SOUTHWEST WOMEN
WORKING TOGETHER
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 2003
Located on Western Avenue in the West Englewood neighborhood of Chicago,
this 13,700sf facility serves as the headquarters for Southwest
Women Working Together. Southwest Women Working Together is a not-for-profit
community based woman's organization which provides social services for
domestic violence victims and their families on the southwest side of
Chicago.
Originally a derilict former funeral home building, the two-story south wing of the new facility was rehabilitated to accommodate private offices and meeting rooms. The new west wing provides a larger communal conference room on the ground floor and job-training seminar rooms on the second floor. Along with eight-foot garden walls to the east and north, the wings envelope a contemplative garden space, reinforcing the character of the space as one of refuge.
The west wing, situated between mature elm trees on Western and the internal garden, has generous glass areas on both sides, although translucent toward the public street.
Southwest Women Working Together received the first-place Richard A. Dreihaus Foundation Award for neighborhood design in 2005. A video presentation of the project and more information can be viewed on this site.
Video by Wheeler Kearns Architects. Photographs by Jun Fujinuma unless otherwise noted. Interior Fixtures and Furnishings by Supporting the Spirit Foundation. Landscape by CYLA Design Associates Inc. General Contractor was Fred Berglund & Son.
Floor Plan
The first floor plan of the new facility shown in context of the site. North is to the left.
Garden Facade
A two-story window wall in te new west wing allows the training rooms and communal conference room to overlook the internal garden space.
Garden Detail
Benches situated at the perimeter of the paving offer secluded areas for conversation. Photo by Jon Heinert.
Garden Wall
The eight-foot garden wall screens traffic noise and the view of the adjacent parking. Photo by Jon Heinert.
Garden
As the central focus of the facility, the walled garden provides a safe, secure refuge for staff and clients.
Garden
A transparent link joins the new west wing with the existing structure to the south.
Entry Lobby
Situated in the link between the existing and new wings, the lobby allows an immediate view of the garden beyond. A secure entry vestibule is monitored by staff.
Second Floor
Situated on the second floor, the resource library occupies the glassy link between the wings.
Movie
A Real Networks movie of the new facility. For a free download of RealOne Player follow this link.
