The Hive Academy
Located just across the street from the renowned Rate Field, the Learning Hive in Bronzeville, Chicago, Illinois, brings together project-based learning and a hands-on approach to modern day teaching.
The Learning Hive of Bronzeville draws inspiration from the Reggio Emilia philosophy, with a curriculum centered on project-based learning. In the early years — kindergarten and first grade — students are encouraged to take an independent approach to their education, choosing what they wish to explore rather than following a rigid curriculum. This Reggio Emilia framework empowers children to guide the direction of their learning through experiences of touching, moving, listening, and observing.
Read more about the kindergarten classrooms:
Having separate entrances for the kindergarteners allows for more control of the area for both parents and educators — parents can send their kids off straight to class and teachers are able to see them as they walk inside.
Glass doors allow for a transparent separation between the semi-outdoor play area and the kindergarten classroom, allowing for students to release energy at the beginning and end of the day.
Floorplans
As students progress into second through fifth grade, their education shifts toward a project-based model that builds upon their natural curiosity and strengthens their connection to the environment around them.
Through real-world scenarios and hands-on experiences, students are given the opportunity to expand their imaginations while also developing an understanding of realistic limitations. The school’s design fosters both creativity and critical thinking, nurturing a lifelong love of learning rooted in exploration and collaboration.
The entrances of the school are on the north and south side of the building, decreasing the congestion within the main road during pick-up and drop-off hours.
The second floor allows for a centralized viewing of the atrium 
The library has two main walls that are composed of glass. The southern wall has brise-soleils that counters the southern sun’s heat. 
This section highlights the central courtyard within the school. 
This southern elevation showcases the differing facades of the Hive. 
Program diagram showing the components of the Hive. 
Program diagram showing the first floor’s activities within the Hive. 
Structural diagram of the Hive. 
Structural diagram of the Hive.
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Athena Ly 