[photo 2014 team]
ACE CHICAGO helps students explore careers in Architecture, Construction & Engineering. Matthew is a long-time volunteer for ACE and is co-founder & instructor of the community design-build summer program hosted at Illinois Tech.
[NATE THOMAS MEMORIAL MEADOW, 2022 & 2023. Client: IIT AFRICAN AMERICAN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. Location: E. 33rd + S. MICHIGAN, BRONZEVILLE, CHICAGO]
Project Summary: In 2023, seventeen inspired ACE Students continued work that was begun in 2022 with a new garden on the campus of Illinois Tech, facing the Bronzeville Community. The garden was planned by students & faculty in the Landscape Department and planted in coordination with the Chicago Botanical Gardens Budburst Program. ACE was approached by members of the campus alumni association and asked to design a memorial for Nate Thomas, an esteemed administrator and pioneer for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University.
ACE students designed and built many elements of the garden, including custom cedar signage, concrete planters & pavers, gabion benches and a 3-story plywood mural erected on an adjacent (vacant) building! ACE has many volunteers & supporters and the 2023 program would not have been possible without them. Thank you to IIT, Chicago Public Schools, Stanley Black + Decker, Turner, Lakeside Alliance, Walsh, Chicago Metal Rolled Products, Urban Innovations, R. Olson, Bowa, Power, Gilbane, Skender and to all of our supporters in the Chicago Design and Construction Industry!
88 WEST architecture 