KLEO Art Residences

KLEO Art Residences intentionally challenge norms in affordable housing by making natural light and quality of living the overriding priority. It is intended to serve local artists in the community and become a catalyst for development on the Southside of Chicago.

While form and mass of the building are designed to fit seamlessly within the area, the translucent façade is designed to do the opposite. This provides optimal daylight for residents/artists on the inside, while in the evening hours, the building literally glows, becoming a beacon within the community, eliciting pride and hope for residents within Washington Park and beyond.

The design for the KLEO Art Residences builds upon the legacy firmly established by the KLEO center. The new design seeks to enhance and expand the mission and services which are currently a cornerstone for the Washington Park community. These key services include real estate development, education programs, and violence reduction initiatives. Furthermore, the design will provide retail space, additional community activity space, several artist studios, as well as expansive outdoor recreation space to accommodate safe after-school programs.

The Residences were designed to become a catalyst for further retail and mixed-use development along the Garfield Boulevard corridor, creating a literal connection from the Garfield Blvd Redline station to Washington Park. Besides the ground floor retail and communal components, the upper residential floors and artist studios of the project create a metaphorical connection between the arts and higher education prominent in the area.