We are thrilled to highlight this beautiful labor of love — Taft Freshman Academy! Designed by STL Architects, the custom-built school was thoughtfully tailored to its high achieving 9th-grade student body. Each wing of the school is clad in distinctive brickwork, including two alternating, softly iridescent colors of long-format Interstate Brick (“Canyonstone” and “Ironstone”) .
The architects’ choice of 2-1/4″ x 16″ Emperor size brick gives the building a sleek, linear horizontality, and despite the extended size, we were pleased to be able to offer a product with superior FBX tolerances. Interstate was also more than capable of providing the numerous custom shapes required for the intricate masonry design, including acute angle bricks, radius bricks for curved walls, and special pieces made to hide the steel lintels above each doorway.
The final product is a stunning example of contemporary, Prairie-inspired school design, built on a piece of Chicago’s institutional past. It was an honor to be part of redeveloping the Reed-Dunning site, giving these hallowed grounds a bright future (and a LEED Gold Certification)!
LOCATION: 4071 N Oak Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60634
See more photos on the architect’s website.
Read more about this project on PBC’s website.
ARCHITECT: STL Architects
GC: K.R. Miller Contractors, Inc.
MASON: All Masonry
PRODUCTS SUPPLIED: Interstate Brick
