Between States—50 Designers Transform Chicago's Neighborhoods

An artifact of our municipal water system becomes an offshore wonderland for play and discovery.

A theater sprouts its own performance "platforms" to relate to a neighboring "L" station platform.

Modern library geared toward technology, learning and gathering transforms an abandoned bank building into a new neighborhood hub.

A newly designed church serves up modern spaces for worship and celebration.

A local depository for electricity provides energy security for the community's manufacturing, commercial and residential districts.

Injecting green space and community services into an industrial scar on the West Side.

Bringing together threads of community services at one site, with a health clinic, after-school program, day-care facility and other private…

A waterborne performance stage floats to landings along the Chicago River, sparking new community at the water's edge.

Incubating new businesses in an architecturally significant former Chicago Public School.

Green space anchors one end of a "walking musuem" in Portage Park.

Trace an ancient Native American portage route lined with new parklets, sculptures and exhibits.

A pedestrian bridge over the Eisenhower Expressway is a "handshake" between the Illinois Medical District and neighborhoods to the north.

Harnessing architecture and infrastructure to build new networks for moving goods and information.

A neighborhood center uses tutoring, mentoring and the game of squash to help Woodlawn residents graduate high school and go on to college.

A new front lawn for Pilsen finds common ground between public infrastructure and private development.

New modes of production redefine the land of slaughterhouses while paying tribute to this singular history.

Transforming a bleak transit node on Chicago's South Side with new gathering space and greenery.

Modular housing and urban agriculture conquer abandoned strip malls.