ARCHITECTURAL FOCUS
NEAL MATH & SCIENCE ACADEMY
THE NEAL MATH + SCIENCE ACADEMY IS A GAME CHANGER IN EDUCATION FOR YOUTH , SYMBOLIZING PRIDE AND STRENGTH .
The School District of North Chicago received a transformative $ 40 million grant from AbbVie . North Chicago , a unique black and brown suburban city in Chicagoland , has faced disinvestment for too long .
The five-story building features a sports field , outdoor learning spaces , and centralized nodes promoting togetherness for middle school students and staff .
Its verticality offers neighborhood views and ample natural light . The colorful exterior and double gradient façade celebrate diversity and promote inclusivity by setting a new standard for educational spaces , while encouraging an active learning atmosphere .
The design was led by significant community engagement efforts to better understand the community ’ s needs . The team met with families of North Chicago , including both parents and children .
Through this engagement , it became clear that the community felt invisible .
They wanted to be seen and to see . This inspired the idea of a vertical school where each floor represents a passage in time and marks a different school grade . As students progress through each grade , they gain more visibility within the city limits , and a stronger connection to North Chicago .
This makes it the tallest building in North Chicago , serving as a beacon for the community .
The challenge of the project was designing and constructing the building while the existing school remained in session . To honor the school ’ s history and legacy , the gymnasium was preserved . This required careful planning and coordination .
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