“Positioning Pullman” Receives 2 Awards
Bauer Latoza Studio has been recognized with two awards – the AIA IL 2016 Daniel Burnham Award for Master Planning and the APA IL 2016 Chapter Award for Strategic Planning – for their role as Historic Preservation Team Leader for “Positioning Pullman,” a master plan for the historic Pullman District in Chicago. Edward Torrez and Jill DeCoursey (pictured below with “Positioning Pullman” team members) attended the recent AIA awards ceremony held at the Pullman National Monument.
More information on “Positioning Pullman” and the Pullman National Monument for National Parks Service.
New Tech Center Opens at HRC
Bauer Latoza Studio, Architect-of-Record, is leading the multi-phased restoration of Hyatt Corporation’s largest hotel – The Hyatt Regency Chicago. The most recently completed aspect of this project – a 7,800-square foot Tech Center — provides 3 levels of services designed as Living Room, Café, and open Tech Lounge.
More information on the other phases of the renovation.
Yates School Restoration Featured on PBS
Richard Yates Elementary School, designed by the Chicago Board of Education’s head architect, William August Fiedler, opened in 1896. The story of Bauer Latoza Studio’s 2000 exterior restoration was featured in the January 27, 2016 segment of WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight.”
Friends of the Parks (FOTP)
Edward Torrez attended the FOTP Annual Meeting and Lakefront Legacy Luncheon held February 4, 2016 at the Chicago Cultural Center. At this event Alderman John Arena (pictured below with Torrez) was one of eleven recipients of a Lakefront Legacy Award. FOTP is a non-profit organization founded in 1975 with the mission to protect and preserve Chicago’s parks and open spaces. Bauer Latoza Studio had the honor of working with FOTP on the award-winning project, “The Last Four Miles.”
Bauer Latoza Studio has managed and designed for the renovation, restoration, and new additions of more than 250 buildings in the Chicago Public School system. Our current CPS project is the renovation of their largest school (600,000 square feet) — Lane Tech High School. Construction of the Tudor Gothic-Styled structure began in 1930, but was stalled by the Great Depression. The school opened in 1934 after the WPA provided funding that included a provision for commissioned artwork for the building.
Restoring Chicago’s Oldest Wood Frame Church
Bauer Latoza Studio’s restoration work at All Saints’ Episcopal Church is featured in the May // June // 2015 issue of “Chicago Architect” (People+Places.)
For over two decades Edward Torrez, Principal and President at Bauer Latoza Studio, has been associated with the comprehensive restoration of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, a designated Chicago Landmark. Built in 1883, the church is a rare example of Stick-style architecture in Chicago. The restoration on the north facade and art glass windows was completed in late 2014. Work on the bell tower, main entrance, and east elevation is scheduled to begin this year.
The Hideout, a well-known North Side music club, opened a Chicago Riverwalk Pop-Up this summer. Bauer Latoza Studio provided design services and space planning for this temporary venue which will be open through November 1.
BLS Begins Work on Historic Lighthouse
Bauer Latoza Studio is working with the City of Chicago to develop a detailed condition assessment for the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse. The Lighthouse was originally constructed in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exposition. It was moved to its current location, 0.4 miles offshore from Navy Pier, in 1917. The structure is a Chicago Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hyatt Regency Opens in Ahmedabad, India
Designed by Bauer Latoza Studio Principals John Arzarian and Tim Vacha, this hotel recently opened in Gujarat, one of India’s fastest growing regions. The design blends western contemporary aesthetics with local cultural customs — 6,500 square feet of ballroom space in a garden setting provides the perfect venue for Indian wedding celebrations while 10,200 square feet of meeting space serves the vibrant business community.
Chicago Architecture Biennial and Chicago Artists Month 2015
In celebration of our 25th anniversary, the Chicago Architecture Biennial, and Chicago Artists Month, Bauer Latoza Studio presented an Open Studio Event entitled “Architecture, Art, & Accordions” in October 2015. More than 200 guests came to tour our 7,800-sf loft in the Historic Motor Row District of Chicago’s South Loop and enjoy an afternoon of events:
“25 | 25” book launch and multi-media presentation of some of our favorite projects over the past 25 years – hosted by Tim Vacha, Principal, and Jill DeCoursey, Architectural Designer.
The Squeezebox Collective – Edward Torrez, Principal exhibited his accordion collection and discussed the instrument’s multi-cultural evolution.
Historic Artifacts Hunt – Andrea Terry, Principal, gathered architectural artifacts from some our most historically and culturally significant projects and invited guests to participate in a hunt for these relics (such as tile from Al Capone’s bathroom and a Louis Sullivan-designed balustrade) placed throughout the loft.
Extreme Puzzling – Kirk Sippel, Associate and 4th generation “Puzzle Purist,” entertained us with his stories and strategies of Big Puzzles.
Annex {AIR} – Barbara Hashimoto, Principal and original artist-in-residence at BLS opened her art studio at the loft.
Architecture, Art, Accordions” was a program for Chicago Artists Month, an initiative of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) an Affiliate Program Partner of Chicago Architecture Biennial.
