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Designer of Influence Sharon Exley
Designer of influence, Sharon Exley MAAE Associate ASID directs colleagues, clients, and next generation talents to discover the fun in architecture. As a culture builder, author, and mentor, she shares the value of social engagement through design.
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The Questioneers at DuPage Children’s Museum
WIth a nod to mid-century modernism, the design of the DuPage Children’s Museum Questioneers exhibit brings the popular book characters – Iggy Peck, Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, Sofia Valdez, and Aaron Slater – to life in hands-on ways! Visitors engage in STEM activities alongside their favorite characters, who offer inspiration, passion, and perseverance.
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Thought Leadership
Sharon Exley and Peter Exley bring their thought leadership to their work, their mentorship, writing, and speaking. The playmakers and principals participate in national and local conferences, panel discussions, lectures and exhibitions to share the educative process and notions of participatory design to the greater architectural, design, educational and industry-centric communities.
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Architecture Is Fun
Architecture Is Fun Designs to Makes a Difference! We listen and engage with clients and communities to develop relevant public spaces and meaningful experiences. We make everyday life FUN!
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AIA Chicago Firm of the Year!
Honoring their commitment to FUN, collaboration and their designs for “deeply humanistic and courageous” projects, Architecture Is Fun is AIA Chicago Firm of the Year.
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Wrecked!
St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum Immersive and object-based, WRECKED sensitively inserts a contemporary salon and stylized sandbar into a historic two-story keeper’s home, sharing shipwreck stories through the lens of archaeology.
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DuPage Children’s Museum Renovation
We did it, the reviews are in and we received a 5 star rating…There were audible gasps of joy and delight. Everyone came together and with one big push…..we were open! Thank you for the passion, the hard work and the commitment that had us looking so beautiful at 4:00 today. The Mayor was truly moved and just in awe of what were able to do in a few months. ~ Sarah Orleans, President & CEO, DuPage Children’s Museum
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Young At Art Museum
EVERYONE (850,000 visitors since opening) visiting YAA is incredibly amazed with the exhibitions and the Young At Art Museum experience! Thank you to Architecture Is Fun for their creative vision and artful design that assists in defining YAA! ~ Mindy Shrago, Executive Director/CEO, Young At Art Shifting the museum paradigm, Young At Art Museum takes a sophisticated design approach to bridging the gap between an adult art museum and a children’s museum. The art museum for children features 22,000 SF of exhibit space designed by Architecture Is Fun, rich in branded environments, art installations and art-making opportunities. The John S. & James L. Knight Foundation says that Young At Art Museum…
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Frost Art Museum
The renovated family gallery is “super chill,” designed to be worthy of a child’s curiosity and adult admiration, demonstrating everyone is hard-wired for creativity. The whiteness of the space serves as a blank slate for artistic expression and media exploration, from new-age technologies, including a Smart Table™, projector and iPads, to traditional art-making. It is an environment rich in evocative objects and commissioned art installations that inspire active learning, choices, and social engagement. Both orientation and terminus, the discovery gallery is “the place” that frames museum visits.
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Playmakers
The summer issue Modern Luxury Interiors Chicago (page 168) perches Sharon and Peter atop the Carson Pirie Scott Building, 12 floors above State Street. Editor Diana Tychsen Bitting nailed our story, photographer Katrina Wittkamp captured the moment and some delicious Louis Sullivan ornament and our city served as our backdrop. Cool! Read it for yourself… SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave
