We are heartbroken to announce the passing of STR team member, Alan J. Armbrust. As STR's Executive Manager for more than 16 years, Alan was invaluable to our firm, serving as both a gifted architect and a marketing connoisseur. A reliable and steady
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of STR team member, Alan J. Armbrust. As STR's Executive Manager for more than 16 years, Alan was invaluable to our firm, serving as both a gifted architect and a marketing connoisseur. A reliable and steady presence in the office, Alan brought a charm, wit, and humor to our team that will be hard to replace. Alan was an artist. Though never one to brag about his talent, he could hand draw with startling accuracy. And man, he loved his paper, his desk serving as a testament to that love. Typos were Alan's trademark, and if you ever received an email from him, you could hear his voice when you read it. It seems fitting that one of Alan's last projects was a replacement for the very middle school he attended as a young student in Mount Prospect. He would have loved to see the doors open on the new space, and for that, we feel sorrow. Rest in peace, our friend. We feel your loss deeply. Visitation is Sunday, May 17, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Friedrichs Funeral Home, 320 West Central Road (at Northwest Highway) in Mount Prospect. For more details, visit: https://www.friedrichsfh.com/obituaries/Alan-J-Armbrust?obId=48347327
From drawings to reality! Our team visited the Early Childhood Center addition at Old Orchard Junior High School in Skokie SD 68 today, and it was something to see. Wood ceilings, a brick accent wall, and a softly curved corridor make up this 18,000-
From drawings to reality! Our team visited the Early Childhood Center addition at Old Orchard Junior High School in Skokie SD 68 today, and it was something to see. Wood ceilings, a brick accent wall, and a softly curved corridor make up this 18,000-sf addition, which will bring 7 classrooms with adjoining sensory rooms, a student commons, STEM and maker spaces, a gross motor room, and more to the district’s pre-kindergarten program. Architect: STR Partners LLC Construction Manager: @nicholasquality Civil Engineer: @eriksson_eng Structural Engineer: @mlstructural MEP/FP Engineer: 20/10 Engineering Group #earlychildhoodcenter #earlychildhoodeducation #K12design #schoolarchitects #learningenvironments
Earth Day looks a little greener around here. Yesterday, STR's Climate Action Committee hosted our annual repotting party, giving our office plants some well-deserved new homes and welcoming a few new green friends into the mix. It’s a small t
Earth Day looks a little greener around here. Yesterday, STR's Climate Action Committee hosted our annual repotting party, giving our office plants some well-deserved new homes and welcoming a few new green friends into the mix. It’s a small tradition, but it’s one we look forward to every year, a reminder that our commitment to sustainability isn’t just something we design into our projects. Happy Earth Day from our team to yours. #earthday #officeplants #greenthumb #architects #chicago
Next generation science standards are changing what happens in the classroom. So long are the days of rote learning and lecture-style teaching. Today, classrooms need flexible lab configurations to encourage investigation, discovery, and real-world a
Next generation science standards are changing what happens in the classroom. So long are the days of rote learning and lecture-style teaching. Today, classrooms need flexible lab configurations to encourage investigation, discovery, and real-world application. Photo 1: A new STEM classroom @fentonhs Photo 2: A new horticulture science classroom @district227_ #nextgenscience #stemdesign #architecture #k12architecture #design
Work is actively underway at Central Elementary School in Des Plaines, one of nine @62schools buildings being renovated to prepare for full-day kindergarten. Central is receiving a new building addition as part of a $44.2 million district-wide effort
Work is actively underway at Central Elementary School in Des Plaines, one of nine @62schools buildings being renovated to prepare for full-day kindergarten. Central is receiving a new building addition as part of a $44.2 million district-wide effort to meet the state’s 2027-28 full-day kindergarten requirement. Seeing a project move from design to reality is always a milestone worth marking. Architect: STR Partners LLC Construction Manager: @pepperconstruction Civil Engineering & Landscape Architecture: @eriksson_eng Structural Engineering: The Structural Group MEP/FP Engineering: 20/10 Engineering Group LLC Roofing & Building Envelope: STR-SEG LLC Food Service: Edge Associates Inc.
