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Illinois School of Architecture Instagram
Abstract
It would be nice to make architecture like trees, in the broadest sense. So the trees are the architecture, and the forest is the city. So, let’s not forget to see the forest for the city. Just as the saying goes “You can’t see the forest for the trees”.
Bio
Javier Corvalán Espínola, born in Asunción, Paraguay, received his architectural degree from the Catholic University of Asunción and completed his postgraduate studies at the Sapienza University of Rome.
He is Professor at the Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Arte at the National University of Asunción, and Professor at the Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnologías at the Catholic University of Asunción. He also teaches at several universities in Latin America and holds a Visiting Professor title at the Istituto di Urbanistica e Architettura di Venezia (IUAV).
He gives conferences at universities around the world. His projects and works have been published in specialized architectural books, journals and magazines. He has won several public, national, and international competitions, and many of his designs have been built. In 2006, he received the Official Cross, awarded by Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, for his design and work at the Centro Cultural de España Juan de Salazar.
In 2018, he received the Medaglia d’Argento del Pontificato for the design and construction of one of the chapels representing the Vatican at the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy.
In 2020, he received his PhD in Architecture, City, and Design from the Istituto di Urbanistica e Architettura di Venezia (IUAV).
Location: Temple Buell Hall - Plym Auditorium
Lecture begins 5:30PM
Reception begins 5:00PM
When: 9/15/25
Abstract
It would be nice to make architecture like trees, in the broadest sense. So the trees are the architecture, and the forest is the city. So, let’s not forget to see the forest for the city. Just as the saying goes “You can’t see the forest for the trees”.
Bio
Javier Corvalán Espínola, born in Asunción, Paraguay, received his architectural degree from the Catholic University of Asunción and completed his postgraduate studies at the Sapienza University of Rome.
He is Professor at the Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Arte at the National University of Asunción, and Professor at the Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnologías at the Catholic University of Asunción. He also teaches at several universities in Latin America and holds a Visiting Professor title at the Istituto di Urbanistica e Architettura di Venezia (IUAV).
He gives conferences at universities around the world. His projects and works have been published in specialized architectural books, journals and magazines. He has won several public, national, and international competitions, and many of his designs have been built. In 2006, he received the Official Cross, awarded by Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, for his design and work at the Centro Cultural de España Juan de Salazar.
In 2018, he received the Medaglia d’Argento del Pontificato for the design and construction of one of the chapels representing the Vatican at the Venice Architecture Biennale in Italy.
In 2020, he received his PhD in Architecture, City, and Design from the Istituto di Urbanistica e Architettura di Venezia (IUAV).
Location: Temple Buell Hall - Plym Auditorium
Lecture begins 5:30PM
Reception begins 5:00PM
When: 9/15/25
The Illinois School of Architecture presents BEYOND CLOSURE, an exhibition that examines the lasting architectural and cultural reverberations of the 2013 closure of nearly 50 public schools in Chicago. Through oral histories, design research, and documentation of site activations, the exhibition investigates how school buildings and their grounds have functioned as vital civic spaces—and what is at stake when they disappear.
At the center of the exhibition is the work of Borderless Studio, a Chicago- and San Antonio-based architecture and urban design practice. Their initiative, Creative Grounds, reimagines former school sites as community assets, exploring how art, design, and architecture can open more inclusive pathways for their reuse. During the run of the exhibition, the floor in Temple Hoyne Buell Hall’s atrium is transformed into a map of Chicago that locates the sites of closed schools, creating an inhabitable platform to explore the opportunities for future reuse.
The exhibition also features Asif Wilson, Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education. His project, Closing Schools is a Hate Crime, gathers testimonies that lay bare the profound harm caused by the closure, consolidation, and privatization of CPS schools—particularly in Chicago’s most disinvested and disenfranchised neighborhoods. “Off the Hook” is a reenacted teacher’s desk, inviting exhibit-goers to dial-in and listen to oral histories from educators and activists.
Join us on Friday, September 19 at 1:00pm for a screening of Beyond Closure, a new documentary film by On The Reel Film and Borderless, followed by a discussion and workshop with creator and executive producer Paola Aguirre Serrano, who is also founding partner and urban designer at Borderless Studio.
Exhibit Location : Temple Buell Hall Atrium
Exhibit Dates: September 15–October 5, 2025
The Illinois School of Architecture presents BEYOND CLOSURE, an exhibition that examines the lasting architectural and cultural reverberations of the 2013 closure of nearly 50 public schools in Chicago. Through oral histories, design research, and documentation of site activations, the exhibition investigates how school buildings and their grounds have functioned as vital civic spaces—and what is at stake when they disappear.
