Named after donors Joe and Rika Mansueto, this is Mansueto High School. It stands as a beacon of opportunity in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. The school opened in 2016 at a temporary location. Its permanent building was under construction then. In August 2017, Mansueto High School opened at its permanent location. The site once housed the RC bottling plant.
Mansueto High School is part of the Noble Network of Charter Schools. It is a public, four-year charter high school. You will find it on West 47th Street between Richmond and Mozart.
Ninety-eight percent of Mansueto High School students are minorities. Ninety-one percent come from low-income backgrounds. The school strives to create a culture where success is the only option. This applies to both short-term and long-term goals.
The school’s design supports this mission. It is organized around a central green space. This space emulates a college quadrangle. It allows high schoolers to envision a college future from day one.
The 67000-square-foot structure has two stories. It features a dark brick exterior. Inside, light gray metal panels create a bright interior. The building almost completely wraps around a landscaped courtyard. The use of masonry grounds the building. It mirrors the historical context of the site. This provides a sense of protection. It also shields interior functions from traffic noise.
Students enter the Mansueto High School campus through a cluster of trees. Leaving behind the noise of 47th Street, the environment transforms. It becomes calm and quiet. Hallways on both floors have white lockers and walls. Bright yellow marks classroom entrances and water fountains. Splashes of color highlight the punched window openings. The openings are playfully organized on each facade.
Classrooms are airy with high ceilings. Exposed mechanicals add an industrial touch. Natural light floods the rooms. Skylights in the gymnasium amplify this effect. State-of-the-art science labs have floor-to-ceiling glass windows. They look out onto the courtyard. The courtyard serves as another teaching environment. Classrooms along the outer perimeter benefit from the brick structure. It absorbs and diffuses sound. This creates an effective space for learning.
Athletic facilities at Mansueto include a large gymnasium. It features a regulation-sized basketball and volleyball court. Movable dividers allow the space to be used for lunch or assemblies. Gym classes can continue simultaneously. A full-size soccer field sits on the east side of the campus. A walking track borders it. A grassy berm separates it from the school building. This berm functions as outdoor seating for spectators. The school’s leopard mascot glimmers against the dark brick on the gymnasium’s facade. It creates a backdrop for outdoor athletic activities.
Environmentally progressive materials are visible throughout Mansueto High School. High-performance skylights and windows diffuse daylight. They also provide views of the courtyard. All spaces except the gymnasium use a variable refrigerant flow system. This VRF system is energy efficient. It leads to energy savings.
A rainwater harvesting system irrigates the campus. Additional stormwater detention occurs under the soccer field and parking lot. Recycled concrete pavement was reused on-site as backfill. The asphalt pavement contains the highest percentage of recycled content allowed. Mansueto High School provides an ideal environment. It reflects the Noble Network of Charter Schools mission. It prepares students for college.