Centrum Properties
44 Units
Chicago, IL

The Project site, in the heart of an established urban neighborhood and adjacent to a little used railroad spur, was dominated by a 50,000SF one-story 1960’s industrial building. Although originally intended to be demolished and replaced by high-end single-family homes and townhomes, community members opposed the needed rezoning because the building had become an iconic figure of the neighborhood. To overcome this obstacle, a strategy for adaptive reuse was developed and in doing so, a new architecture evolved. The final planning concept involved “carving” landscaped courtyards out of the original steel frame/bar joist structure and positioning open and garage parking along the rail line. Within the complex, most of the forty-four units are of a two level townhome/loft style. Bedroom level mezzanines are constructed of precast concrete planks bearing on steel stud demising walls for an unusual, but space and cost effective technique. Major living areas enjoy high ceilings characterized by painted industrial framing and articulated fireplace walls. At the exterior, existing perimeter masonry walls are simply cut to receive dramatic over-scaled windows. Although linear, walls of the inner courts are composed of unique facades for each unit. Block masonry, corrugated galvanized siding, aluminum windows and colorful canopies all serve to playfully reinterpret the industrial aesthetic. A sculptural entrance gate, composed of metal grillage, bar joists, and concrete columns, reinforce this identity.