South Side Sanctuary
The transformation of four vacant lots in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood into a public plaza for community, with amenities including WiFi, power, lighting, and landscape.
The South Side Sanctuary is a transformative, design-forward community gathering space dedicated to uplifting and uniting multigenerational community members from all walks of life. The Sanctuary provides creative, entrepreneurial, and recreational pipelines for development and self expression.
The project transformed four vacant, contaminated Chicago lots in the historic neighborhood of Bronzeville into a space for gathering that facilitates growth and engagement. The design accommodates year-round, fully-accessible visitorship and programming and responds to changing programs with flexible architectural elements. Spaces include a performance stage, covered areas for farmer’s markets, and an all-wheels area for play and wellness. The space integrates infrastructural upgrades including WiFi, water and sewer connection, and power, including night lighting.
News & Recognition
Chicago Sun-Times
“Community space South Side Sanctuary opens in ‘heart’ of Bronzeville”
ABC7 Chicago
“New South Side Sanctuary brings large outdoor green space to Bronzeville, Chicago at East 47th and South King Drive”
Chicago Defender
“New South Side Sanctuary Aims to Heal Community and Revitalize 47th Street”
Fox32
“New community space opens in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood”
Info
Location: Bronzeville, Chicago
Client: The Nascent Group
Progress/Year: Completed, 2023
Team
Builder: Nation Builders
Consulting Engineer: Stantec
Site Work: Martinez Frogs
Steel: D5 Metals
Carpentry: Revolution Workshop
Graphic Identity: Span Studio
Photography: Annkathrin Murray
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Chicago, IL 60604
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