Community Resource Center - Chicago

This Community Resource Center on the South Side of Chicago is a non-profit organization formed in 2007 primarily as a vocational school with job training and placement services. Since then its services have grown to provide more broad community support and mentorship. The resource center was looking to expand its current space to include job training spaces, office rental space for local start ups, event spaces, and administrative offices for the growing organization.

MOA looked to provide the necessary spaces over two floors - in a below grade basement space and a lifted first floor to provide ample natural light into the basement space. The accessible ramp creates a buffer space between busy Halsted Street and the main building entry. The entry itself is carved into the building volume and acts as a visual cue to welcome visitors. Being raised almost five feet above grade level allows for the action at the entry to visible from the street, while also being set back and secure from the street and public right of way. The warm brick tone is a visual nod to their neighboring building, while the blue metal facade panels provide branding and a modern vibe to the architecture - visually connecting the eye back to the building entrance.