ITAV LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - PHASE I

The Village Leadership Academy is the first phase of the It Takes a Village Bronzeville Campus Master Plan. Phase 1 serves the Kindergarten through 8th grade student body and consists of renovations to 3 of the 4 floors in the 80,000 sqft historic Hales Franciscan High School. The fast-paced summer renovation refreshed the building for VLA; providing accessible and gender balance at the restrooms; kitchen and cafeteria upgrades; classroom and administration finishes and millwork; rebranding of the gymnasium and abatement work in preparation for the 2023-2024 school year. The project serves as the first big step in the overall development of the Bronzeville It Takes a Village Campus.  

Converge Architecture helped the owner navigate challenges around aligning desired scope to available budget and the compressed construction timeline.  Working from the goals, values and vision established in the Master Plan made the process of designing strategic and targeted interventions smoother.  A goal for Phase 1 was for scope accomplished to not have to be revisited in subsequent phases.   Creating workstreams and clear communication with ITAV’s leadership, the owner’s rep team at IFF, environmental engineer True North and our general contractor partner Ujamaa Construction was essential and rewarding.