Things To Do While Self-Isolating in Chicago: Part 4 — Write the Great American Novel
With tens of millions of Americans suddenly forced to work from home, to stay at home, and to confront the general cleanliness of their homes; this seems like a good time to discuss things to do while self-isolated in Chicago. We bring you this series as people with some experience in this arena, having worked from home for ten years in a 475-square-foot apartment in downtown Chicago with a wife and a cat. Much of the world’s...
A Look at Saint Charles’ Public Library Renovation
The City of Chicago has put up some fine public libraries recently. But it’s not the only burg in the ‘land investing in knowledge repositories. West suburban Saint Charles has big plans, and it’s brought in Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects to help. Rendering of the Saint Charles Public Library (Courtesy of SNHA) SNHA recently shared its vision for the almost $19 million renovation and expansion of the Saint Charles...
Another Library/Senior Living Combo Building Arrives in West Ridge
What happens when CPL and CHA have a 1-on-1 about AARP’s? Aside from everyone breaking out their jargon dictionaries, they figure out how to achieve common goals with one building. Rendering of the Northtown Branch Library (Courtesy of Evergreen Real Estate Group) That’s how Chicago got its new Northtown Branch Library at 6800 North Western Avenue in West Ridge. The building opened recently with a Chicago Public Library on...
New Irving Park Library Is Books on the Bottom, Apartments on Top
We live in an age when a world of information is available on tiny computers in our pockets. It’s also an age when any 12-year-old with an internet connection on the other side of the planet can vandalize that information and make you believe whatever he wants. So actual libraries are more important than ever, and in some places more popular than ever. Last year people sought information at Chicago Public Libraries 8.4 million...
Take a Trip Back In Time With The Chicago Park District
Two of Chicago’s most valuable — and under-appreciated — public amenities have gotten together to enhance your love of the Windy City. The Chicago Park District has donated 10,000 historic photographs of the city’s parks to the Chicago Public Library, which has made them available to see for free on the intarwebs. This is where your journey down the rabbit hole...
Old Social Engineering Concept to be Reborn as Chicago Architecture
The 1960’s and 70’s were a great time for public art. Cities around the world spent millions of dollars on sculptures, paintings, and other works of art not for the lucky few, but for the unwashed masses. They were placed in public plazas, municipal buildings, schools and other places where they were intended to inspire, enlighten, and even passively educate. The idea was part of a utopian social engineering concept born...
