Academic Grounds

With flexible, high-tech classrooms and student lounge space overlooking Lake Michigan, the Northwestern Academy for Chicago Public Schools offers participants room to grow and learn.

The Academy headquarters occupies the 16th floor of Abbott Hall on Northwestern’s Chicago campus in the Streeterville neighborhood, a convenient downtown location for students who travel from across the city to participate in classes and events. Initially the Academy was headquartered on the Evanston campus, and classes and programs were later held at the law school on the Chicago campus until the new space opened in May 2016.

Read more about Northwestern Academy's new state-of the-art headquarters.

The 18-month transformation of the former graduate student dorm included input from more than a dozen Academy students, who offered opinions on the aesthetics of the space during the early stages of the project. The renovation was a finalist for the 2017 Chicago Building Congress Merit Award in the “Interior Build-Out” division.

“It is a dream come true to see the space come to life, and that is because of Northwestern’s commitment to the students and to making sure they have everything they need to do well and succeed,” Northwestern Academy director Cassandra Geiger said at the dedication in January.  

The Academy’s three classrooms are equipped with wireless and high-res technology to facilitate conference calls with prospective colleges and universities as well as virtual tours of college campuses. The largest classroom, which can accommodate up to 45 students, is a flexible space that allows for traditional classes, as well as yoga and improv training.