Columbia College Chicago Granted Building Permit for Student Center

Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, IL, recently was granted a building permit, and announced it is preparing to begin work on a new student center in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. The 114,000-square-foot facility, designed by Gensler, will fill a vacant lot.

The design for the new student center is centered on flexibility, including maker spaces, lofts, labs, and a fitness center and dining commons. The facility will feature a glass façade that allows occupants to look out and interact with the community surrounding it.

Columbia College Chicago Granted Building Permit for Student Center

With a groundbreaking held this past November, the center is targeting a completion date of early 2019.

Featured

  • Abstract tech network data connections with orange, blue glowing dots, lines

    3 Trends for Higher Education to Stay Ahead of in 2026

    As universities enter the new year, the question is no longer whether digital transformation is necessary, but how quickly institutions can convert technological potential into strategic advantage.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • New City School

    Turning Crisis into Opportunity: Transforming New City School

    When New City School in St. Louis suffered catastrophic flood damage in July 2022, the event could have marked a serious setback for the 100-year-old institution. Instead, it became a forward-looking opportunity.

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.