate Vice President and University Architect. We are fortunate to be working with her and her team, and delighted that, after looking around the globe, we found the best answer here in Chicago.

Intimate communities in a big city

Jeanne Gang said the project presents an opportunity to advance the Universitys goals toward a cohesive, sustainable campus populated by great architecture and strong ties to the Hyde Park community.

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Studio Gang Architects Selected for UChicago Project