The University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy has a new home to match its growing ambitions.
The Keller Center, which opened on Jan. 7, is the transformation of a mid-20th century building designed by Edward Durell Stone into a structure that cultivates the active exchange of ideas and fosters deeper engagement in Chicago and around the world. The center includes a community forum, named in honor of King Harris, made from reclaimed wood milled at a South Side facility established by artist Theaster Gates, a member of the University faculty.
“The Keller Center provides an intellectual hub for the leading scholarship and distinct education of the Harris School of Public Policy, growing and advancing its rigorous, evidence-based approach to confront pressing challenges at home and around the world. As the center opens, we recognize Dennis and Connie Keller and King Harris for their generous philanthropic support of the research, education and impact of Harris,” said Robert J. Zimmer, president of the University of Chicago.
