The LBBA Labs are a nationally recognized summer and after school employment program for high school
The LBBA Labs are a nationally recognized summer and after school employment program for high school students with an interest in architecture, design, and planning. Teen participants engage in active research and develop design based solutions to real issues addressing Chicago neighborhoods. The program provides an entry point for young people to impact their communities through the design proces
08/07/2025
As we finished our work over the past couple weeks, we received feedback from the office about how to make our drawings and ideas clear. In addition to our models, we also made individual and group collages to reflect how we grew as people in the program.
07/18/2025
It's modeling week! We worked with LBBA staff on a quick modeling challenge to start thinking in 3-D, and then we started to build our ideas for The Lighthouse. We shared our work with the office at the lunch and learn on Wednesday, and now we'll work together to revise our ideas.
07/11/2025
Week 2 was full of discovery! Our team learned a lot during a tour of the Foglia Residences and interviews with residents. Stay tuned to see how we interpret their feedback into preliminary studies for the new development site.
Thanks for all the insight!
07/03/2025
Access Lab is in session, and we had a big first week! We went on a tour of The Chicago Lighthouse, practiced our hand drawing skills, and gave our first Lunch & Learn presentation to the office. Now we're looking forward to learning more about universal design!
07/30/2024
Here's the first concept designs the TIDE interns came up with, along with some of their insights on their second week at LBBA! 🧑💻👩💻
07/25/2024
With TIDE wrapping up soon, let's recap what we did at LBBA! For this first week, we...
📌 Visited La Casa Norte to interview youth on their experience with homelessness
📌 Worked at LBBA to learn architectural skills
📌 Visited Thresholds Buffett Place to learn how to design for harm reduction and safe place making
07/03/2023
Let's hear how the first visit to was from our Labs 2023 Cohort! 📸👣✍🏾🗣️
Swipe ⬅️ to see Mia's sketches and her first impressions on BUILD's new headquarters in Austin.
➡️What are the first couple things that capture your attention in a space❔
Colors, light, texture, object arrangement...👀🧠💭
08/07/2019
Today was our final presentation, it was amazing to showcase our final design of BUILD to everyone. Thank you for all the guests that came to the presentation! Link in bio for the blog post.
08/02/2019
We went to the playground for a nice break from the office! Swipe to see a preview of our final design for the presentation on 8/7. Link in bio for the blog post!
08/02/2019
Yesterday’s SmartLuck was great! With a build-your-own sandwich station, a special guest from By the Hand, and a prepared presentation from BuildLab, everything was set. Link in bio for the blog post!
07/30/2019
Happy Tuesday! Today was more planning and designing for the final presentation. We worked on the computers designing floor plans and infographics. Check out the link in our bio for our blog post!
07/29/2019
Office Monday! Today, the team worked in groups to work on different parts of the final design. Lots of computer work, sketching, and designing, but it was a productive day for us. Be sure to read the blog, link in bio!