BLDD Architects is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual Because Life Deserves Design Scholarship: Audrey Miller, Mackenzie Strawn, Lauren Trodus, and Qixi Huang. Named for BLDD’s mission, “Because Life Deserves Design,” the scholarship celebrates high school seniors who stand out for their creativity, artistic drive, and promise to shape the future of architecture, interior or graphic design.

Across Illinois, school districts are being asked to do more with aging facilities, often balancing tight budgets, evolving educational needs, and strong community expectations. The transformation of Lanphier High School in Springfield, IL, shows what’s possible when design is grounded in community values and clear priorities.

Churches come in a variety of shapes and sizes, serving congregations ranging from single digits to thousands. While each congregation has different needs and ideologies, they typically share a common goal: to create safe and engaging houses of worship for members of all ages.

Asking voters for $62 million in an anti-tax climate when initial polling is below 50% sounds impossible. But for Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School District, “impossible” was nothing new.

You might’ve seen the phrase “adaptive reuse” pop up more and more lately. It sounds technical, but the idea is simple: take a building that’s outlived its original purpose and give it a new life. While the concept isn’t new, it’s seeing a fresh wave of interest, especially in senior living. Why? Because repurposing old structures comes with big benefits.

Since 2015, Illinois has required all new and significantly renovated K-12 buildings to include ICC 500/FEMA-compliant storm shelters that can withstand winds up to 250 mph. It’s a critical requirement — but also an opportunity.

BLDD appreciates and is proud of all applicants who took the time to apply. In recent years, scholarships have been awarded to graduating seniors throughout Illinois and Missouri, including Williamsville-Sherman, Athens, Palmyra, Mattoon, Effingham and Rockridge.

Since its founding way back in 1846, the City of St. Charles School District (SCSD) has been a proud cornerstone of the community—growing, evolving, and educating generation after generation. And now, with the successful April 2025 passage of Proposition SCSD, the district has secured resources to power its next chapter—one that’s focused squarely on smarter spaces, better buildings, and top-tier learning environments.

When a failed school referendum threatened to derail progress in Rockridge School District, they discovered that the path to success wasn't just about having the right plan – it was about bringing the whole community along for the journey.

Who says dining in senior living communities has to be boring? In 2025, mealtime is all about choices, variety, and a little bit of flair! Whether it’s a fine-dining experience, a laid-back café stop, or an afternoon spent enjoying the fresh air with al fresco eats, residents are savoring the moment like never before.
With more ways to personalize meals, dining is becoming less of a routine and more of an adventure!

Creating a brand for an educational initiative is rarely straightforward, and the development of LIFT (Leaders Innovating For Tomorrow) for Mattoon CUSD #3, Mattoon, IL, was no different. What started as a vision to expand the district's local technology program transformed into a Regional Innovation Center with a bold, meaningful identity.