WJW Architects

We are excited to announce that we will be hosting another Intro to Architecture workshop for teens this summer! This is a free outreach program for students 14-17 who are interested in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics), Architecture, or Construction careers. This is an amazing opportunity to learn about the field of architecture and flex your creative skills! The program will be once a week for 5 weeks between July 9 and August 6. Each session will be 2.5 hrs, from 11:00am to 1:30pm. There is no fee and lunch and supplies will be provided. Participants will need to make their own transportation arrangements to WJW's office in River North. If you would like to apply or you are an adult who would like to nominate a student, please fill out this form: https://lnkd.in/gNNj5G5t. Applications are due April 11. Selected participants will be notified the week of April 21st.?If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out at [email protected], with subject line "Architecture Outreach Workshop Inquiry." We are looking forward to this summer! #WJW #WJWArchitects #summeropportunities #architectureforteens

WJW was at Navy Pier this week for the Illinois Housing Council's annual Affordable Housing Forum. Always an informative and engaging time, it was great to see familiar faces and meet new folks too! We enjoyed connecting with many of our colleagues who do work to contribute to affordable housing in Illinois. This year, Jane Sloss, AIA, WELL AP, LEED AP moderated a panel about "Opportunities and Success in Permanent Supportive Housing: Post Occupancy Evaluation Takeaways & Owner Perspectives." She was joined by Vince Heneghan LPC of Impact Behavioral Health, Leticia Valencia of IFF, and Ray Benaitis of Sertoma Star Services. The four discussed post occupancy evaluations, which are a reflective part of the design process after construction is complete and residents move in to their new homes. Feedback from residents about how the building functions gives us valuable considerations for future designs. Thank you to Vince, Letty, and Ray for a productive and thoughtful conversation! And thank you to the Illinois Housing Council for another successful Forum! #WJW #WJWArchitects #affordablehousing

Architecture is a field that is constantly evolving, and WJW's Education Committee ensures that staff have a robust program for professional development. This winter, Heidi Wang has been leading a multi-part staff seminar series on design for seniors. Seniors have unique needs and a well-designed space can have an immense impact on their quality of life. Yes, stair railings and level walking surfaces are a must; but so is natural light and access to a welcoming outdoor space. We are excited to share that Heidi will also be presenting at the Environments for Aging Conference in April! Conferences like these are a great way to learn about current best practices and design trends for senior living. Photo: Sun room of Travanse Senior Living at Grayslake. #WJW #WJWArchitects #seniorliving #seniorlivingdesign

Construction has been humming along in Elgin for the renovation of Buena Vista family housing! Buena Vista consists of 231 apartments and 121 townhomes. We are happy to share that renovations are complete on the townhome portion! This mod rehab project has updated and modernized the twelve two-story towhome buildings and common areas, which were originally built in the 1970s. The amenities include a clubhouse building, pool building, and shared buildings that include an office, laundry facilities, community room, community kitchen, and restrooms. Stay tuned for more photos and updates! #WJW #WJWArchitects #affordablehousing #modrehab

We're pleased to share the renovation of Churchview Supportive Living Facility is now complete! Located on Chicago’s southwest side, Churchview SLF serves seniors with the assistance of a City of Chicago LIHTC initiative. WJW designed the original building that was completed in 2004. Given that was twenty years ago, it was time for a refresh! The upgrades include replacing mechanical systems with new, higher efficiency units, installing new lower flow plumbing fixtures, replacing all lighting with high efficiency LED lighting, plus new windows throughout and a new roof. All of the common areas and resident units feature new finishes and cabinetry, pairing beautiful ocean blue accent walls with dynamic new flooring. The outdoor areas of the site also got a makeover with new planter boxes, repaved parking areas, and a brand-new generator. Plus, there is now an EV charging station to support lowering vehicle emissions! Special thanks to two of our longstanding partners on this and other projects, the Greater Southwest Development Corporation and Gardant Management Solutions! WJW is proud to contribute to a needed update for this important community center. #WJW #WJWArchitects #seniordesign #affordablehousing #sustainability

Jane Sloss, AIA, WELL AP, LEED AP and Michelle Sablack recently attended the Women Build 2024 Appreciation Party and to their great surprise, won a Hammy Award! The WJW team won Rookie Team of the Year for exceeding the fundraising goal as a first time team, getting a lot of work done, and 'bringing great energy to the build site.' Jane and Michelle accepted the award on behalf of the whole team. Our Women Build Team consisted of nine WJW staff members and Megan Wade of Fieldwork Design Group. They participated in a build day in Chicago's Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood back in October. We are very proud of our Women Build team! They had a very rewarding experience participating in this program last year and are honored to be name Rookie Team of the Year! #WJW #WJWArchitects #womenbuild #habitatforhumanity

Join WJW at the Illinois Affordable Housing Forum February 26 and 27! This year, Jane will be moderating a panel - "Opportunities and Success in Permanent Supportive Housing: Post Occupancy Evaluation Takeaways & Owner Perspectives." Jane will be joined by Vince Heneghan LPC of Impact Behavioral Health, Leticia Valencia of IFF, and Ray Benaitis of Sertoma Star Services.?The conference will be at Navy Pier and online registration is available through February 12. https://lnkd.in/esSnDH3q WJW is a Silver Sponsor for this year's Forum. We hope to see you there! #WJW #WJWArchitects #affordablehousing #illinoishousingcouncil

WJW is pleased to share that Clayton Artz has joined the Auxiliary Board of the Illinois Green Alliance! Clayton is already a member of WJW's Sustainability Committee, and he attended the Illinois Green Alliance's Net Zero Summit last fall. He is joining a diverse group of professionals on the IGA Auxiliary Board who are all committed to IGA's mission of making net-zero buildings accessible to all. Congratulations, Clayton! We know this will be a very productive partnership between WJW and IGA! #WJW #WJWArchitects #sustainability #sustainablearchitecture #illinoisgreenalliance #netzerohome

A BIG thank you to everyone who participated in our first ever panel discussion last Thursday! WJW's Dialogue, Education, and Activism Committee organized the panel in conjunction with the Illinois Housing Council and AIA Chicago. Special thanks to our panelists Lore Baker of the Association for Individual Development, Michael Banghart of Renaissance Social Services, Inc., Tramaine Martin of Marillac St. Vincent Family Services, and Tina Rounds of BEDS Plus Care. A recording of the discussion is available here: https://lnkd.in/gG4NnZ9Z In the live chat, participants asked for information about how to support the panelists' and sponsor organizations. See our blog for more info: https://lnkd.in/gscBxGDc #WJW #WJWArchitects #illinoishousingcouncil #aiachicago #affordablehousing #communitydevelopment #housingadvocacy

Just one day to go until our panel discussion! It's not too late to register - register for free here: https://bit.ly/3BMTvN7. New Arrivals to Chicago: Social Services in Context is a virtual presentation with AIA Chicago and the Illinois Housing Council, featuring panelists from four Chicagoland social service organizations. See you tomorrow! #WJW #WJWArchitects #illinoishousingcouncil #aiachicago #affordablehousing #communitydevelopment #housingadvocacy