El Zocalo Apartments
El Zocalo is a unique collaboration between a private developer, UP Development, and a local community not-for-profit, Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, to deliver affordable housing to a predominantly Latinx community on Chicago’s South Side. The six-story mixed-use building in the Brighton Park neighborhood has 30 apartments that are configured in one-, two-, and three-bedroom units to fit a variety of family sizes. The 43,700-square-feet building’s simple rectangular massing is articulated with two vertical notches to indicate the resident entries and a setback across the ground level that expresses the commercial and community elements. A rhythmic composition of exterior facing and cladding boards in matte gray tones define a lively façade that reflect the dynamic opportunity provided by the project and its residents. The ground floor’s generous 10-feet-tall interiors with floor-to-ceiling glazing provide a commercial space, indoor gathering room, kitchen, and children’s play area for the residents. Apartment interiors feature a loft approach, with polished concrete floors, exposed ceilings, and open kitchen arrangements with modern cabinetry.