Henry Bros Completes New Marist STEM Learning Center

Monastery Makeover Elevates Educational Experience

Henry Bros. Co. (HBCo) recently completed a remarkable transformation of a former monastery into a state-of-the-art science center at Marist High School in Chicago. The 28,000 square foot building, originally built in 1963 as home to 35 Marist Brothers, is now a high-tech, 21st century STEM learning center.

Enter the building today and you’ll find ten cutting-edge science labs including an AP lab, two biology labs, two chemistry labs, two physics labs, an anatomy and physiology lab, a forensics crime lab, and an environmental lab.

Because the original monastery was a stand-alone structure, HBCo built a two-story corridor to seamlessly connect the monastery to the high school allowing for easy access to the new science wing. The monastery also had an enclosed courtyard which was filled in to add more space to the first and second floors. 

A centerpiece of the project is an observatory dome for astronomy studies housed in a new addition. A new substructure foundation with a canopy was built to support the dome and provide access to an outdoor deck with a green roof. The dome features state-of-the-art, three-dimensional projections of night skies to show planets, galaxies, constellations and other interplanetary features. These dynamic visuals are accompanied by music for a full-immersion effect. The lower level of the dome support structure houses a Tribute Room dedicated to the founding Marist Brothers.

Blending the existing monastery and new construction features required complex structural modifications to accommodate new MEP and other systems. Henry Bros. Co. worked closely with the owner and Fox & Fox Architects to complete construction on this sophisticated project, one that demonstrates an effective adaptation of existing and new space into a unique hands-on learning experience. Last month, Marist High School honored Henry Bros. Superintendent Jim Brengman and his construction team for their superior work on the project.

Marist High School students toured the new space on Thursday, August 22, the first day of the academic year, and were clearly enthused with the high-end facility. Chicago area news coverage captured the moments as students explored the brand new science wing. (See the links below.)

Special thanks to my colleague Jeannette Boudos for her hard work and efforts in researching and writing the article for me to publish.

https://abc7chicago.com/education/science-takes-center-stage-in-brand-new-marist-high-school-stem-wing/5486302/

https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/08/22/chicagos-marist-high-school-debuts-new-state-of-the-art-science-wing/

https://wbbm780.radio.com/marist-high-school-science-wing

This link shows the project underway and gives a sense of its magnitude.

https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BFF_uPCa8WA&feature=youtu.be