Nestled in Chicago’s West Lawn community is Richard J. Daley College’s new Manufacturing and Technology Center (MTEC). A prominent fixture, the innovative 11,613 m2 (125,000 sf) structure is a striking example of the overall campus revitalization. Affiliated with City Colleges of Chicago, the design team at JGMA transformed the existing building into the modern MTEC project, which includes a pedestrian bridge connecting Daley College’s north and south campuses.
The JGMA team chose to emphasize and extol the manufacturing industry in their design strategy for the MTEC, utilizing materials such as exposed steel and metal panels. In addition, the use of glass throughout the building’s redesign effectively exhibits the components, such as equipment and machinery, crucial to the education process at the college. Further, the interior circulation spaces were designed to foster student engagement. They deliberately merge with common areas, alcoves, and seating areas to cultivate interactions within the structure. The new project includes interior and exterior terraces, ensuring that students and faculty have the opportunity to connect with nature and one another in these green spaces.
The MTEC project has garnered numerous awards, including the 2021 American Architecture Awards, Iconic Awards – Innovative Architecture 2021, and the 2021 AIA Chicago Design Excellence Award, amongst other accolades. The campus renewal has resulted in an exponential increase in student enrollment at Richard J. Daley College. Since its completion, the MTEC project has been a source of pride not only for Daley College’s students and facility but also for the diverse community of West Lawn itself.