Cotter served on the construction management team for the multi-phase construction of the new Earl Shapiro Hall for the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. The project includes a new early childhood education building, enhanced space for performing and visual arts, reorganized space for libraries, collaborative offices for teachers, counselors, faculty, and administration, and improvements to life/safety systems, accessibility, sustainability, and infrastructure.

The 130,000 sf, 3.5-story, academic facility is the cornerstone piece of the Early Childhood Campus of the Laboratory Schools and accommodates preschool through second-grade curriculum with twenty classrooms, a gymnasium, a library, and easy access to the latest AV technology and teaching tools. The building’s multifaceted facade provides ample daylight to the interior spaces and direct connections to the outdoor play areas that enhance the learning experience.