Mixed-Use Building

Second year studio - Professor: Gregory Grzeslo

Chicago zoning and building codes were followed during the design of this small mixed-use project, located in the city’s historic South Side neighborhood of Bronzeville. The project utilizes colored terracotta panels on its facade in an effort to breathe an extra burst of life into an underdeveloped area. The building includes two commercial spaces on its ground floor and four double story apartment units above. Each unit includes at least two balconies, which are notched into the building and identified by their bright red color.

Location

The site is situated in Chicago's historic Bronzeville neighborhood, just 15 minutes from downtown via the CTA's Green Line located two blocks away. Additionally, the site is a close walk to the Illinois Institute of Technology's Main Campus - a PhD granting university.

Existing site conditions

These photos taken from the corner of 37th and Indiana show how underdeveloped the site's immediate area is. I made the use of color an integral part of my design in an attempt to further brighten the area up.

North (37th St) Elevation

Different features of the building, such as inset balconies on the upper floors and entrances on the first floor, are called out by different colored terracotta panels.

Materiality

The building's facade is composed of two different sized terracotta paneling units to help differentiate between the commercial and residential components of the building.

West (Indiana Ave.) Elevation

A band of red panelings helps to define the main residential entrance to the building.

First floor plan

2 commercial units

Second floor plan

Four double story apartment homes:
(3) 1 bedroom/ 1.5 bath units
(1) 2 bedfroom/ 2.5 bath units

Third floor plan

Longitudinal section

Wall section

The building is designed with a poured-in-place concrete structure and light gauge metal framing. The terracotta façade paneling is mounted using a series of clips, resulting in a rain screen system.

Wall section - close up of first floor

Wall section - close-up of third floor and roof