Lavezzorio Community Center

This award-winning building was constructed for SOS Children’s Village Chicago, an organization that serves foster care children and families. With a limited budget of $3.5 million, donations were vital for its completion. Carpet, wood flooring and ceiling panels were among the donated materials, along with concrete of various densities, poured in wavy layers atop each other to form the building’s distinctive gray exterior. Described as “open and light, yet also solid and protective” by Jaffer Kolb ofThe Architectural Review, the building is filled with large windows that brighten play areas, offices and an extra-wide staircase used as a gathering space for performances and classroom activities.

Studio Gang, 2008