Spotlight: The Keller Center

On January 7th, we officially opened our doors for the winter quarter in our new home, the Keller Center! Read on to learn more about the details behind the new building, and don't forget to register for a campus visit to see it in person yourself. 

From Mid-Century to Millennial 

Rather than start from scratch, leadership looked to renovate a 1963 building designed by Edward Durell Stone. With generous gifts from University Trustee King Harris and Trustee and Booth alumnus Dennis Keller, plans began to create a space for a new generation of policy leaders. Mid-century furniture in an open, modern space brings together the building's past and future. 

Sustainability 

One of the highlights of Keller is its commitment to reducing its environmental footprint. Rainwater capture systems divert hundreds of thousands of gallons of water, and 11% of the building's power is derived from solar panels. The University is pursuing LEED Platinum certification for the Keller Center, and it is one of the first higher education facilities to seek the rigorous Living Building Challenge Petal certification.

Community

While the Keller Center now houses a global student body, efforts were made to preserve the roots the original building had in the Hyde Park community. Social practice installation artist and Harris senior advisor Theaster Gates brought his artistic eye to the renovations; the wood of the Forum (a building focal point) was made from fallen ash trees by local residents hired by Gates. Chalkboards in the café area were recovered from closed Chicago Public Schools. 

We look forward to hosting you at the Keller Center and seeing the next generation of policy leaders make their home here at Harris. 

Read more about the Keller Center here.