What a night (or two)! STR was thrilled to celebrate alongside some incredible organizations doing big things for education this weekend. On Friday night, we had the privilege of attending the annual @uncf and SCSDD scholarship gala, an evening cele
What a night (or two)! STR was thrilled to celebrate alongside some incredible organizations doing big things for education this weekend. On Friday night, we had the privilege of attending the annual @uncf and SCSDD scholarship gala, an evening celebrating diversity, academic achievement, and the belief that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. UNCF’s work to open doors for students across the country aligns perfectly with our mission of designing schools where every learner can thrive. The next night, we had the honor of attending the @d95foundation’s Studio 95 Gala, an evening benefiting the students and teachers of @lzdistrict95. Right now, our team is hard at work on the Lake Zurich High School D-Wing Renovation, a redesign of approximately 15,000 square feet on the second floor of Lake Zurich High School that will create dynamic, modern learning spaces for students. It was a wonderful weekend, to say the least! And STR is proud to support both of these organizations and the students they champion.
Steel is officially going up at the new Lincoln Middle School in @mpdist57. This week, students signed one of the beams before it was lifted into place, leaving their mark forever on the structure itself. The new Lincoln is organized around academi
Steel is officially going up at the new Lincoln Middle School in @mpdist57. This week, students signed one of the beams before it was lifted into place, leaving their mark forever on the structure itself. The new Lincoln is organized around academic teams with shared commons and breakout spaces, plus dedicated areas for science, arts, and innovation. As the science wing frame starts to rise, the scale of the building is finally becoming visible. Architect: STR Partners LLC Construction Manager: @nicholasquality Civil Engineer: @eriksson_eng Roofing & Building Envelope: STR-SEG LLC Structural Engineer: @ceastructures MEP/FP Engineer: 20/10 Engineering Group LLC Food Service: Edge Associates Inc. #k12design #architects #architecture #schoolarchitecture #newschool #middleschool #beamsigning #design #construction
Things are taking shape in Skokie School District 68! Wood ceilings, a brick accent wall, and a softly curved corridor create a welcoming and warm environment for the young students attending this new Early Childhood Center. The addition, which is
Things are taking shape in Skokie School District 68! Wood ceilings, a brick accent wall, and a softly curved corridor create a welcoming and warm environment for the young students attending this new Early Childhood Center. The addition, which is at Old Orchard Junior High School, adds 18,000 sf of spaces for the district's pre-kindergarten program and includes 7 classrooms with adjoining sensory rooms, a student commons area, STEM and maker spaces, a dedicated gross motor room, and administrative spaces. Every space is designed to support the whole child, from focused learning to active play. Architect: STR Partners LLC Construction Manager: @nicholasquality Civil Engineer: @eriksson_eng Structural Engineer: @mlstructural MEP/FP Engineer: 20/10 Engineering Group #earlychildhoodcenter #earlychildhoodeducation #K12design #schoolarchitects #learningenvironments
We loved having students from @district227_ spend part of Groundhog SHADOW Day with us in the office. It was a chance to share what an architecture firm looks like day to day: how teams work together, how ideas move from sketch to model to documents
We loved having students from @district227_ spend part of Groundhog SHADOW Day with us in the office. It was a chance to share what an architecture firm looks like day to day: how teams work together, how ideas move from sketch to model to documents, and how design decisions get tested along the way. The students jumped right in, sketching and working through a model with us. We’ve partnered with District 227 for years on additions, renovations, and campus improvements, so it’s especially meaningful to host students from the same community in the spaces where that work happens. Thanks for spending the day with us! We’re glad you were here.
