Richard J. Daley College’s Manufacturing, Technology & Engineering Center (MTEC) is now an award-winning facility.
During this year’s 29th annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards, MTEC’s architects from JGMA were awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design.
MTEC is a 52,000-square-foot building with the high-tech equipment and technology used in most factories. Students can learn computer-aided design, CNC programming, and 3-D printing in a state-of-the-art computer lab, providing students with an opportunity to become experts in computer-integrated manufacturing, robotics, and factory automation before they even step foot in a factory – giving them a competitive edge during the hiring process. MTEC also gives students traditional mechanical skills as well as computer skills.
The theme for this year’s Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards was “Communities Lead, Communities Succeed.” All the projects highlighted show what happens when communities across Chicago set their own neighborhood vision.
Daley and JGMA created MTEC with the community in mind to change people’s assumptions about manufacturing.
“The stereotype for manufacturing in this community is not positive, and we had to change the narrative,” said JGMA architect Juan Moreno.
From the bright colors and modern architecture to the large windows and open spaces, the entire building design is intentional. It’s meant to be inviting, to show that manufacturing is a skilled, data-driven profession, to eliminate stereotypes about the manufacturing industry and community colleges, and to symbolize a revitalization of the manufacturing field and the southwest Chicago neighborhood where Daley is located.
The Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards were established in 1994 to show appreciation and acknowledge community developers and for-profit organizations behind Chicago’s communities and outstanding new developments.
