DLA Architects, Ltd.

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Itasca, IL
DLA Architects, Ltd.

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We're architects who listen to our Clients & incorporate the concepts they believe in into our design

10/28/2026

Every learner deserves a space that supports where they're headed. At Minooka Community High School District #111 , we worked alongside the district to reimagine what hands-on learning could look like, bringing new life to their welding shop, art studio, and locker room, while adding purpose-built labs for construction, robotics, and metal fabrication. These are spaces designed with intention, built to empower students across every pathway.

10/13/2026

A school facility can be so much more than a school facility. Minooka Community High School District #111's South Campus Fieldhouse Addition was designed to open its doors to the local community during evenings and weekends, without compromising building security.
It's a space where students, families, and neighbors can stay active and connect.

10/12/2026

We have some exciting news to share! 🎉 The Cafeteria/Commons at Lyons Township High School D204's South Campus has earned a design award.
This recognition is a true team effort, and it started with listening. Students and faculty told us the old cafeteria felt cut off at the edge of the building, with academic support scattered across campus. Together, we set out to create a space where every student could connect, find support, and feel they belong.
By relocating the cafeteria to the center of campus, the commons became the heart of daily school life:
🏫 Learning Stairs offer tiered seating for presentations, reading, and celebrations
📚 "Drop at the Top" brings academic support for every core subject into one welcoming lounge
☕ A student-run café builds real-world skills, responsibility, and peer connection
🌿 A real moss wall, a wood-clad stair, and new skylights fill the space with daylight and a calming connection to nature
☀️ A fully accessible courtyard removes stair-only barriers so all students can dine, learn, and gather outdoors
A huge thank you to the Lyons Township High School D204 administration, staff, and students. Your ideas and trust shaped every decision. And to our DLA Architects project team, thank you for rolling up your sleeves, listening, and learning alongside our client.
We're proud to celebrate this space with the community it was built for.
Which feature would your students love most? Tell us in the comments, and see the full project in our portfolio. Link in the comments.

10/07/2026

This isn't just an addition; it's a rethinking of what Career and Technical Education can look like at Minooka Community High School District #111 . With labs built to mirror professional work environments and flexible layouts designed to adapt as industries evolve, students receive training that translates directly into in-demand careers.

10/06/2026

The best learning spaces do more than look good. They help students feel good, too.
Here's a look at the new music wing at Lyons Township High School D204's South Campus, designed to support students long after the last note fades.
Here's how the design puts student well-being first:
🌿 Abundant daylight fills every large music space, so students rehearse in bright, energizing rooms instead of dim, dated ones.
🌿 Low- and zero-VOC finishes and energy-efficient systems protect indoor air quality and long-term costs.
🌿 Improved acoustics and sound-proofing help students hear one another clearly while preventing disruption from neighboring spaces, strengthening every rehearsal and performance.
The result is a wing students take real pride in. A place where they feel they belong, where they develop performance skills and musical confidence that extend far beyond the classroom and into their communities.

09/24/2026

Great music programs need spaces that can keep up with them. So we designed the LT South music wing to do just that.
Inside the new wing at Lyons Township High School D204, students find rooms built around how they actually learn, practice, and perform:
🎵 A dedicated percussion room for focused, hands-on skill building
🎵 Solo practice rooms and a small ensemble room for individual and group growth
🎵 Three health education classrooms with operable walls that open into one large space
🎵 Movable seating that shifts in minutes for discussions, restorative circles, or group work
🎵 Embedded technology, from recording tools to sound systems, that extends learning beyond the room
The result is a space that adapts to students, not the other way around. Teachers can reshape a room to fit the lesson, and students gain settings that support their learning, performance, and well-being.
We love designing spaces that grow with the people who use them.
Which flexible feature would your students use most? Tell us in the comments, and check out the full project in our portfolio.

09/23/2026

Good design should last. The Debbie Sykora Early Childhood Center was built with that in mind, from its daylighting orientation and durable building envelope to its energy-efficient systems and infrastructure ready for future solar panels.
This is not a one-time construction event. It is a long-term investment in the Bolingbrook community.

09/21/2026

Minooka Community High School District #111 needed more room for physical education and athletics. The South Campus Fieldhouse Addition delivers exactly that.
Four basketball courts that convert to volleyball or badminton. A six-lane indoor track with pole vault and long jump areas. A weight room, expanded locker rooms, and dedicated coaches' offices. This fieldhouse was built to solve today's space shortages while supporting tomorrow's growth.

09/18/2026

Minooka Community High School District #111 a Community High School District 111 is preparing students for real careers with real tools. The new Industrial Technology Addition includes a high-tech auto shop, welding workshop, robotics and electricity lab, and professional-grade commercial kitchen, giving students hands-on experience before graduation.

09/17/2026

What makes a school space feel calm the moment you walk in? For us, it starts with light and nature.
At Lyons Township High School D204, we designed the South Campus Cafeteria/Commons with student wellness at its heart. Research shows that natural light and biophilic materials lower stress and lift mood, so we brought both right into the center of campus.
Here's how the space cares for students every day:
🌿 New skylights and high-performance glazing fill the commons with daylight
🌿 A wood-clad learning stair and a real moss wall add warmth and a genuine connection to nature
🌿 The serving area places nutritious options at eye level, gently guiding students toward healthier choices
🌿 "Drop at the Top" gives students a welcoming, low-barrier lounge for academic support in every core subject
When you picture your favorite school space, what made it feel good to be there? We'd love to hear in the comments.
See the full project in our portfolio.

Address

2 Pierce Place Suite 1300
Itasca, IL
60143

Telephone

+18477424063

Website

http://www.dla-ltd.com/, http://twitter.com/DLA_Architects

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