Professor Dan Wheeler’s practice, Wheeler Kearns Architects (WKA), recently completed the headquarters of North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN), on the West Side of Chicago. Formerly the Community Bank of Lawndale, the building now houses a variety of community programs, including a cafe, a communal meeting space, and an area for the production of honey and honey-related products. UIC MArch alum Emmanuel Garcia was the project architect. The NLEN and its design were recently featured in Metropolis magazine.
In addition, a collaboration between WKA and the Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), the Go Green Community Fresh Market, recently opened at 63rd and Racine, in Englewood. The project involves the renovation of an existing two-story masonry building into a corner grocery store that provides fresh produce, other food, and a community space. Chris-Annmarie Spencer, a UIC MArch alum and a principal at WKA, led the project.
For more information on these and other WKA projects, visit wkarch.com.