When you say “Chicago”, what comes to mind? The Lakefront, the L, the Universities, the Cubs (especially in 2015!), and right up at the top of the list…the Architecture. Chicago is the city that rebuilt itself after the Great Chicago Fire, took advantage of the Burnham Plan to ensure logical flow and continuity of design, and even re-engineered the Chicago River to flow a different way. How many of you spend at least one afternoon each summer on the Architectural Boat Cruise to admire the downtown buildings? Get that amazing feeling when you see the skyline lit up on your return from a business trip… or from a great vantage point enjoying an afternoon on Lake Michigan? We are fortunate to live in such a gorgeous environment. Well, there is another world close to, but beyond the Magnificent Mile which I’d like to share with you, and encourage you to explore as well.
About a year ago, I had the honor to be invited to join the board of Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC Chicago). LISC Chicago’s mission is to connect neighborhoods to the resources they need to become stronger and healthier. LISC Chicago works with local community groups and nonprofits, neighborhood by neighborhood, to improve people’s lives, right in their own backyard. In 1995, The Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDA) was created to celebrate Chicago’s neighborhoods, the best community development projects, and the community and for-profit organizations behind them. Mark your calendars now for February 18, 2016 at the Chicago Hilton, when LISC Chicago will be celebrating its 22nd Anniversary. CNDA is the largest and most venerated celebration of the creativity and accomplishments that transform neighborhoods across the City. Last year’s event was attended by more than 1,300 community development professionals and leaders.
The CNDA Awards recognize outstanding achievement in neighborhood real estate development and community building, especially the achievements of community development corporations (CDCs), other community-based organizations and for-profit developers working to build healthier neighborhoods in the Chicago metropolitan area. In addition, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Architectural Excellence in Community Design recognizes and encourages best practices in community design, landscape design and architecture. It is awarded to three different recipients, given to architects who have created outstanding designs in housing, retail or institutional settings that are sustainable, architecturally significant and that match form to function to meet community needs. Projects must be located in or predominantly serve low- to moderate-income communities in Cook County. All projects have been completed within the last five years. The winning projects clearly and successfully demonstrate a contribution to the visual, social, and cultural life in the communities they serve.
On October 22nd, a group of community leaders, architects and designers went on a road trip for site visits and local presentations with the eight finalists for the Driehaus Foundation Awards. We traveled through several neighborhoods, including Kenwood, Pullman, the West Loop, West Garfield Park, Avondale and the North Side/Wrigleyville. For a “non-architect” like myself, the focus was on my personal response and engagement to the building site, and how I felt the project helped impact economic development. The locations we viewed were wide ranging, both in style and on the focus/impact on the neighborhood they served. We visited a multi-use collaborative for local residents and artists. We saw a huge community center in a very challenged neighborhood….full of adults attending classes to improve their health and education. We saw how respectful design brought an air of calm and privacy to a children’s center. We stood right near the expressway (literally) and observed how creative design and engineering makes use of even the most challenging spaces and provides affordable housing to individuals. We visited a location that brought wrap-around services to people who are in poverty, yet provided a light, airy space for the clients to have dignity. We saw the new face of health care delivery in the community, a bright space that merged multi-specialty health care access all in one place in the neighborhood. We visited a satellite campus for higher education, which put the students first in its design. And we finished by visiting new space for seniors of diverse backgrounds, with great views, an awesome porch and a connection to the local community.
One of the other highlights of the day was our lunch stop at Inspiration Kitchen at 3504 West Lake Street. Inspiration Kitchens-Garfield Park is a social enterprise restaurant and food service training center. It is a past award winner and it really shows by both the interior design, as well of the quality of the food and service. Inspiration Kitchen is part of Inspiration Corporation, a social enterprise, which has helped more than 450 homeless and low-income men and women gain the skills and experience to succeed in the food service industry. I encourage you to have a great meal and support Inspiration Corporation. Please visit: www.inspirationkitchens.org
As the architects in the group reflected on materials, space usage, design and creativity, I was struck by the simple fact that constructing creative “spaces and places” right in one’s own neighborhood is a very, very good thing for our citizens. It means that our children at risk can get the services they need closer to home. It means that our seniors can live out their twilight years close to what is familiar to them. It means that improved health services, gym and recreational resources improve health, quality of life and a sense of community.
Congratulations to LISC Chicago and to the Driehaus Foundation to shining a spotlight on how buildings can build a community, and how each of our neighborhoods in Chicago has magnificent buildings and architecture. I’ll be in attendance on February 18 when the winners are announced, knowing that everyone who participated in the CDNA and the Driehaus Foundation Awards are all winners, and all help make their communities better.
