Future Architect Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of architects, in partnership with Judson University, will celebrate the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of Glunz Hall today, a hybrid live/work residence and design studio for the university’s Master of Architecture program. Designed by Studio Vertex, the project transforms a former mid-century bank headquarters in downtown Elgin into a dynamic environment where graduate architecture students can live, work, and learn, blending historic preservation with forward-thinking design. 

The project, involving philanthropic contributions from a variety of donors, was coordinated through the Future Architect Fund, an organization dedicated to furthering the next generation of architects. Leveraging a combination of donated design services, a discounted property acquisition, and in-kind contributions from building product partners, Glunz Hall reflects a “for architects, by architects” philosophy, serving as a physical and symbolic investment in the profession. 

Glunz Hall preserves its mid-century architecture while introducing contemporary finishes, industrial elements, and subtle Art Deco accents. The building includes 13 apartments able to house approximately 40 students, alongside the Glunz Studio for Architecture and Urbanism, a collaborative design space for graduate architecture students to further their education in a simulated real-world setting. 

The building was designed and outfitted using generous in-kind donations from building industry leaders like Behr Paint Company, DuPont Corian, Delta Faucet, FreeAxez, Homasote, Kräus, Trim-Tex, Visual Comfort & Co., Studio Vertex, and Anguleris. Each material and product – from Behr® paint to Delta® faucets and Visual Comfort lighting – functions as a hands-on learning tool for student residents, making Glunz Hall a true “living lab” for building material science.

“It’s hard to imagine a more fitting place to immerse oneself in the study of architecture than this historic building at the heart of an architecturally rich city like Elgin,” said Benjamin Glunz, Founder of the Future Architect Fund. “Our vision is to provide graduate students with a bridge from the study of architecture to full immersion in real world practice within their local community.”

For more information about the Future Architect Fund, Judson University, or ways to support the next generation of architects, visit www.futurearchitectfund.org or www.judsonu.edu.