Finished project closeup

Architecture 114 students

Jessica Lau closeup

IIT College of Architecture student work is currently on display through October 18, 2014 at the West Chicago City Museum, located at 132 Main Street in West Chicago.

The City of West Chicago donated to IIT Architecture, wood from the more than 200 trees toppled and/or damaged during a storm on July 1, 2012. West Chicago’s Reed-Kepler Park lost nearly 80% of its tree population, many of which were more than 100 years old.

Arch 114 Design Studio 2 faculty and students worked with the idea of “Reduce, Reuse & Recycle” as a material, combining the storm damaged tree wood with dismantled thrift store and salvaged objects to create unique compositions that celebrated the strength and beauty of both storm damaged trees and the formerly functional objects salvaged from thrift store shelves, recycling bins, and dumpsters.

Arch 447 Architecture & Furniture faculty and students from spring and summer 2013, and spring 2014 teamed up with the City of West Chicago to design and fabricate locally inspired furniture and functional objects utilizing donated wood from the storm damaged trees.

Museum hours are Wednesday-Saturday noon-4 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.