City of Chicago

PBC completed a replacement for the Southwest Mental Health Center in 2001, giving the Chicago Department of Public Health a new treatment facility at 1140 West 79th Street. The 7,500-square-foot center features two doctor’s offices, an examination room, 10 therapist’s offices, a children’s therapy room and a multi-purpose room. The $2.2 million project also provided parking for staff and patients.

CDOT project completed in 2001.

The impetus for the establishment of the Children’s Advocacy Center was a desire to cluster the child protection agencies involved with investigation and treatment of sexual abuse cases in Chicago under one roof, allowing for better communication and cooperation between agencies, and most importantly, to provide a non-threatening environment in which to treat the victims of this abuse.

Created to provide sexually abused children from throughout the city with a wide array of social services at a single location, the Center features a kid-friendly design with bright colors, fancifully angled windows and play areas. Even the scale of the building was purposely reduced to make children feel more comfortable.

Renowned Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman designed the original 24,000-square-foot facility, incorporating child-friendly elements in each aspect of the design. The interior and exterior of our building are brightly colored to mimic a playhouse or castle that a child might design. Windows within the building sit low so that children can see out and plenty of light can come in. The entire space was designed as a figure-8 so no hallways had dead ends. The $8.5 million Center contains a medical clinic, observation rooms, counseling areas and other resources to give comprehensive assistance to abused children.

The Center provides intensive advocacy for children–this includes providing education, support groups, social and child life services, mental health resources, crisis intervention, and court accompaniments. With the establishment of the Center, all child sexual abuse reports in Chicago come to one place. Over 3,000 children a year are served at this facility. Along with Advocacy Center staff, the new building houses officials from the Chicago Police Department, Cook County State’s Attorney, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Cook County Bureau of Health Services and other counselors and volunteers.

“The unique nature of the ChicagoCAC is the collaboration. We are the only organization in the City that does this collaborative work with the Chicago Police Department, Department of Children and Family Services, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Stroger Hospital. We do it all in this child-friendly Center.” – Char Rivette, Executive Director, Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center

Funding assistance to the City of Chicago was provided by the governments of Cook County and the State of Illinois.

The grand opening of the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center was August 4, 2001.

View information on this facility’s expansion here.

This interior build-out project was completed for the City of Chicago OEMC in 2001.

This Department of Streets & Sanitation facility was completed in 2000.

Two buildings were renovated and joined to create this 65,000-square-foot facility. This Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events project was completed in 2000.

Gallery 37 is now home to the CPS Advanced Arts Program.

Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events project – completed in 2000.

Landscape architect Mimi McKay and architect Tannys Langdon designed Chicago Women’s Park and Garden, which opened to the public in 2000. The small scale of the park and its lushly planted borders enhance the space’s contemplative feeling.

As part of Mayor Richard M. Daley’s Neighborhoods Alive! program to invest $800 million over four years in neighborhood infrastructure improvements, the Public Building Commission renovated the former Goldblatt’s building. Vacant and neglected for years, the Goldblatt’s building was spared from demolition at the request of local neighborhood groups and declared a Landmark building.

Standing at Chicago and Ashland avenues, the 167,000-square-foot Goldblatt’s department store was a collection of four different but interconnected buildings built 75 to 85 years ago. To maintain the architectural integrity of the facility, the PBC retained and repaired many features of the building’s facade, such as: the original white terra cotta cladding; the “Chicago windows” and the water tower. The PBC also used the original architectural drawings to replicate the original storefront, which was last updated after World War II.

To modernize systems and enhance efficiency, the PBC installed new elevators and new heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, communications, plumbing, drainage, and fire-protection systems. The building now houses various city departments, accommodating nearly 500 personnel.

Renovation of the Goldblatt’s building will play a key role in the economic revitalization of the whole community, as hundreds of city employees will occupy the formerly vacant building, impacting neighborhood businesses daily with an increased demand for commercial services.

In 2000, the Public Building Commission’s work on the Goldblatt’s Building was recognized with the prestigious Cornerstone Award from the Chicago Building Congress. Along with the PBC, the Goldblatt’s project team included architects Holabird & Root; engineers Environmental Systems Design; and general contractor The George Sollitt Construction Company.

This Department of Streets & Sanitation facility was completed in 1998.

Renovated in 1997 and 1998 for use by the Department of Administrative Hearings, Board of Ethics and Commission on Human Relations.