Richard J. Daley College - Manufacturing, Technology & Engineering Center

The heart of Richard J. Daley College’s new Manufacturing, Technology & Engineering Center (MTEC) is a room filled with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing an array of state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment. Beneath its tall ceilings, machines whir; robotic arms swivel; sparks fly from welders. When Advanced Manufacturing students walk by, they can see how the skills they are learning have a life beyond the classroom.The new building, designed by JMGA, is seamlessly connected to the original Richard J. Daley College with a new bridge. The firm also added a stunning common exterior design that unites the two structures—creating the feeling of a unified campus and giving the college a visually striking presence in West Lawn. MTEC’s modern lab is one of many components of the new building that JMGA designed to be aspirational for students. The Advanced Manufacturing program previously took place in out-of-date satellite buildings hardly evocative of the modern skills students learned at the Center. Because seeing is believing, JMGA knew they needed to create a space that would make students excited about entering the trades. “Careers in manufacturing are well-paying and stable, yet our country currently has a lack of people qualified for such jobs,” said David Girzadas, Dean of Advanced Manufacturing. “With its contemporary design, the new MTEC structure shows our students that these careers are worth striving for.” The architecture team leaned on transparency as a design feature—exposing the high-tech features of the building as well as its mechanical aspects in order to continue education outside of the classroom. JMGA also used colors and graphics to bring personality to the Center. The 10 classrooms feature graphics on the outside walls reflecting the subject taught inside, as well as bright pops of yellow and red that bring warmth into the space.