At the center of the exhibition is the work of Borderless Studio, a Chicago- and San Antonio-based architecture and urban design practice. Their initiative, Creative Grounds, reimagines former school sites as community assets, exploring how art, design, and architecture can open more inclusive pathways for their reuse. During the run of the exhibition, the floor in Temple Hoyne Buell Hall’s atrium is transformed into a map of Chicago that locates the sites of closed schools, creating an inhabitable platform to explore the opportunities for future reuse.
The exhibition also features Asif Wilson, Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Instruction in the College of Education. His project, Closing Schools is a Hate Crime, gathers testimonies that lay bare the profound harm caused by the closure, consolidation, and privatization of CPS schools—particularly in Chicago’s most disinvested and disenfranchised neighborhoods. “Off the Hook” is a reenacted teacher’s desk, inviting exhibit-goers to dial-in and listen to oral histories from educators and activists.
Join us on Friday, September 19 at 1:00pm for a screening of Beyond Closure, a new documentary film by On The Reel Film and Borderless, followed by a discussion and workshop with creator and executive producer Paola Aguirre Serrano, who is also founding partner and urban designer at Borderless Studio.
Exhibit Location : Temple Buell Hall Atrium
Exhibit Dates: September 15–October 5, 2025
Annual Architecture Awards 2025
Join us for a memorable evening celebrating the remarkable achievements of our students at the Illinois School of Architecture.
A3 Logo Design 2025 - Riley Vernon
Closed Event
Doors open at 5:00 PM
Location: I Hotel & Conference Center, 1900 South First Street
#wedesign #archatillinois #ace
Annual Architecture Awards 2025
Join us for a memorable evening celebrating the remarkable achievements of our students at the Illinois School of Architecture.
A3 Logo Design 2025 - Riley Vernon
Closed Event
Doors open at 5:00 PM
Location: I Hotel & Conference Center, 1900 South First Street
#wedesign #archatillinois #ace
Friday onward: Graduate Final Reviews
Swipe to find all the information you need to know>>>
#wedesign
Friday onward: Graduate Final Reviews
Swipe to find all the information you need to know>>>
#wedesign
Undergraduate Final Reviews Spring 2025
Wednesday, 30th April
Swipe to find all the information you need to know>>>
#wedesign
Undergraduate Final Reviews Spring 2025
Wednesday, 30th April
Swipe to find all the information you need to know>>>
#wedesign
1st place RATIO Design Prize
Category 1: Craft & Detail
Congratulations to Omar Abunnaja (M.Arch ‘25) and Jasbir Bhamra (M.Arch ‘25) from Prof. Paul Armstrong’s Studio
The RIV is a mixed-use high-rise located in the Chicago Loop, fronting the iconic Riverwalk. Integrating a retail and commercial podium, a luxury hotel, high end condominiums, and housing units, the project creates a vibrant urban hub. Drawing inspiration from the geometry and vitality of the Chicago River and Riverwalk, The RIV serves as a natural extension of its surroundings. Its chamfered lines are inspired by the abstract patterns of the river and the bridges, echoing their dynamic forms. A spacious public atrium at the base seamlessly connects to the Riverwalk, fostering pedestrian flow and lively activity. The tower’s bold chamfered design enhances both its aesthetics and functionality, while a curved observatory at the top offers panoramic views of the river and skyline. Surrounding stepped landscape elements tie the design to its urban context, creating an accessible and
cohesive environment. The RIV redefines
its site as a harmonious convergence of river, city, and sky.
#archatillinois #wedesign
1st place RATIO Design Prize
Category 1: Craft & Detail
Congratulations to Omar Abunnaja (M.Arch ‘25) and Jasbir Bhamra (M.Arch ‘25) from Prof. Paul Armstrong’s Studio
The RIV is a mixed-use high-rise located in the Chicago Loop, fronting the iconic Riverwalk. Integrating a retail and commercial podium, a luxury hotel, high end condominiums, and housing units, the project creates a vibrant urban hub. Drawing inspiration from the geometry and vitality of the Chicago River and Riverwalk, The RIV serves as a natural extension of its surroundings. Its chamfered lines are inspired by the abstract patterns of the river and the bridges, echoing their dynamic forms. A spacious public atrium at the base seamlessly connects to the Riverwalk, fostering pedestrian flow and lively activity. The tower’s bold chamfered design enhances both its aesthetics and functionality, while a curved observatory at the top offers panoramic views of the river and skyline. Surrounding stepped landscape elements tie the design to its urban context, creating an accessible and
cohesive environment. The RIV redefines
its site as a harmonious convergence of river, city, and sky.
