University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

March 16, 2001

Contact: Bryant Payne (312) 355-2523; bpayne2@uic.edu

UIC GRADUATE STUDENTS DESIGN CHA HOUSING

Last fall, students who were part of the graduate housing studio in the University of Illinois at Chicago's School of Architecture designed mixed-income housing for the Chicago Housing Authority's Brooks Extension at ABLA Homes. The resulting work will be on view in the new exhibit "Housing: An Urban Strategy" at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. An exhibit reception will be held March 20 at 5 p.m.

"The studio looked at how housing designers can collaborate and connect with Chicago communities and citizens, particularly in neighborhoods of which UIC is a part," said Jane Saks, director of advancement for the UIC College of Architecture and the Arts.

In this first-ever partnership between UIC, CHA and the library, UIC graduate students attended community meetings, held conversations with CHA residents and responded to residents' concerns before completing their designs.

"The students, along with faculty members Sharon Haar, Xavier Vendrell and Thomas Forman, used their own experiences of Chicago and cities around the United States and the world to address contemporary issues of housing and urban design," Saks said.

The 43 students who designed projects in this studio will be at the reception to discuss their work and community experiences resulting from their recent course. These discussions will reflect their growing understanding of the challenges and promises of urban housing.

The reception activities will include brief remarks from Mary Dempsey, commissioner, Chicago Public Library; Sylvia Manning, chancellor of UIC; Terry Peterson, CEO, Chicago Housing Authority; Mark Robbins, director of design, National Endowment for the Arts; Judith Russi Kirshner, dean of the UIC College of Architecture and the Arts; Katerina Ruedi, director of the School of Architecture; and Deverra Beverly, president, Local Area Council, ABLA Homes.

The exhibit, presented by UIC, the CHA and the Chicago Public Library, will be on view through April 29. Preview the students' work online.

More information is also available online for the UIC School of Architecture.

- UIC -