Charles H. Shaw Technology & Learning Center; Henry Ford Academy: Power House High
The original Sears, Roebuck & Co. world headquarters was constructed in North Lawndale on the west side of Chicago at the beginning of the 20th century to serve its blossoming mail order business. The 55-acre site included a number of buildings at the time, among them a 55,000-sq-ft powerhouse that electrified, heated and cooled the entire complex. Rehabilitating this facility for use as the Charles H. Shaw Technology and Learning Center and Power House High necessitated balancing historic preservation requirements with the needs of a modern school facility. The design also included green building technology
Using federal tax credits, the rehabilitation includes the retention of the monumental north hall; repair and energy improvements to the original window frames and sashes; addition of two new floor levels within the south hall; and installation of a new elevator and connecting stairs. Exterior work provides new multilevel egress incorporated within the original railroad hopper structure attached to the building. The systems in the Power House were cutting edge for their time. Large pieces of heating, cooling and power generation equipment from throughout the building’s lifespan have been left in place, including sections of the original coal conveyor system, coal hoppers, a diesel generator and other pieces of the building’s industrial history. The project is seeking LEED Platinum certification.