Sometimes the best interactions happen when you take a seat on the stairs. With thoughtful design, learning stairs can turn "just passing through" into moments for brainstorming, storytelling, group work, presentations, or simply socializin
Sometimes the best interactions happen when you take a seat on the stairs. With thoughtful design, learning stairs can turn "just passing through" into moments for brainstorming, storytelling, group work, presentations, or simply socializing with peers. How do, or would, your students use a space like this? #learningstairs #k12design #k12schools #schoolarchitects #architecture #design #learninghappenseverywhere
Design is underway for Westbrook School for Young Learners in @mpdist57! STR designed the new two-story addition to reimagine how young students learn and connect, bringing together flexible classrooms, collaborative breakout spaces, and a new interior courtyard designed for hands-on outdoor learning. From art and music to STEAM-focused environments and a centralized Learning Resource Center, every space is being designed with growth, accessibility, and adaptability in mind. #SchoolDesign #EducationArchitecture #EarlyLearning #STEAMEducation #LearningEnvironments #K12Design #DesignInProgress
At STR, we value engaging with young students and inspiring the future generation of architects and designers through curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning. STR Project Manager Skylar Moran recently had the opportunity to visit a local Pre-K
At STR, we value engaging with young students and inspiring the future generation of architects and designers through curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning. STR Project Manager Skylar Moran recently had the opportunity to visit a local Pre-K classroom as part of a four-week building study, sharing lessons about structure, insulation, and weather barrier layers. Following the visit, students pretended to be architects, sketching their own design plans and building structures in the block area. #futurearchitects #architectureeducation #stemlearning #designthinking #inspiringstudents
Happy Holidays from STR! Every year, we ask kindergarten to 5th grade students to help design our holiday card. In celebration of the upcoming 2026 Olympic Games, this year's theme is My Favorite Winter Sport. STR thanks all of the students and thei
Happy Holidays from STR! Every year, we ask kindergarten to 5th grade students to help design our holiday card. In celebration of the upcoming 2026 Olympic Games, this year's theme is My Favorite Winter Sport. STR thanks all of the students and their teachers for the beautiful submissions. We hope this artwork brings you a little joy this holiday season! #designcontest #elementaryschool #artstudents #architecture #happyholidays
Past/Present. We're looking forward to the Annual Joint Conference this weekend!
Past/Present. We're looking forward to the Annual Joint Conference this weekend!
STR Partners is proud to be ranked 54 in Building Design + Construction's 2025 list of the nation's largest K-12 Design Firms.
STR Partners is proud to be ranked 54 in Building Design + Construction's 2025 list of the nation's largest K-12 Design Firms.
Throwback Thursday: Wooden playground equipment that resulted in many splinters to be extracted by the school admin/nurse. Today, students play on equipment that is accessible (and splinter free!) The 2025 IASB Joint Conference is three weeks away
Throwback Thursday: Wooden playground equipment that resulted in many splinters to be extracted by the school admin/nurse. Today, students play on equipment that is accessible (and splinter free!) The 2025 IASB Joint Conference is three weeks away.
Throwback Thursday: The excitement when the teacher wheeled the school’s tube TV into class. Today, STR designed STEM classrooms at Rich Township 227 where students are learning to fly planes with flight simulators! The 2025 IASB Joint Confer
Throwback Thursday: The excitement when the teacher wheeled the school’s tube TV into class. Today, STR designed STEM classrooms at Rich Township 227 where students are learning to fly planes with flight simulators! The 2025 IASB Joint Conference is just four weeks away. We’ll count down each week with throwbacks.
The big scissors were out for the ribbon cutting at Rich Township High School District 227's new Career & Technical Education classrooms and flexible lab spaces! STR joined Pepper Construction, district administrators and the Board of Education a
The big scissors were out for the ribbon cutting at Rich Township High School District 227's new Career & Technical Education classrooms and flexible lab spaces! STR joined Pepper Construction, district administrators and the Board of Education along with proud teachers and students to celebrate. #WorkforceReady #CareerTechEd #StudentSuccess
In progress drone shots from @pepperconstruction of THSD's Athletic Field Renovations. Buffalo Grove High School's pitchers and catchers report soon!
