KAM Isaiah Israel + Byrd Academy in Chicago ... Exotic Enchanting Environments

Exotic Enchanting Environments ... Living in harmony with nature.

About Our Precious Children ...

Our goal for every project is an architectural and environmental design solution that reflects a deep reverence for nature that nourishes and supports the human spirit ultimately enriching peoples lives.

CONGREGATION 
KAM / ISAIAH ISRAEL 

is a City of Chicago and State
of Illinois Historic Landmark.

Two of the oldest congregations in the State of Illinois, located in the inner city, near the University of Chicago, decided to merge and build a Sanctuary ... a Chapel / Garden / Temple environment for their families who had chosen to stay and invest themselves in an integrated community.

The peace and gentleness of the environments created for them might best be described by a poem written by one of their 5th grade students upon first viewing and experiencing the garden and building complex:

The new garden came to me,

Just like going back home.

The whole feeling it gives you,

Makes your mind just want to roam.



When I saw the trees

And felt the cool breeze,


It seemed a hand

came to the land.



It sheltered all the garden

And all the people too.

It seemed that it had something

That protected me and you

...

JON MILLER



The RI CHARD E. BYRD ACADEMY

Mayor Richard J. Daley (the father) convinced the Federal Government to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to the city of Chicago. He wanted to build one of the nation's largest urban renewal and public housing projects ever undertaken in the country at that time. It was to be called Cabrini-Green, slightly northwest of the loop and downtown. His dream was to create an integrated inner city public housing complex complete with its own school and shopping areas.

The area bounded by Division Street on the North, Halsted Street on the West, Oak Street on the South and Franklin Street on the East had hundreds of low rise 2, 3 and 4 storey walk-ups, densely packed together. Many of the buildings were abandoned and most were in a terrible state of disrepair. It was considered the city's worst so-called slum area at the time, with some 20,000 people living in truly squalid conditions. The Chicago Housing Authority had acquired the property and tore down all of the buildings. They had designed and were building a series of hi-rise structures in a new urban renewal and public housing development to replace everything that was there.

Cabrini-Green was a bold experiment. Mayor Daley tapped Dr. Benjamin Wills to be his Superintendent of Schools to create a school that could house the probable 1,200 children that would live in the complex. Only 3/4 of an acre had been allocated as the site for the school, but it faced out onto a 5 acre park that was being built.

In the very first programming meeting with Ben Willis, then Superintendent of Schools, the Mayor of Chicago uttered these profound, provocative words to the team relative to the children ...

Give them windows to the world.
Richard J. Daley, Mayor

These stirring words spurred and inspired Ron, a young enthusiastic architect employed by Perkins and Will, the chosen Architects of Record for the project, to create and conceive of a concept. What emerged was a unique idea ... 3 schools within a school.

3 towers were created ... Red, Yellow, and Blue. Each would rise out of the ground and become a more intimate self contained school within itself, yet be a part of the whole to provide a more nurturing human scale environment for all, teachers and children. Classrooms were designed for 28 students !

Mayor Daley directed Willis to find, select and hire the brightest and most creative teachers within the Board of Education ranks and beyond, which he did. A renowned educator, dynamic and inventive Shirley Stack was chosen as principal to head up and direct the educational program. Byrd School as it was lovingly called, became an outstanding model of educational excellence. Many young inspired students poured forth over the years to become successful, achieving their own potential in their lives.

The first few years of operation were remarkable. Educators from around the country came to witness the phenomenal success of this extraordinary, experimental, Landmark School. Witnessing the children and their enthusiasm for learning was delightful and precious.

Byrd School as a concept was eventually replicated by the Board on other sites in Chicago, Ludwig Von Beethoven School, 48th and State, and many other cities across the nation.

Byrd School achieved well beyond the dreams and goals of everyone involved ... and still stands as a beacon of light and hope in the community.

To learn more about these concepts ....See:

NATURE PRESERVE AND SCULPTURE GARDEN
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=I_0bnWxMdrY

VITRUVIO
http://www.vitruvio.ch/arc/contemporary/1946-2001_02/dirsmithgroup.php

Category:

Education

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• KAM
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• Academy
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• living
• in
• harmony
• with
• nature
• exotic
• enchanting
• environments

[Dirsmith2]

Extraordinary experience ... Thank you KAM Isaiah Israel.