Wheeler Kearns Architects

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Wheeler Kearns Architects

Our office is devoted to a critical pursuit and practice of architecture. We believe in the search for spaces which define a full, rich, and dignified life

08/26/2026

Upon entering Timber Lane Retreat, the connection to Lake Michigan’s ever-shifting beauty and the surrounding landscape is immediately felt. Moments of discovery unfold throughout, including a contemplative garden nestled between the two gabled volumes, protected from prevailing lake winds. Here, grass grows between loosely arranged limestone steppers that weave through the garden, encouraging a slower pace of movement.⁠
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See more project images here: https://wkarch.com/catalog/timber-lane-retreat/

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📸 William Jess Laird

08/24/2026

Wheeler Kearns Architects is proud to be named an Architecture S finalist for AIA Chicago's Design Excellence Awards! The Summit Community Center was a special one for us, and we’re honored to see it recognized.⁠
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After two decades operating a food pantry at St. Blase Church, Catholic Charities transformed an underperforming commercial building into a multi-generational hub for food access, social services, mentorship, job training, counseling, and community gathering. Guided by trauma-informed design, the renovation creates a calm, welcoming environment that supports dignity, choice, and belonging—all through thoughtful design and modest means.⁠

This award will be conferred at Designight 2026, taking place Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and the Harris Theater Rooftop Terrace in Millennium Park. The event is open to all — more information and tickets are available at AIAChicago.org/Designight2026.

08/21/2026

What if Chicago could grow more food, create more jobs, and strengthen communities—all in one place? 🌱⁠
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Join us next Friday, August 28th, from noon–1 p.m. for a presentation of AgriFlats by Wheeler Kearns Architects at the Chicago Cultural Center, part of World Business Chicago’s Conversations with Horizon Lines: Visions for Chicago 2050 Finalists series.⁠
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See all event details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-conversations-the-future-of-chicago-tickets-1992850590763⁠

08/19/2026

Designed for elegance, intimacy, and entertaining, the Chicago Residence seamlessly flows together, creatively linking and interconnecting spaces across five levels. Materials such as travertine, walnut, and bronze provide warmth and texture, as well as a neutral palette for art of all media to stand out. At the center, a sculptural staircase ascends upwards like a steel ribbon, softened by a warm wood railing.⁠
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⁠Check out more project images here: https://wkarch.com/catalog/chicago-residence/

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📸: Richard Powers

08/12/2026

At The Alice, Goodman Theatre’s new Center for Education and Engagement, warm materials transform 10,000 sq. ft. of office space into a welcoming, inspiring environment for all ages and backgrounds.⁠
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Visitors enter through a portal where red oak stair treads, blackened steel plates, and a millwork-clad wheelchair lift bridge the five-foot elevation between the theatre lobby and the new space—ensuring full accessibility for everyone.⁠
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Beyond this threshold, white oak end-grain flooring unfolds underfoot, while a two-sided acoustical wood feature wall meanders through the space, dissipating sound within STEM learning labs and reception areas. Vertical wood slats, varying in width and depth, evoke a Venetian contour curtain folding to reveal a performance stage.⁠
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Check out more project images here: https://wkarch.com/catalog/the-alice-at-goodman-theatre/

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📸 Steve Hall, Kendall McCaugherty

08/05/2026

At the Uruguayan American School, the reimagined upper level brings art, making, and technical exploration into one connected hub. A shared Tools Lab sits between the Art Classroom and Makers Lab—supporting both creative and technical activities.⁠
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The Art Classroom now opens to natural light and outdoor views, with a direct connection to the Tools Lab, enhancing cross-program synergy. Nearby, the relocated Makers Lab—once hidden above the gym—now sits at the heart of student life, linking 3D printing, laser cutting, and digital fabrication to daily learning.⁠
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⁠⁠Check out the full image gallery here: https://wkarch.com/catalog/uruguayan-american-school-master-plan/

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📸 Tara White

07/22/2026

Intrinsic School reimagines traditional classroom design to support a Blended Learning curriculum where teacher-led instruction is integrated with software-based study. ⁠
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Large, open "Pods" are organized around various modalities, allowing a single space to simultaneously offer direct instruction, peer-to-peer learning, and independent work.⁠ Each area within the Pods is subtly delineated in the flooring, serving a distinct purpose. Positioned beneath an oversized, custom-built shade—serving as both a wayfinding element and acoustic dampener—a large table facilitates group projects and student-led learning. Traditional instruction occurs at two locations in the pod, centered around a prominent board that doubles as a writeable projection surface. Along the edges, counter-style desks of varying heights form a 'coastline,' allowing students to focus on individual tasks.⁠
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This adaptive environment, combined with innovative software, empowers students to learn at their own pace, fostering a dynamic and personalized educational experience.⁠
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⁠Check out more project images here: https://wkarch.com/catalog/intrinsicschool/
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📸 Steve Hall

07/21/2026

We're grateful to have participated in Horizon Lines: Visions for Chicago in 2050, joining five other finalist teams in imagining bold futures for our city.

Our proposal, AgriFlats, asks a simple question: What if the way we grow food could also grow community?

AgriFlats envisions a new model for Chicago—one that combines housing, controlled environment agriculture, and shared community spaces to cultivate opportunity, strengthen local food systems, create lasting jobs, and build resilience in the face of climate change.

Thank you to the Executives' Club of Chicago, World Business Chicago, Gensler, our fellow finalists, and everyone who made this month's event such a meaningful exchange of ideas. It was an honor to contribute to the conversation shaping Chicago's next chapter.

🎥 Take a closer look at AgriFlats in the video linked below, and visit the Chicago Cultural Center to see the Horizon Lines finalists on exhibit through September 20th!⁠

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldrx9xO2Hds

07/15/2026

In the Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School Expansion, symbolic architectural details embed timeless Jewish values and meanings into the entire experience of the building. The Makom Rina—or 'Place of Joy'—is a brick and glass sacred space at the heart of the new school addition. Twelve curved brick walls, representing the twelve original tribes of Israel, pinwheel in plan to allow glimpses through glass into the musical and spiritual activities taking place inside. ⁠
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Check out more project images here: https://wkarch.com/catalog/bernard-zell-anshe-emet-day-school-expansion/

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📸 Steve Hall

07/08/2026

At Care for Real, the second-floor landing features large-scale graphics of the organization’s logo, creating a bold, uplifting backdrop that guides visitors toward the community room, offices, and an expanded clothing closet. Wider aisles and carefully arranged displays allow clients to browse with ease, comfort, and choice—supporting a dignified, welcoming experience.⁠
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See more photos here: https://wkarch.com/catalog/care-for-real-ii/

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📸:⁠ Tom Harris

Address

343 S Dearborn Street, Ste 200
Chicago, IL
60604

Website

http://wkarch.com/

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