The Altgeld Gardens public housing complex on Chicago’s far South Side has a long history of both hope and despair. It was built to be a community within the larger city for returning black veterans after World War II, but severe environmental hazards in the area led to decades of health problems for its residents. Today, the city is working to revitalize the development, with efforts that include the recently completed Altgeld Gardens Family Resource Center as a new gateway facility. Its wavy façade and oversized windows emphasize a sense of welcome and fun that’s underscored in the design of two interior courtyards – those are clad in sky-blue metal wall panels that help bring the outside into the substantial building’s interior.
Credit:
PAC-CLAD