Taylor Johnson client Wight & Company has designed several impressive Chicago-area school renovations in recent years. When Team TJ heard what the design and delivery firm had cooked up to renovate two Downers Grove high schools, we were wowed by the new Culinary Arts Labs that elevate the consumer science experience from an old-school classroom kitchen to a Food Network-style culinary hub. We whipped up a pitch to a Chicago Tribune lifestyle reporter, who marinated on the idea before delving into the motivation behind the schools’ desire to draw students to the culinary arts. Click here to see more photos and learn how Wight’s design supports schools’ appetite for highly engaged, hands-on learning.

Culinary Arts at Downers Grove South High School before and after: Wight & Company gave the space a Food Network-style upgrade with island work stations, overhead monitors and several other foodie features.