University of Illinois Discovery Partners Institute for Education and Research (DPI)

Chicago, IL

(Currently in design)

The Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) is a partnership led by the University of Illinois System and the University of Illinois Chicago, along with the Chicago’s 78 neighborhood, the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and local, global academic and business entities. DPI will become a catalyst for advancing human and environment welfare and addressing society’s most pressing current and future challenges.

AKLD is working in collaboration with the Netherlands-based architectural firm OMA*AMO Architecture, Jacobs Architecture, and IDEO. The multi-story, all glass, semi-dome ‘VEIL’ will encapsulate classrooms, open air meeting spaces, laboratories, and student and community services such as community facing events like job fairs, and farmers’ markets. The development will become a Tech and R&D Hub to both jumpstart careers and gain global recognition for local students and companies. Sustainability will be incorporated into all design aspects. This will include the use of creative solutions, with social and economic considerations of each element.