#archatillinois #wedesign
1st Place RATIO Design Prize
Category 2: Space & Wellness
Congratulations to Xingyu Liu (M.Arch ‘25), Siqi Gao (M.Arch ‘25) and Zlatan Wang (M.Arch ‘25) from Prof. Pat Saldaña-Natke’s Studio
“The Light Sanctuary project renovates a historic church and its two adjacent buildings at 1814 South Paulina Street in Chicago, Illinois. The renovation sought to preserve the church’s essence while creating a dynamic, modern workspace. The project opened up the once-divided interior spaces, integrating the three structures into coherent spaces. The original church roof was opened to reveal a vaulted transparent canopy, flooding the interior with natural light and symbolically blending the boundaries between the sacred and the modern.
In this project, history, light, and open space come together to create a sense of connection - between the past and the future, between the workspace and the surrounding community.”
#archatillinois #wedesign
1st Place RATIO Design Prize
Category 2: Space & Wellness
Congratulations to Xingyu Liu (M.Arch ‘25), Siqi Gao (M.Arch ‘25) and Zlatan Wang (M.Arch ‘25) from Prof. Pat Saldaña-Natke’s Studio
“The Light Sanctuary project renovates a historic church and its two adjacent buildings at 1814 South Paulina Street in Chicago, Illinois. The renovation sought to preserve the church’s essence while creating a dynamic, modern workspace. The project opened up the once-divided interior spaces, integrating the three structures into coherent spaces. The original church roof was opened to reveal a vaulted transparent canopy, flooding the interior with natural light and symbolically blending the boundaries between the sacred and the modern.
In this project, history, light, and open space come together to create a sense of connection - between the past and the future, between the workspace and the surrounding community.”
#archatillinois #wedesign
1st Place RATIO Design Prize
Category 3: Context
Congratulations to Zoya Chaudary (M.Arch ‘25) from Prof. Didem Ekici’s Studio
“The Museum of Water is a contemporary space dedicated to exploring the historical and cultural significance of water in Turkish life, particularly in the context of Istanbul. Positioned near the iconic Valens Aqueduct, the museum serves as both a tribute to the city’s ancient water systems and a gathering place for modern reflection and leisure. Through immersive exhibitions, a corner courtyard that connects visually with the aqueduct, and spaces for community engagement such as a Turkish bath and café, the museum offers a multisensory journey. It invites visitors to contemplate the timeless role of water as a source of life, ritual, and cultural identity, while also embracing its role in shaping the future of urban living.
The aqueduct, integrated as a gateway, symbolizes the flow of time and the importance of water, leading visitors to a surrounding park and greenspace. Emulating the social role of Turkish baths, the museum becomes a communal hub—a space for gathering, contemplation, and connection. The site design incorporates permeable pavers and a micro stormwater retention pond, reflecting a commitment to sustainable urban infrastructure and the responsible management of water resources.”
#archatillinois #wedesign
1st Place RATIO Design Prize
Category 3: Context
Congratulations to Zoya Chaudary (M.Arch ‘25) from Prof. Didem Ekici’s Studio
“The Museum of Water is a contemporary space dedicated to exploring the historical and cultural significance of water in Turkish life, particularly in the context of Istanbul. Positioned near the iconic Valens Aqueduct, the museum serves as both a tribute to the city’s ancient water systems and a gathering place for modern reflection and leisure. Through immersive exhibitions, a corner courtyard that connects visually with the aqueduct, and spaces for community engagement such as a Turkish bath and café, the museum offers a multisensory journey. It invites visitors to contemplate the timeless role of water as a source of life, ritual, and cultural identity, while also embracing its role in shaping the future of urban living.
The aqueduct, integrated as a gateway, symbolizes the flow of time and the importance of water, leading visitors to a surrounding park and greenspace. Emulating the social role of Turkish baths, the museum becomes a communal hub—a space for gathering, contemplation, and connection. The site design incorporates permeable pavers and a micro stormwater retention pond, reflecting a commitment to sustainable urban infrastructure and the responsible management of water resources.”
#archatillinois #wedesign