Creative Sustainability

The Adler School of Professional Psychology took up residence this summer in an innovative space in downtown Chicago.

Doubling the size of its existing space enables the school to accommodate its burgeoning enrollment, which has nearly tripled in the past six years.

Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, the campus is connected by multi-floor open atriums that create a "town square" feel and serve as hubs to a mix of social, work and academic areas. Students have the priority space, with the perimeter reserved for classrooms and work areas. Faculty and administrative offices are on the interior. With skyline views, the work areas are intended to inspire students to look out across the city, and to stimulate the brain, encourage inquiry and prompt creativity.

The campus is designed to meet standards for LEED silver certification. Green aspects of the campus: recycling or environmentally friendly disposal of materials removed during demolition; installation of carpeting made of 100 percent post-consumer material; and the design of classrooms to feature interior glass walls, enabling light to filter into the interior. Classroom lights will dim automatically when adequate sunlight is available.

The campus also will feature a student-suggested wellness studio for yoga, meditation and other wellness activities, as well street-level bike storage and showers to encourage commuting.

OWP/P Cannon Design (Chicago) is architect for the project.