Just under a year ago, we worked alongside Wheeler Keams Architects to carefully select & supply brick for the walls of an exterior garden adjoining the new home of North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN). Founded in 1999, this highly-rated West Side workforce development nonprofit has been steadily expanding their services, recently finding themselves in need of a new space that could unite their scattered offices. They settled on this property — built as the first African American-owned bank in the neighborhood — adapting and modifying the existing structure into a gorgeous new programmatic center and community hub!
We made the 2-mile drive to the site several times before settling on this 3-color brick blend perfectly calibrated to complement the orange & brown tones of the original masonry. The custom formula of “Terra Cotta,” “Ironstone,” and “Monterrey” 8x4x16 “Atlas” structural brick from Interstate Brick was used to build a high wall surrounding a tranquil outdoor Peace Garden, which can be connected via bi-folding door to the facility’s indoor event space. In addition to job readiness programs, NLEN offers mechanic classes, employment opportunities at their on-site coffee shop, community meeting space, financial advising by Wintrust, and even a popular beekeeping enterprise (BeeLove)!
It was an honor to involved in this project, and we wish them great success in continuing their important work for years to come.
LOCATION: 1111 S. Homan Ave. Chicago, IL 60624
ARCHITECT: Wheeler Keams Architects
GC: UJAMAA Construction
MASON: R.E.A. Masonry
PRODUCT SUPPLIED: Interstate Brick
Categories: Commercial + Municipal, Historic Preservation + Adaptive Reuse, Structural Brick
