CATHERINE COOK SCHOOL
(FORMERLY MELROSE SCHOOL)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 1990

An adaptive reuse project, this four story 44,000sf timber loft building was rehabilitated to accommodate a 2yr-8th grade nursery/elementary school. The school's program comprised the three bottom floors of the building, with the top floor being designed as office rental space. A very simple plan was developed to respond to the school's limited budget and ideas eminating from the concept of a school being the "city of a child".

First Level Plan

Classrooms are located on the lower half of the plan with a central multipurpose room located on the upper half. Administration is located alongside the entry to the right.

Second Level Plan

Classrooms are located on the lower half of the plan, with extracurricular rooms on the upper half.

Perspective

View inside the multipurpose room looing into the main hall.