NORTH AVENUE BEACH HOUSE
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 1999

This structure caters to the most heavily used public beach in Chicago, serving 6.5 million people per year. The building serves as the training center for the city's lifeguards and provides washrooms, a community room, and recreation and refreshment concessions.  Completed with GEC Design Group as Architects of Record, this new beach house replaces a much loved but greatly deteriorated predecessor constructed in 1939.

Working closely with the local community and preservation groups,  the Chicago Park District, and the Public Building Commission, WKA designed the new building to recall the spirit and streamlined nature of the previous design without replication. The new structure's location has been slid south, opening a vista through to the lake from North Avenue while becoming more prominent on the lakefront. A continuous promenade wraps the boat shaped plan, responding to a new site design done in conjunction with John MacManus and Associates, GEC, and the Chicago Park District. Two prominent "smokestacks", previously ornamental, house stairs which access a public terrace on the upper level.

Photos by William Kildow and Lawrence Okrent (Airial). General Contractor was Joslyn Construction, Inc.

Breezeway

A central breezeway provides a view to the lake.

Beachview

Located along a running path, on the beach.

Lakeside

View from Lake Michigan.

Aerial

View during the Air and Water Show, 1999.

Aerial

From over the lake.

People

Summer weekend afternoon.

Oblique

Oblique view of stacks

Breezeway

Breezeway tables, stair entry.