During the 20+ year relationship with Loyola, we have completed six student housing facilities on the Lakefront campus. One of the more remarkable combines San Francisco and Wright Hall with the Institute of Environmental Sustainability, an academic facility dedicated to teaching students how to live sustainably. The Institute of Environmental Sustainability (IES) is designed to integrate student housing with sustainability‑focused, research‑driven academic programs. The 215,000 sf complex combines residential life with hands‑on education in environmental science, clean energy, and urban agriculture. Its facilities include classrooms, teaching and research labs, a clean energy lab, an aquaponics display, and a greenhouse.
Wright Hall anchors the academic component, providing faculty and graduate assistant residences along with offices for ecology, chemistry, biology, and sociology. The academic wing connects to San Francisco Hall, a six‑story, 357‑bed residence hall for first‑ and second‑year students. A 13,500 sf winter garden links the two buildings, serving as the central community space with dining areas, a café, recreation spaces, and a passive greenhouse used for instruction.
Sustainability
The complex incorporates numerous sustainable building systems, including a 91‑well geothermal field, the largest in Chicago, along with natural ventilation, green roofs, living walls, rainwater harvesting, and greywater systems. Certified LEED Gold and Net Zero Ready, the IES Complex demonstrates a comprehensive approach to sustainable campus design, interdisciplinary research, and environmentally focused student housing.
