ECC building earns design award

The Itasca architecture firm that transformed two light industrial buildings on Elgin Community College’s campus into one high-tech space earned high marks from the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

DLA Architects was awarded a Merit in Architecture for preservation and adaptive reuse during the Northeast Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects’ biennial Design Awards on Oct. 6.

“We took something that was basically a couple of rectangular buildings and transformed them into a facility that meets the needs of today’s students,” said Paul Dawson, the college’s managing director of construction projects, in a news release. “This was a great accomplishment for our college.”

The 71,000-square-foot building, which opened in January, houses programs formerly held at the downtown Elgin Fountain Square Campus, ECC spokesman Kris Owens said.

Owens added that the new building provides a seamless transition from adult education to college-level credit courses. Students, instructors and staff also have the latest in technology, such as Internet-connected smart classrooms and computer labs.