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North Avenue Beach House

Originally built in 1940 and redesigned in 1999, the North Avenue Beach House blends historic design with modern amenities, serving millions of Chicago lakefront visitors annually.

  • An aerial shot shows a crowded beach along a large body of water, likely Lake Michigan, with numerous sailboats dotting the horizon under a pale sky. In the foreground, a sandy beach is packed with people. Adjacent to the beach is a modern, boat-shaped building with red accents on its roof. To the right of the building, a large area with multiple white tents is set up on what appears to be muddy ground, possibly indicating recent rain or a specific event setup. A paved road with parked cars and a few buses curves around a grassy area in the lower left. A long pier extends into the water from the right, ending at a small lighthouse. In the distance, a large ship is visible on the water.

    Photo Credit: William Kildow; Lawrence Okrent, Tom Rossiter

  • A ground-level shot frames the John Hancock Center (now 875 North Michigan Avenue) in the background, towering over a foreground building with a nautical design. The foreground building is white with blue trim and features circular windows resembling portholes, and a large red cylindrical structure on its roof. The word "RESTROOMS" is visible above an entrance. Several people are walking around the foreground building's patio area. The sky is partly cloudy.

    Photo Credit: William Kildow; Lawrence Okrent, Tom Rossiter

  • A vibrant, low-angle shot of the North Avenue Beach boathouse in Chicago under a deep blue sky. The building, designed to resemble a ship, features white walls, blue railings, and two prominent, red-banded cylindrical structures on its roof, mimicking smokestacks. A striped awning covers a central outdoor area between the two "smokestacks." The lower level of the building is open, revealing glimpses of Lake Michigan through its arched supports. Two people and a bicycle are visible on the left side of the lower level. The intense blue of the sky contrasts sharply with the white and red of the building.

    Photo Credit: William Kildow; Lawrence Okrent, Tom Rossiter

  • An interior view of the North Avenue Beach boathouse, showcasing its multi-level, ship-inspired architecture. The ground floor features numerous round, dark tables arranged in rows. White pillars support the upper levels. In the center, a large, dark opening is labeled "UPPER DECK" in red text, leading to stairs or a ramp. The walls are white with blue trim and a decorative blue wave pattern. On the upper level, a red wall with a large black opening is visible, resembling the "smokestack" exterior. Red and white striped awnings or coverings are visible on either side of the upper level, extending towards the viewer.

    Photo Credit: William Kildow; Lawrence Okrent, Tom Rossiter

  • A wide-angle, twilight shot of North Avenue Beach in Chicago, bathed in a purple hue. The North Avenue Beach boathouse, with its distinctive red-topped "smokestacks" and white structure, is centrally located on the left, illuminated by scattered lights. The beach in the foreground appears damp, reflecting some of the sky's light. In the background, the Chicago skyline rises, with several tall buildings glowing with orange and white lights. Streetlights line the beach path, and trees are visible between the boathouse and the city buildings. Two blurred figures are visible on the right side of the frame, possibly walking.

    Photo Credit: William Kildow; Lawrence Okrent, Tom Rossiter

  • A sunny, mid-day shot of North Avenue Beach in Chicago, featuring the distinctive boathouse building in the background. The sandy beach in the foreground is populated with sunbathers lying on towels and chairs. A yellow beach umbrella stands out in the middle ground. The boathouse, designed like a ship, has white walls, blue trim, and two prominent red cylindrical structures on its roof. People are visible on the boathouse's upper deck and on the ground level. In the far background, the top of the John Hancock Center (now 875 North Michigan Avenue) is visible, along with other city buildings, under a clear blue sky.

    Photo Credit: William Kildow; Lawrence Okrent, Tom Rossiter

Official Name

North Avenue Beach House

Address

1601 N. Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive

Architect

Style

Neighborhood

Lincoln Park

Current Use Type

Original Completion Date

1999
Google Maps Static Map

WPA Project

Located on one of Chicago’s most popular stretches of lakefront, the North Avenue Beach House combines architectural imagination with urban recreation. Originally built in 1940 as a Works Project Administration (WPA) project during a major expansion of Lincoln Park, the beach house was designed by Emanuel V. Buchsbaum to resemble a sleek Art Moderne ocean liner.

Deterioration of the building had gotten so bad that by the late 1990s, a replacement was urgently needed. The Public Building Commission (PBC) received permission to take down the outdated structure in order to build a better facility to serve many more interests and visitors.

Reimagined

Working in collaboration with the Chicago Park District, the PBC, and local preservation groups, Wheeler Kearns Architects reimagined the structure while keeping the spirit of the original design. Completed in 1999, the current beach house honors its predecessor while addressing the demands of modern public use. In fact, lead architect Dan Wheeler commented that “Most people did not realize the building was entirely different when it was built—a new site, new form—which we took as a compliment.”

Concrete now replaces the former timber frame, and a slightly relocated site opens views to the lake previously blocked by infrastructure. The building’s orientation eases congestion and enhances safety while offering expansive public terraces, concessions, restrooms, and a dedicated lifeguard training center. Two prominent "smokestacks"—once ornamental—now house stairwells leading to an upper-level promenade with stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.

A Social Hub

The 22,000-square-foot facility was formally dedicated by Mayor Richard M. Daley in May 2000. Since then, it has served as both a social hub and a public amenity, offering food, fitness, rentals, and waterfront access to more than 6 million visitors annually. Most recently, its restaurant, Castaways, reopened after a renovation with updated interiors, multiple bars, and a rooftop stage for live performances.

While much has changed since the 1940s, the building remains anchored in Chicago’s architectural legacy and a year-long reminder of summer days in the city. 

  • Did you know?

    North Avenue Beach sits atop over 875,000 sq ft of reclaimed land added in the 1930s via WPA landfill projects.

  • Did you know?

    In 1940 the Lincoln Park Passerelle, a pedestrian bridge over Lake Shore Drive, opened to help visitors access the beach.

  • Did you know?

    The Chicago Lifeguard Service, serving North Avenue Beach, is the largest municipal lifeguard team in the world.

  • Did you know?

    According to lead architect Dan Wheeler, “Joe, the senior lifeguard, cried when he entered the new building… it seemed like home.”

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