In recent American memory, gays and lesbians have been the self-designated keepers of the historic urban fabric. Their preservationist urge has saved whole districts from neglect—Will Fellows detailed it in his 2004 book A Passion to Preserve—and it’s common knowledge among real estate investors to “follow the gays” when searching for the next neighborhood to undergo gentrification.
Fittingly, LGBT community centers also reflect preservationist elements, either by adapting old spaces or combining them into larger campuses. The most recent melding of old and new takes place in the Lakeview neighborhood in Chicago, where Gensler designed the Center on Halsted. The city’s first LGBT community gathering place, it opens to the public with a formal gala, career expo, and guided tours this month—Pride month.
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