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Directions & Parking

GEMS World Academy Chicago is located in the city’s Lakeshore East Neighborhood. Please feel free to use our full address in your GPS/navigation system, but we encourage a close read of the following information as these technologies sometimes have a hard time finding our campus. Kindly note that all adult visitors are required to have a photo ID to enter the building.

Directions & Parking

GEMS World Academy Chicago is located at  350 East South Water Street, Chicago, IL 60601.

  • From Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, drive east on Upper Randolph Street, staying in the right lane to remain on the upper level.
  • Go past the stop light at Columbus Drive until reaching the stop sign at Field Boulevard.
  • Turn left onto Field Boulevard heading down the hill to Benton Street, and turn right. Follow Benton Street around the Park area until you come to a stop sign at Field Boulevard (lower level).
  • Turn right onto Field Boulevard (facing the Vista Building). GEMS parking is in the building on the left. There are two entrances with GEMS Parking being on the right hand side.
  • Upon arrival at our garage gate, please push the intercom button so our receptionist can raise the entry gate, then follow the signs to GEMS Visitor Parking.
Directions

Getting to GEMS

Public Transit

From the North

From the South

From the West

Public Transit

GEMS World Academy Chicago is easily accessible by CTA Buses and Trains, and by Metra.

Metra - The closest Metra station is Millennium Station.

Subway/El- The office is about a 10-minute walk east from the stop at State & Lake.

From the North

Take I-90 East toward Chicago (portions toll). Take Exit 51C toward East Washington Blvd./100 North. Turn left onto West Washington Blvd., heading east for approximately 1 mile. Turn left onto North Michigan Avenue. Turn right onto Randolph Street and follow the above directions.

From the South

Take I-94 West toward the Chicago Loop. Take Exit 51C toward East Washington Blvd./100 North. Turn right onto West Washington Blvd. Turn left onto North Michigan Avenue. Turn right onto Randolph Street and follow the above directions.

From the West

Take I-290 East (Eisenhower Expressway). Merge onto West I90/I94 (Kennedy Expressway) towards Wisconsin. Take the East Washington Blvd./100 North Exit (exit 51C). Turn right onto W. Washington Blvd. Turn left onto N. Michigan Avenue. Turn right onto Randolph Street and follow the above directions.

Visitor Policy

At GEMS World Academy Chicago, our commitment to the safety and well-being of our students and employees requires the regulation of access to school buildings. Schools should be open to visits from parents and other interested parties to the extent that visits do not compromise safety and do not disrupt learning environments.

Visitor Procedures for All School Visitors

  1. All visitors must report to the first-floor reception desk to identify themselves and log into Visit U, the visitor management system. This requires that visitors agree to the policy and provide their name, purpose of visit or person they are visiting, a scan of their driver's license, and photo capture for security purposes.
  2. Visitors must wear or display their visitor’s badge at all times while on school premises.
  3. All visitors must sign out on the visitor’s log and return their visitor badge to security prior to exiting the building.
  4. Parents and visitors will not be allowed open access to hallways on the floors above the reception area. We ask parents and visitors to make pre-scheduled appointments with GWA faculty members to avoid disrupting student instructional time.
  5. Parents and visitors may only access the location they are scheduled to visit and return directly to the reception area when activity is completed.
  6. When dropping off or picking up a student, parents will wait in the lounge and the student will be escorted to class at the start of the day or will meet you on the first floor when leaving the school. This will ensure the safe and secure management of our shared space.
  7. All items dropped off for a student will be left at the reception desk on the main floor and will be delivered for you. Please note if the item is time-sensitive and we will accommodate the request.
     

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