Bronzeville Dream Center Design Finalists
In Spring 2016, Prof. Eva Kultermann, IIT College of Architecture, has led a studio to design the build-out of 4522-326 South Cottage Grove, the future home of The Bronzeville Dream Center. The Bronzeville Dream Center, established by Bright Star Church, will provide a new approach to combat violence, counseling, mentoring, and support to avert conflict.
Over the course of the semester three teams' designs were selected as finalists and from these the winning design will be announced at IIT Architecture Open House on May 13th:
An Experience of Space
by Sheree Emmanuel, Haiyeon (Kristina) Lee, Bishrelt (Beck) Solongo
New and Old Juxtaposition
by Samuel Cardenas, Haoyu (Orange) Zhang
Pinch Project
by Katherine (Kaisa) Kimel, Ernesto (Ernie) Zuniga
The Bronzeville Dream Center was launched in September 2014 and included partners Bright Star Community Outreach, Northwestern Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, and the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago. Supported by the leadership of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and two dozen faith leaders, the partners began two years of data gathering, implementation, oversight and evaluation. Organizers have surveyed Bronzeville residents to identify health and behavioral issues that may contribute to violence.
IIT Architecture Chicago, located in Bronzeville, is uniquely positioned to design a space that helps the organizers offer their services to the community in a healthy, effective, productive environment. Kultermann's studio will offer a complete survey of the site, of the organization's goals (organizational, image, functional and economic) and will then work in teams to offer design solutions. The designs will be presented to the Bronzeville Dream Center leadership who will then decide which of the designs best meets the needs of the community. IIT Architecture is committed to making a difference in our shared neighborhood of Bronzeville and promoting an enduring partnership that offers solutions to violence in our community.
IIT Architecture Chicago announced a five-year commitment to the Bronzeville Dream Center during a fundraiser in January 2016. IIT Architecture Chicago will also be providing scholarships for two Bronzeville high school students to attend IIT Architecture's "Experiment in Architecture," a summer program designed to introduce high school sophomores and juniors to the profession of architecture.