The first new Boys and Girls Club neighborhood center in Chicago is located in what could appear to be an unlikely place, surrounded by warehouses.
The after-school center for teens and young children nevertheless appears to fit among the industrial properties of the Humboldt Park neighborhood in Chicago's West Side.
The three-story club’s ground-floor exterior walls are made of raw concrete and the second and third floors are metal panels coated with blue paint that has a metallic sheen. Angled and cantilevered windows provide texture to the exterior.
The interior is brightly painted with blue, orange and green color schemes. There are lots of features inside that appeal to kids — an indoor gym, maker’s space, recording studio, basketball court, roof deck with a view of the Chicago skyline and an outdoor playground.
The $15 million Rusu-McCartin Club is the first new construction of a Boys and Girls Club in Chicago in nearly 50 years, according to the nonprofit organization.
BUILDING DATA
Building Name: Rusu-McCartin Boys and Girls Club
Building Size: 28,000 square feet
Owner: Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago
Building Location: 4411 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL
Date Completed: August 2023
General Contractor: Bear Construction
Building Architect: Latent Design
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