Two Chicago architects, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM) and TnS Studio, along with real estate firms McLaurin Development Partners and Farpoint Development, have been selected by the City of Chicago to build a community centre in the city.
Located in Englewood, central Chicago, Englewood Connect will house markets, co-working spaces, exhibitions and community areas inside a public living room.
The development will be built in phases and will incorporate the 1929 "castle" Firehouse station.
The project is part of Mayor Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West initiative, and the team will work with local businesses, community organisations and artists on the project.
Dawveed Scully, SOM’s urban planning associate director, said: "We envision a dynamic mix of community spaces, accessible to all local residents and connected to the surrounding neighbourhoods.
"With flexible spaces that can be used year-round, our plan creates an ecosystem that cultivates upward mobility anchored by entrepreneurialism."
Zeb McLaurin, McLaurin Development Partners’ president, said: "Our development approach is built with a laser focus on community vitality and helping local businesses grow while leveraging strategic partnerships with large institutions. INVEST South/West is the perfect toolbox to corral resources and implement a sustainable economic development approach across all of Chicago’s neighbourhoods."
Images courtesy of Som
