UrbanWorks, POAH, and the Joseph J. Duffy Co. held a groundbreaking ceremony for Trianon Lofts on July 21, 2016. This four-story, $12.8 million mixed-use development located in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, will include 24 market-rate apartments, sitting atop 7,000 square feet of commercial space currently rented out by Lela’s Land of Learning Child Care Center. Above the first floor’s storefront glazing, a subtly patterned rainscreen-clad façade, inspired by the traditional masonry buildings typical of the area, will harmonize with its surroundings while offering a brightly contemporary look for its occupants. Construction is estimated to be completed in September, 2017. The project has also been featured in recent articles in Chicago Tribune and DNAinfo.
UrbanWorks is pleased to welcome Vianney Floodas, as Business Manager and Development Associate. Vianney brings over 16 years of business management and marketing coordination experience to our firm. She brings a wealth of expertise from the Architecture and Design industry, including organizational management and marketing at local architecture firms and interior design networks. Vianney focuses on improving office work flow while expanding the firm’s portfolio of public and strategic private business endeavors. Read more
On Flag Day, Tuesday June 14th, 2016 A Safe Haven will host a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the UrbanWorks-designed Melrose Park Veteran Village in Melrose Park, Illinois. The event will take place between 10:00am and 12:00pm. Local stakeholders and community members are invited to RSVP and join in this celebratory event. A Safe Haven Veteran Village provides 35 dwelling units for veterans and their families as well as an on-site Management Office and Tot Lot for children to play. This project will mark A Safe Haven’s 40th related housing development across the Chicagoland area.
Robert Natke, UrbanWorks Principal, will moderate a panel discussion at the Student Housing: State of the Market Conference, Wednesday, June 22, 2016. The conference will take place at the Gleacher Center of the University of Chicago, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Drive. The three-hour program will discuss latest trends in Student Housing design and construction. Additional conference topics will include discussions on the latest trends in development, financing, investing, innovation and property management needs in the Student Housing market. The program begins at 7:30am with the panel discussion beginning at 9:00am. Register
UrbanWorks is featured 50 Designers, 50 Ideas, 50 Wards exhibit at the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF). 50 architects and designers were invited to submit transformative design proposals. The exhibit, curated by URBANLAB and Reed Kroloff, focuses on innovative ways to improve the quality of life of Chicago residents over the next 50 years. UrbanWorks proposed a speculation for the 25th ward, which includes Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. The plan envisions lasting change by reinvigorating its manufacturing community and enhancing its residential and educational community. The exhibit is now open and located in the CAF’s Atrium Gallery at 224 S. Michigan Avenue. Read More
In celebration of the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s 50th Anniversary, UrbanWorks partnered with the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) and Thirst to develop an icon representative of the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral. UrbanWorks joined other local architecture firms to design graphic icons for 50 of the most significant Chicago buildings, parks and events together. The Chicago Architecture “Periodic Table” Icon Poster is available for purchase at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Read More
The UrbanWorks concept ORIGAMICS was featured in the AIA Chicago Small Projects exhibition at Architectural Artifacts in Chicago, Illinois. UrbanWorks examined Origamics as a new paradigm, exploring the mathematical theory behind folding and the resulting algorithms those folds create. Structural folding planes respond to the physical and environmental needs of the residents creating a spatially engaging atmosphere that offers dynamism. The UrbanWorks design competition team members were Jose Esquinca, Tim Wang, Tej Varpe, Ameera Ashraf O’ Neil, Maria Pellot, and Patricia & Robert Natke. The international design competition launched in November 2015 solicited speculative design proposals that would provide housing for Chicago’s youth experiencing homelessness. It was organized by AIA Chicago, the AIA Chicago Foundation, Landon Bone Baker, Windy City Times, Pride Action Tank and funded by the Alphawood Foundation.
UrbanWorks is a proud Patron of Sustain-A-City, the Center for Neighborhood Technology’s celebration for supporters from across the urban sustainability spectrum who promote livable and sustainable urban communities for all. The event introduces the finalists of the Urban Sustainability Apps Competition which pairs community members with coders to create scalable, app-based solutions for neighborhood issues. Finalist judges include Brenna Berman, CIO of the City of Chicago, Shelley Stern Grach, Director of Civic Engagement at Microsoft, Janice Jackson, Chief Education Officer of the Chicago Public Schools, and the Honorable Toni Preckwinkle, President of The Cook County Board. The celebration will be held June 16, 2016 at Studio Xfinity 901 W. Weed Street.
UrbanWorks staff members Patricia Saldaña Natke, Maria Pellot, Erick Roldan and Jose Esquinca were featured in the Arquitectos 30X30 Perspectives exhibition at Open Center for the Arts located at 2214 South Sacramento Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The exhibition showcased UrbanWorks projects spanning from educational facilities to multi-family housing. Arquitectos 30X30 Perspectives was the first annual architecture exhibition by Arquitectos and celebrated the organization’s 30th anniversary. Arquitectos, Inc. is a non-profit, 501c (3) organization, whose mission is to provide development, mentorship, community assistance and further enrich the architectural profession through different cultural views and practices.
Patricia Saldaña Natke was a Visiting Juror for Clemson University’s School of Architecture 4th Year Synthesis Studios in Clemson, South Carolina on April 20, 2016. Student proposals explored the architecture of the institution of the Public Library: A 15,000 square foot branch library for Six Mile, South Carolina. Other jurors included Catherine Smith of Catherine Smith Architect, Jo Gilmour-Pike of Joeb Moore Architects, David Moore of McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture, and Paul Mankins of Substance Architecture. The students and jurors were joined by Professor Timothy Brown, Director of Undergraduate Programs and Professor Katherine Lee Schwennsen, Director of the School of Architecture.