Patricia Saldaña Natke was honored to serve as a juror for AIA Detroit’s Architectural Honor Awards in Building, Interiors, Urban Design, Unbuilt and Small Projects. Attended by Patricia and Robert Natke, the 11 winning projects were honored September 24th at the AIA awards ceremony at Detroit’s Eastern Market. Photo by James Wallace
Hosting America’s first Architecture Biennial is a great honor for all of us practicing architecture in this global city. At the same time, it implies an enormous responsibility. It comes with the pressure of living up to Chicago’s reputation of being the birthplace of the skyscraper and one of the cradles of modern architecture. In many ways, it is today’s version of the 1893 World’s Fair, which provided a platform for design dialogue, criticism, innovation and, most importantly, exposure. Exposing and engaging the public in the discourse surrounding architecture and the public realm, raising awareness – and expectations – of the built environment is a powerful proposition. Beyond that, empowering the public with the understanding that everyone is responsible and capable of shaping our world, has the potential for a limitless positive rippling effect. What is most immediately exciting about the Chicago Architecture Biennial is the potential for a democratic exposure of world class art and architecture to all of our city’s residents – the possibility of a diverse, multi-cultural, multi-generational melting pot of creativity, ideas and critical involvement. Our firm’s mission statement is rooted in the desire to bring good architecture to every neighborhood we serve, and we have experienced first-hand the powerful influence that uplifting spaces can have in a community’s self-perception. The educational component of the Biennial, via field trips, classes and instructive programs for teachers and students, is expected to expose thousands of Chicago-area youth to art, design and architecture – for many, this will be their first experience with the most fundamental character of our city. The repercussions of such exposure are unpredictable and immeasurable, but will absolutely influence the city’s next generation of creative thinkers and doers. What is most critically necessary and opportune is the exploration of solutions to the myriad environmental issues we face today and in our immediate future. It is our responsibility as space makers and problem solvers to find effective, inspiring and forward thinking solutions to the environmental crises we face. A comprehensive assessment of The State of the Art of Architecture cannot be complete if this challenge is not addressed for all Chicago residents and all citizens of the globe. Intelligent, outspoken, innovative, outlandish ideas need to be discussed during this forum, resulting in new inspired solutions that can be tailored and implemented the world over to repair our environmental infrastructure. A new manifesto combining social and environmental healing can be our legacy – a united, optimistic voice that embraces diversity, focuses on empowering the public, and proposes that a vibrant, healthy planet is not only possible, it is also our highest responsibility as shapers of the built environment. The world is watching – let’s respond to the call. -By Maria Pellot, Associate Principal at UrbanWorks
Patricia Saldaña Natke, Maria Pellot and Ameera Ashraf-O’Neil are being featured at the CWA a.DOT “Architects. Doing Our Thing” exhibit, as part of the 2015 Chicago Architectural Biennial. The a.DOT exhibit highlights the work of women in Chicago’s architecture, their personal inspirations, as well as their work’s influence on the future of architecture itself. The exhibit will be held October 1-4, 2015 at the SAIC Sullivan Galleries, 33 N State Street, Floor 12, Chicago IL. Read more
Galewood Elementary School received a 2015 Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Illumination Award of Merit. This award celebrates the innovative lighting design by UrbanWorks and Primera Engineers. The centerpiece is series of linear pendant lights in the “Skyspace” digital library meant to inspire students and visitors by resembling shooting stars. Read more
UrbanWorks Communications Associate and Business Manager, Maya Ruiz, led public tours of the exhibition “Making Place: The Architecture of David Adjaye” for the Art Institute of Chicago Family Festival. The tour engaged families with children under 12 with concepts of visual language, cultural context and socially-responsible design. The Family Festival served over 300 visitors with free arts programming in the museum’s Ryan Education Center. The “Making Place” exhibition is a Partner Program of the 2015 Chicago Architecture Biennial. Read More
UrbanWorks Designer, Tim Wang, will be featured with seven other artists and architects at Forming Functions, as part of this year’s Chicago Artists Month. The event, held at the Euro Furniture, will be a series of talks allowing the artists and architects to discuss “their work and the ability of the arts and architecture to shape the functions of community, culture and our everyday lives.” Tim will be speaking about “The Sustainable Future of Architecture.” The event will be held on October 24th, from noon until 4:30 pm, at 2145 W. Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL.
UrbanWorks Designer, Kate D. Lengacher, volunteered at El Valor Inclusion Center in the Pilsen community for the Green Apple Day of Service. El Valor is a non-profit community-based organization that provides educational, career and socio-economic support services to children, people with disabilities and their families. Kate joined other volunteers and community members to paint a mural in the El Valor’s garden that promotes sustainability and community support. The Green Apple Day of Service is organized by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Read More
Patricia Saldaña Natke AIA is a speaker presenting Vibrant Open Spaces in Chicago’s Cultural Neighborhoods Friday, November 6, 2015 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM at the ASLA ( American Society of Landscape Architects ) Annual Meeting at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Other session presenters include Jose Magan ASLA, Ernie C. Wong FASLA, Bridget Stalla CDOT, and Stephen Ostrander CMAP. Read more and Register
Team Urbanworks participated in A Safe Haven’s Run to End Homelessness on Sunday July 13, 2015 at the historic Douglas Park in Chicago. Congrats to John Green of Groundwork for placing 4th in his age category and Erick Roldan of Urbanworks for placing 25th in his age category! Urbanworks thanks team members from BASE Engineers and Groundwork. All proceeds go to A Safe Haven Foundation, a not for profit dedicated to providing shelter to help transform lives.
Park Boulevard Residential Development featured in Barra Funda em três tempos (Brazil) as an example of successful mixed income housing. Book Design by Marta and Marcelo Aflalo of Univers Design, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Aflalo, M. (2014). Barra Funda em três tempos (1st ed., pp. 114-115). Sao Paulo: Paralaxe Editora.
