The Chicago-based architecture firm Ross Barney Architects has opted for a direct and educational approach at a community college on the outskirts of the city, leaving the ducts, installations, and machinery typical of an industrial building exposed. The intention is clear: for students to interact daily with the same mechanical systems that form part of their technical training.<\/p>\n
The Foglia Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation at McHenry County College, located in Crystal Lake, is conceived as a long, horizontal volume, partially integrated into the terrain and organized into two longitudinal strips. One of these houses smaller classrooms and laboratories distributed over two floors, while the other is double-height to accommodate large workshops, reinforcing the idea of a functional, honest space aligned with the construction and mechanical principles taught inside.<\/p>\n
Image courtesy of Ross Barney Architects<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Want to know more? It’s on Dezeen!<\/a><\/p>\n