According to former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, “What we’ve done for our students and the adults many who are both working and studying … is make their education more relevant to their future success and careers. We’ve transformed education to open doors rather than shut them.” Spanning the main thoroughfare of 76th Street, the MTEC serves as a focal point and connector of the Richard J. Daley campus. The 63,200-square-foot building links the legacy college facility via a pedestrian bridge. Its interior includes an expansive high-bay manufacturing space, six labs, four classrooms, administrative offices and communal areas for students that provide the skills and training needed for highly specialized, technology-oriented careers.

Circulation spaces inside the building intentionally collide with seating areas, platforms, and alcoves to encourage students to congregate and participate in incidental learning between peers. Through the glass curtain wall, the interior’s exposed steel and poured concrete are visible as are the labs, where students learn CNC machining and welding. Elsewhere are bright pops of colors scarlet, orange and yellow. The latter color also coats the underside of the pedestrian bridge linking the college’s north and south campus.

JGMA served as the design architect. CannonDesign served as Education Planner and Architect, Architect of Record, Structural Engineer and MEP/FP Engineer on the project.