Center on Halsted Reveals the View - 192 - Gay Lesbian Bi Trans News

The Center on Halsted (COH) presented a progress report Feb. 1 on the construction of its innovative Lakeview building. The event took place, fittingly, at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. When the complex is completed, the $24-million, 175,000-square-foot facility will house the Center, a Whole Foods grocery store and a two-level underground parking garage. The Center itself will feature everything from meeting spaces to an auditorium to a recreation space where people can play various sports—everything to allow COH to continue its mission of providing support to LGBT groups. There will even be private entrances for those not quite out of the closet. Elva Rubio, a senior associate with Gensler (the architectural firm behind the developing facility), gave a presentation in which she discussed how the design of the building happened, and also offered insight concerning ideas still being bandied about. 'I'm a girl from the South and two of my high-school friends came here to 'come out' because of persecution, so I think this community is a national one—and I think it's important to realize that [the gay community] has a national presence and that the Center will [reflect] that.' In addition to the aforementioned aspects of the complex, which will be at 3656 N. Halsted, Rubio mentioned other facets that add to the building's innovative look. For example, she discussed using the bricks of the site's former parking garage throughout the new structure. Rubio also talked about the environmentally friendly aspects of the building, which will have a silver rating in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). 'We found that we could get certain grants if we made the building Silver LEED,' she said. 'So there were two reasons: the ethical reasons and the capital contributions.' (The building will feature, among other things, carbon dioxide monitoring and rainwater harvesting.) She then pointed out an intriguing conundrum—'LEED's sustainability [actually] violates our city's codes'—but assured the audience that the parties involved are working on a solution. As if all that is not enough, Rubio highlighted other spaces that the new COH will house, including the Mayor Richard M. Daley Rooftop Garden, the Billie Jean King Recreational Space, a cyber-center and lounge areas. Ideas for a memorial are still being discussed; the audience was shown possible designs, including a window with the etched signatures or hand prints of loved ones. Ald. Tom Tunney of the 44th ward was also on hand to deliver remarks. 'In my opinion, this is the keystone to a $100-million redevelopment of this entire strip from Addison to Waveland,' he said. He also stated that 'the success ... has [come about after] a series of struggles, upstarts and false starts, so we're really excited to see this center [developing]. I'm really proud to be part of the history and to be part of the navigation to get this [building] up and running.' Rubio stated that construction is happening on schedule and that the anticipated move-in date will be March of 2007.

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