Breakthrough Ministry Center
A renovated ministry offers a home to those without in Chicago’s West Side.
Photo © Alan Shortall
Image Courtesy Built Form, LLC
Photo © Alan Shortall
Photo © Alan Shortall
Image courtesy Built Form, LLC
Breakthrough Ministry Center is a 24,000-square-foot facility that provides support services for homeless or unemployed men on Chicago’s West Side. Located in the East Garfield Park neighborhood, the project is a renovation of a two-story building, and the integration of five neighboring lots into a garden and staff parking lot.
The project, completed in July 2008, evolved over a four-year span. It came with its challenges: the need to adapt to donated materials, program changes, a fluctuating budget, and surprises that arose when the existing structure was revealed. The project grew from an interior renovation into a major reconstruction, and the architects established a series of simple design goals that continually redefined the project as it evolved.
The main floor of the center includes a sleeping area for up to 30 men, 5 single occupancy units, a commercial kitchen, a dining area, a gathering space, a job-training center, and all necessary support spaces.
Security was an issue in the design process, but so was the creation of a welcoming ambiance. The dining room, gathering space, and gallery corridor are all open spaces with multiple site lines, yet they also offer a degree of privacy. The walls and floors are neutral colors, typically stained concrete.
The exterior facade maintains the massing and window openings as they were in the original structure, as well as the scale. The use of brick at street level is consistent with the former building, but the upper portion features stainless steel panels to add a new dimension to the building.
Sustainable features include hot water provided by solar thermal panels. The parking surface is constructed of pervious concrete and was designed to minimize the amount of paved surface area. The garden, designed as a gathering space and staff retreat, is landscaped with native grasses and plants.
PeopleOwner Breakthrough Urban Ministries Architect Built Form, LLC Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit: Architect of record Built Form, LLC Interior designer Built Form, LLC Engineer(s) Structural: MEP & Life Safety: Consultant(s) Landscape: Other: General contractor Pepper Construction Photographers Alan Shortall Photography Renderer Built Form, LLC CAD system, project management, or other software used: |
ProductsStructural system Existing steel frame and precast deck w/new steel roof joist at single story portion of building and new load bearing masonry walls on three sides. Exterior cladding Masonry: Glen-Gery Marseilles Plant, Sahara Velour Utility Brick Metal panel: Millennium Tile, Natural finish without shadow cup Roofing Sure-Weld fully-adhered White on black .045” thick EPDM roof system on top of R43 rigid insulation (Down Thermax Sheathing polyisocyanurate insulation) Solar Thermal Collectors for hot water Windows Vinyl Windows: Republic Windows (Contour Series) Glazing Glass: Republic Windows Skylights: Bristolite Skylights Doors Entrances: Aluminum storefront Kawneer Series 350 with clear anodized finish. Metal doors: Painted Hollow Metal Wood doors: Algoma Hardwood Plain Sliced Cherry Veneer Sliding doors: Thermacore Overhead Garage Door Hardware Locksets: IR Security & Safety Falcon T-Series Hinges: Aluminum geared continuous hinge at entry doors Closers: IR Security & Safety SC70-Series Exit devices: Monarch 18 Series Pulls: Ives Security devices: Monarch 18 Series Interior finishes Acoustical ceilings: USG Astro Clima Plus Suspension grid: USG Centricitee DXL and Donn DX Ceiling Grid Paints and stains: Pittsburg Paints Plastic laminate: Formica Special surfacing: Stained Concrete by Scolfield, Perma-Cast Sierra Stain over Proflow leveling compound. Florock Floroquartz Epoxy flooring in Kitchen. Floor and wall tile: Daltile Porcelain tile used in bathrooms Carpet: Shaw Contract Group Carpeting (Partial Donation)and Interface Floor Carpeting with Armstrong Vinyl Base Furnishings Office furniture: Donated Gathering Space furniture: IKEA Dining Room Chairs: Costco Dining Room Tables: Costco Classroom furniture: IKEA Bed’s with storage: Custom by Solid Rock Carpenters (Donation) Lighting Interior ambient lighting: Duray fluorescent and parabolic lighting, Columbia Indirect fluorescent Downlights: Spectrum downlights Conveyance Elevators/Escalators: Otis Telescopic Hydraulic Elevator Accessibility provision (lifts, ramping, etc.): Concrete slab-on-grade ramp. Plumbing American Standard, Acorn, Elkay and Zurn Add any additional building components or special equipment that made a significant contribution to this project: Some of the energy grant features included:
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