Two outdoor chess tables have been installed in the courtyard between Gordon Parks Arts Hall and the high school building in honor of Chris Janus, former high school history teacher and chess club adviser who retired in June. A group of Laboratory Schools alumni donated the tables.

The nine alumni, who connected with Mr. Janus through the Chess Club during their time at Lab, surprised Mr. Janus with the table alongside members of Mr. Janus’s family.

“One nice thing about doing something other than in the classroom: you do an activity where you really get to know the students well, so this was sort of my activity,” Mr. Janus said. “And the students in the club, I really liked and got to know better than I would if they were simply in my class.”

According to Heather Tamburo, assistant director of alumni relations and annual giving, Class of 1996 alumnus Benjamin Hron had been planning the event since last spring, in anticipation of Mr. Janus’s retirement after 33 years of teaching at U-High. 

While there is no longer a chess club, the tables will carry on Mr. Janus’ legacy. 

“​​They’re beautiful tables. Whether that will inspire the emergence of another club? I don’t know. I guess I’m just happy that they were created,” Mr. Janus said.

 Students can pick up special weighted chess pieces from the Learning and Counseling Office to use with the tables.