In progress drone shots from @pepperconstruction of THSD's Athletic Field Renovations. Buffalo Grove High School's pitchers and catchers report soon!
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of STR team member, Alan J. Armbrust. As STR's Executive Manager for more than 16 years, Alan was invaluable to our firm, serving as both a gifted architect and a marketing connoisseur. A reliable and steady From drawings to reality! Our team visited the Early Childhood Center addition at Old Orchard Junior High School in Skokie SD 68 today, and it was something to see. Wood ceilings, a brick accent wall, and a softly curved corridor make up this 18,000- Earth Day looks a little greener around here. Yesterday, STR's Climate Action Committee hosted our annual repotting party, giving our office plants some well-deserved new homes and welcoming a few new green friends into the mix. It’s a small t Next generation science standards are changing what happens in the classroom. So long are the days of rote learning and lecture-style teaching. Today, classrooms need flexible lab configurations to encourage investigation, discovery, and real-world a Work is actively underway at Central Elementary School in Des Plaines, one of nine @62schools buildings being renovated to prepare for full-day kindergarten. Central is receiving a new building addition as part of a $44.2 million district-wide effort What a night (or two)! STR was thrilled to celebrate alongside some incredible organizations doing big things for education this weekend. On Friday night, we had the privilege of attending the annual @uncf and SCSDD scholarship gala, an evening cele Steel is officially going up at the new Lincoln Middle School in @mpdist57. This week, students signed one of the beams before it was lifted into place, leaving their mark forever on the structure itself. The new Lincoln is organized around academi Things are taking shape in Skokie School District 68! Wood ceilings, a brick accent wall, and a softly curved corridor create a welcoming and warm environment for the young students attending this new Early Childhood Center. The addition, which is We loved having students from @district227_ spend part of Groundhog SHADOW Day with us in the office. It was a chance to share what an architecture firm looks like day to day: how teams work together, how ideas move from sketch to model to documents Sometimes the best interactions happen when you take a seat on the stairs. With thoughtful design, learning stairs can turn "just passing through" into moments for brainstorming, storytelling, group work, presentations, or simply socializin
Design is underway for Westbrook School for Young Learners in @mpdist57! STR designed the new two-story addition to reimagine how young students learn and connect, bringing together flexible classrooms, collaborative breakout spaces, and a new inte
At STR, we value engaging with young students and inspiring the future generation of architects and designers through curiosity, creativity, and hands-on learning. STR Project Manager Skylar Moran recently had the opportunity to visit a local Pre-K Happy Holidays from STR! Every year, we ask kindergarten to 5th grade students to help design our holiday card. In celebration of the upcoming 2026 Olympic Games, this year's theme is My Favorite Winter Sport. STR thanks all of the students and thei Past/Present. We're looking forward to the Annual Joint Conference this weekend! STR Partners is proud to be ranked 54 in Building Design + Construction's 2025 list of the nation's largest K-12 Design Firms. Throwback Thursday: Wooden playground equipment that resulted in many splinters to be extracted by the school admin/nurse. Today, students play on equipment that is accessible (and splinter free!) The 2025 IASB Joint Conference is three weeks away Throwback Thursday: The excitement when the teacher wheeled the school’s tube TV into class. Today, STR designed STEM classrooms at Rich Township 227 where students are learning to fly planes with flight simulators! The 2025 IASB Joint Confer The big scissors were out for the ribbon cutting at Rich Township High School District 227's new Career & Technical Education classrooms and flexible lab spaces! STR joined Pepper Construction, district administrators and the Board of Education a In progress drone shots from @pepperconstruction of THSD's Athletic Field Renovations. Buffalo Grove High School's pitchers and catchers report soon!