Cohesion Through Contrast
A 13-story advanced sciences building for the University of Chicago — a hub for research in science, engineering, and quantum technology. Architecture by Elkus Manfredi Architects. The interior scope, led by Interactive Design Architects in Chicago, encompassed 40,000 SF of community and amenity spaces: a publicly accessible ground-floor lobby, fitness areas, hospitality bar, lounge and privacy zones, a flexible assembly room, and a podcast studio. My role at IDA began at project initiation — client briefings, stakeholder coordination, site visits, spatial analysis, design development, material and fixture selection, through to full documentation. Completed 2025.
Amenity Space
The reception lobby sets the tone for the entire building: material confidence without pretension. A wood-slatted wall, bespoke marble desk, and custom pendant lighting create an arrival sequence that signals community and purpose before a word is exchanged. Every surface was chosen to ground the space — warm timber, natural stone — while the lighting expands it.
Hospitality Bar
Navy elongated tile, a quartzite counter, and globe pendants in iridescent glass — one of 40,000 SF of amenity spaces delivered through Interactive Design Architects. Natural and reflective materials in the same conversation that runs throughout the building.
Lobby — Collaborative Dining
The communal dining table is not a feature — it is a civic gesture. Placed and scaled for genuine gathering, emphasizing the building's role as an interactive social catalyst. Dome pendants in blackened steel bring warmth; the terrazzo floor beneath for durability.
Biophilic Zone
The living wall anchors the open plan's western edge — a soft green datum that orients every desk, lounge, and table toward nature. An ecological commitment as much as a design one, calibrated to improve air quality, reduce reverberation, and give the open floor a sense of place.
Boardroom
Navy as authority. The boardroom's lacquered deep-navy walls anchor a room designed for consequential decisions. A custom art commission, cognac leather chairs, and a dark walnut table — a palette derived from the original one with warmth as the main driver.