Having outgrown an existing River North office, the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation (CTUF) and its tenant-partner, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), frequently secured off-site venues to accommodate the growing demand for programs and meeting space.  Informed by extensive and immersive programming, design, and budget analyses, CTUF/CTU concluded that, for the first time in their 100-plus year history, they required a modern, modest home, designed and organized to represent and implement their missions within the communities they serve. 

Collaborating with Holabird & Root, a 110,000-square-foot, 90-plus-year-old warehouse on Chicago’s Near West Side was selected to serve as the headquarters for both organizations and a hub for those with like minds.  This adaptive reuse project enabled all program needs to be met on-site, while improving access for 26,000 current and retired teacher constituents.  CTUF/CTU sought to create a space to serve as its new home for mission-driven and member-focused operations, advocacy, and outreach.  Integral to the design concept was the need to strategically organize each of the organization’s departments and advocacy groups within the existing three-story structure, while fostering connections to their past, present, and future.   

The repositioning solution accommodates public gatherings, professional development programs, meetings with 800-plus participants, and office functions for distinct departments across floors one and three.

The first floor includes member-education spaces, including an auditorium designed to accommodate over 800 individuals.  The auditorium was created by removing one-third of the second floor.  The second floor’s remaining leasable tenant space and CTU’s office space on the third floor are complete with lofted ceilings, exposed brick walls, and heavy timber/concrete columns. Additional spaces include general office space including open and private offices, ancillary and support space such as conference rooms, secure sensitive areas, and storage.  New circulation, technology, and MEP/FP systems were integrated to ensure this nearly century old warehouse successfully serves its 21st century users.