The Keller Center

A Midcentury Masterpiece

Farr Associates renovated a 1960s Edward Durrell Stone historic limestone building into the Harris School’s new home: a state-of-the-art education and research building across from Hyde Park’s historic Midway Plaissance with striking views of the campus.

Inspired by the Harris School’s ethos of positive social change, the building design is filled with policy-inspired design firsts. The Keller Center is the most sustainable building on the University of Chicago Campus, the most sustainable Top-5 policy school, and one of the most sustainable buildings in all of higher education. 

In addition to LEED Platinum certification, the Keller Center achieved the International Living Future Institute’s rigorous Living Building Challenge (LBC) Materials, Beauty, and Equity Petal Certifications.

The LBC program encourages improved environmental and health performance, and supports the building of structures that are restorative, regenerative, and an integral component of the local ecology and culture.

Read the Case Study for Keller’s LBC Petal Certification.

Client: University of Chicago

Location: Chicago, IL

Role: Architect of Record

Size: 125,000 GSF

PEUI: 48 kBTU/SF

Completion: 2019

Construction Cost: $59,700,000

  • LEED-BD+C Platinum

    Living Building Challenge: Materials, Beauty, and Equity Petals

  • AIA Chicago Decarbonization Award, 2022

    AIA COTE® Top Ten Award Winner, 2020

    Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Adaptive Use, 2020

    AIA Chicago Distinguished Building Award, 2019

    AIA Chicago Interior Architecture Award, 2019

    AIA Chicago Small Projects Award (Keller Stair), 2019

    ULI Chicago Vision Award FOR Excellence in Environmentally Sensitive Design & Community Engagement, 2019

    Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design, Building Renovation Civic Winner, 2019

    Building Design+Construction Magazine, Reconstruction Silver Award, 2019

  • Collaborating Architect / Interior Designer: Woodhouse Tinucci Architects

    Daylighting: Seventhwave

    Engineer - Civil: Terra Engineering, Ltd.

    Engineer - MEP: dbHMS: MEP Engineering

    Engineer - Structural: Stearn Joglekar Ltd.

    General Contractor: Mortenson Construction

    Landscape Architect: Site Design Group, Ltd.

    LBC Consultant: AP Monarch, LLC.

    LBC Red List Consultant: WSP

    Lighting Designer: Anne Kustner Lighting Design, Ltd

  • Heart of Harris

    The Forum, Keller’s signature space, is a sun-streaked, four-level atrium carved out of the existing building structure wrapped by glass-walled classrooms and team rooms. The Forum is home to daily collaborative problem-solving and dialogue as well as world-class speakers and events.

  • Greenroof & Rainwater Reuse

    The green roof, paired with a 15,000 gallon rainwater cistern, mitigates stormwater. Rainwater captured is stored in the cistern for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation. This has the dual benefit of reducing burdens on the sewer system, while saving 525,208 gallons of fresh water per year.

  • Photovoltaic Panels

    The solar energy system produces up to 152,055 kWh of carbon-free electricity each year. This is enough energy to power 11% of the building’s annual energy use, or about 15 average homes annually.

    To use 46% less energy than permitted by code, the project employs a full menu of energy efficiency strategies including daylighting and skylights with integrated shading systems, LED lights, and radiant heating and cooling.

  • Preserving the Legacy of Edward Durrell Stone

    The story of the Keller Center begins with a 55-year-old enduring piece of architecture. Its façade was weathered and the infrastructure was at the end of useful life, but it had sturdy foundations with good structural bones.

    A thoughtful transformation celebrated Stone’s signature design: decorative engravings wrapping the slender encircling columns, white concrete perforated canopy, and the limestone façade creates an encompassing experience.