The Chicago Park Area Headquarters spans 80,000 square feet, combining office space for Chicago Park Area staff with an 18,000-square-foot sports arena that includes a gym and club facilities. Situated within a newly developed 17-acre park in the Brighton Park neighborhood of southwest Chicago, this site was revitalized from a former brownfield. Reflecting the tradition of Chicago’s historic sports centers, both the headquarters and the sports arena are centrally located within the park, integrating the surrounding green space and lending the building a dignified presence.
The architectural design aims to immerse the park staff in the natural environment, fostering a strong connection between the employees and the community they serve.
The headquarters features a two-story circular layout, an iconic form befitting a prominent public institution. A park pathway runs through the building, clearly separating the sports arena from the office areas. The architect also designed the entire 17-acre park, drawing inspiration from Frederick Law Olmsted’s Chicago Park and Boulevard System. This design connects expansive park areas through beautifully landscaped boulevards.
Where the park path intersects the building, it broadens into two open-air courtyards that flood the interior with natural light and ventilation. These courtyards provide inviting outdoor spaces for relaxation, socializing, and events, benefiting both the headquarters and gymnasium staff as well as local residents.
The headquarters accommodates 205 employees with a mix of staggered enclosed offices, meeting rooms, and open-plan workspaces designed to encourage collaboration and allow for future adaptability. The second-floor office area extends over the sports arena, offering views of the arena below.
At the heart of the second floor lies an employee lounge, positioned between the courtyard and the sports arena, allowing staff to enjoy basketball games during breaks. Conveniently, staff can access the gymnasium directly via connected stairs and elevators without exiting the building.
A covered outdoor terrace on the second floor overlooks the neighboring park and sports field. This versatile space is accessible from the sports hall below and is ideal for parties, events, or informal meetings.
The building’s materials showcase local heritage and sustainability. Chicago common bricks, salvaged from two demolished local buildings, are used extensively, tying the project to the community’s architectural legacy and emphasizing site recycling.
Its exterior features a unitized glass system with bronze-tinted glass, complemented by a curved metal screen made of champagne-colored anodized aluminum that provides shading, enhances energy efficiency, and adds a unique aesthetic.
The structural system is cost-effective, employing metal bar trusses spanning parallel masonry load-bearing walls. A green roof helps mitigate the urban heat island effect, while interior finishes, including furniture, wall panels, and gym flooring, use grey wood reclaimed from trees damaged by local green beetle infestations.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Roof Plan
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
Schematic Diagram of Detailed Structure
Schematic Diagram of Detailed Structure
Schematic Diagram of Detailed Structure
Project Information
Architect: John Ronan Architects
Area: 7,430 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: James Florio
Manufacturers: 9Wood, Alliance Glazing Technologies, Bricks Inc, Cain Millwork, Creative Panel Systems Inc., Just Rite Acoustics, Oldcastle Building Envelope
Design Team: John Ronan Architects
Structural Engineering: Thornton Tomasetti
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering: dbHMS
Municipal Engineering: Terra Engineering
Lighting Design: Charter Sills
Landscape Design: Site Design Group
Community Participation Organization: APMonarch
Location: Chicago, USA
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