This exhibition will present a comprehensive overview of STL Architects' significant contributions to cultural architecture in South Korea over the past five years. At the forefront of the showcase is the Jinju National Museum, a landmark project that secured first place in a prestigious international design competition in August 2023. This museum represents a major architectural achievement for the city of Jinju and exemplifies STL Architects’ commitment to innovative and contextually sensitive design. The museum is slated to open in 2026, offering a transformative cultural space for both the local community and international visitors.
By featuring these visionary projects, the exhibition fosters meaningful cross-cultural dialogue between Chicago, Spain, and South Korea. It underscores the dynamic evolution of STL Architects’ global architectural practice, illustrating their ability to navigate diverse cultural landscapes while maintaining a consistent dedication to excellence in design. Through this exhibition, visitors will gain insight into the firm’s role in shaping contemporary architecture and its broader impact on cultural exchange and collaboration across borders.
Jose Luis de la Fuente & Luis Collado are both Licensed architects who have studied at the Architecture School (ETSAM) in the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain. They are business partners and Design Principals at STLarchitects, an international design studio with offices in Chicago, Illinois and Madrid, Spain.
After completing their schooling in Madrid, Luis pursued advanced studies in Urban Planning attending the Graduate School of Design (GDS) at Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts while Jose Luis founded E6 Arquitectura winning an international competition for an Airport Control Tower in Alicante, Spain. For several years Luis and Jose Luis work together at the offices of SOM in Chicago developing buildings and large-scale urban planning efforts in Argentina, Mexico, China and Korea.
As professional collaborators and friends for 30 years, Luis Collado and Jose Luis de la Fuente have steered STL into its present position as one of the top design firms in Chicago. Jose Luis and Luis provide a refreshing contrast to an industry that thrives in individual leadership by working as a design/think team, both as team leads and clients’ advocates. Throughout this time they have infused STL with a spirit of creativity through a belief in active professional collaboration and teamwork. Today, STLarchitects is an international design practice with projects in the US, Europe and, Asia.