History and Culture of JGMA
JGMA is a progressive architecture and design practice committed to active community involvement and the enrichment of peoples’ lives through the attentive and dynamic organization of space and materiality. They understand that quality design has a unique ability to influence civic life and transform communities.
They proudly consider themselves innovators in the field of architecture and are dedicated to formulating consistently unique solutions to every design opportunity. Their work is conceptually driven but exhibits the highest level of quality at every stage of design, construction, and occupancy.
JGMA is led by the firm’s president, Juan Gabriel Moreno, and is supported by a talented team of experienced architectural professionals. While cultivating the aforementioned ideals, and after struggling within other firms to realize them, Mr. Moreno was compelled to strike out on his own to pursue them. Founded in 2010, JGMA was built on a groundwork that champions comprehensive investment in ideas and ideals.
JGMA is devoted to serving the diverse neighborhoods which make Chicago an incomparable place to live, work, and visit. This objective emerged from the overwhelming realization that an inconceivable discrepancy exists in the allocation of resources given to education, social programs, and public space throughout the city. Many communities are deliberately neglected while others are selectively cultivated. They believe that good design should not be exclusive to the affluent. More often than not, quality design can most benefit those whom can seldom afford it. They have made it their mission to support community-based not-for-profit organizations to develop spaces and programs which are vital to the development of our communities.
At JGMA, they strive to challenge convention in architecture. The prevalence of apathy and indifference throughout their field are rendering our city monotonous and mundane. They pursue this goal by persistently cultivating our perception of what “architecture” is, and understanding that every project has the potential to foster new audiences and lifestyles. As designers, they reject the notion that designs can be reused or solutions can be predetermined. They work to challenge convention in search of innovative, effective, and progressive designs.
Awards
2020
Interior Design Competition Winner | IIDA 2020 47th Annual Interior Design Competition
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design | Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards
2019
Merit Award – New Construction under $55M | Chicago Building Congress
2018
ALA Design Award – Silver Medal | Association of Licensed Architects
ALA Design Award – Merit Awards | Association of Licensed Architects Citation of Merit – Institutional
Merit Award – Renovation & Adaptive Reuse | Chicago Building Congress
ULI Vision Awards Winner for Innovative & Replicable Re-Use | Urban Land Institute of Chicago
2017
Medium Firm of the Year Award in Institutional Architecture | American Architecture Prize (AAP)
ALA Design Award – Merit Award Interior Architecture | Association of Licensed Architects
AIA Northeast Illinois Design Awards – Distinguished Building | AIA Northeast Illinois
2016
Biennial PAD Award | Colombian Diaspora Architectural Awards
First Place in the Institutional Building Category | Rethinking the Future Award
IIDA Illinois RED Award | «People’s Choice»
Platinum Award for Architectural Design for Educational Buildings Category | American Architecture Prize (AAP)
Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design | Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards
ULI Vision Award for Innovation in Education | Urban Land Institute of Chicago
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JGMA Selected Projects
The Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) El Centro project is the first component in a satellite campus master plan envisioned by NEIU to provide educational, career and cultural opportunities primarily, though not exclusively, to the Latino community of Chicago. The El Centro campus seeks to revitalize this large swath of primarily industrial land bordered by Kimball Avenue, the Union Pacific/Northwest Metra line, and the 90/94 expressway, while serving as a catalyst for further development in the area. Although the site may seem overwhelmed by its context, the location is a significant and strategic design choice. This is evidenced by the fact that there exists a large Latino population in the area and the CTA Belmont Blue Line station located immediately to the south.
These key components of community and infrastructure will support the campus as it evolves which will in turn encourage the area to become more businesses, pedestrian, and bicycle friendly. Furthermore, this site offers NEIU both figurative and literal visibility. The building footprint follows site geometry while pushing toward the expressway to reflect an urban street edge with parking hidden behind. This orientation allows the building itself to act as a marketing tool for NEIU. Unlike a billboard, the architecture asserts its presence, not through shameless advertising, but through twisting roof forms and the bold NEIU school colors prominent on the vertical louvers rhythmically arrayed along the building’s facades. The message will be read loud and clear: NEIU stands as a role model in the community of higher education with a commitment to excellence, access to opportunity, and diversity.
Photos by JGMA
This ten-story mixed-use development will include an 82-unit multi-family residential building, two floors of retail/commercial uses that will host local Chicago Black-owned businesses along with national chains coupled with business incubators. The building will create an enclosed outdoor courtyard and theater space for community performances and events, as well as space for casual dining and pop-up marketplaces. Approximately 20 percent of the residences will be designated as affordable.
Photos by JGMA
O’Hare Global Terminal Design Competition
The Foster + Epstein + JGMA design is based upon a sequence of memorable and distinctive spaces that create a gateway to Chicago with architecture that is open, transparent, inclusive, welcoming and functional, in turn resolving the sophisticated security, airport and airline requirements in a way that meets the needs of both employees and passengers. Three arches frame the landside of the building, merging into a grand single arch on the airside, thus dissolving the barrier between inside and out and allowing the spectacle of the airfield to be visible to all who pass through the gateway, and recapturing the romance associated with air travel.
Photos by JGMA
Do not forget that we will be posting more work by JGMA in the coming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for more of their incredible work!! Every Friday we will be posting a new Featured Company, so join us again next week!
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