Simple beauty - The Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy

One of the best things about clay brick is its design versatility. It can be used to make dramatic and subtle beauties alike, and delivers durability and a sense of permanence in either case. For the Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy in Chicago’s Belmont-Cragin neighborhood, designing architect SMNG-A Architects chose the latter, creating a simple structure with layers of subtle beauty that are revealed as one studies it.

The three-story building emphasizes a horizontal orientation, enhanced by the half-bond coursing of 2 1/4” high, 15 5/8” long brick that was chosen from Sioux City Brick’s offerings. The structure is perceived as a single mass of masonry, thanks to its simple geometry, only slight variation in brick color from unit to unit, and a mortar color that does not contrast strongly against the tan-red brick.

A closer look at the Academy building reveals thoughtful details that a more casual viewer might miss. For example, deeply inset window openings on the west elevation give depth to the otherwise straightforward facades and emphasize the mass of the building while casting prominent shadows. Special shapes from Sioux City Brick were called on to provide the angles there, where mitered corners would have otherwise been necessary and may have threatened the monolithic quality of the masonry wall. On the east side, the brick lattice wall at the cooling tower well screens mechanical equipment while avoiding the need for a 60' long expanse of louvers.

Hidden within the subtle beauty of the Dr. Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy is a final, pleasant surprise — the building achieved a LEED Silver Certification for satisfying the sustainable design criteria of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), thanks in part to a 25% green roof and the sustainability benefits of fired clay brick!