Monday / May 09, 2016 / 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Crow Island School: 75 Years of Influence
AIA Chicago, 35 East Wacker Drive, #250
75 years after opening its doors, Crow Island School in Winnetka is still a relevant and provocative model for elementary school design. This National Historic Landmark offers a prime example of the warm modernism of Eliel Saarinen, FAIA (1873-1950) and his son Eero, FAIA (1910-61), who designed innovative molded-plywood furniture for the school. The child-centric layout and scale of the building were the work of the young firm of Perkins, Wheeler & Will, led by Lawrence B. Perkins, FAIA (1907-1997), Philip Will, Jr., FAIA (1906-1985), and E. Todd Wheeler, FAIA (1906-1987). The success of Crow Island inaugurated the new firm's practice of education architecture for which Perkins+Will continues to be renowned.
Laurie Petersen, editor of the third edition of the AIA Guide to Chicago and a longtime docent at Crow Island, will explore the history and enduring reputation of the school. Her presentation was the keynote address at the American Architectural Foundation’s fourth National Summit on School Design, held at Crow Island last November.
Refreshments at 5:30 pm and presentation at 6:00 pm. $5 at the door.
Crow Island School, completed 1939. Photo by Wayne Cable, Cable Studios; courtesy of Perkins+Will
“Why Don't All Schools Look Like This One?”
When it opened 75 years ago, Crow Island School revolutionized school design. It’s had many imitators since, but few can match its vision for experiential, child-centered learning. [MORE]
By Zach Mortice, Oct 9, 2015, Citylab (The Atlantic)
