COMMUNITY CENTER FOR ART & MUSIC EDUCATION

Located in Chicago, one of the most diverse metropolitan areas in the country, K-Town Collective is a Community-based Arts and Music Education facility where underserved students of all ages have access and opportunities to discover, develop, and nurture their creativity through classes and programs taught by local professional artists and musicians. It aims to bring accessible education not only to an urban community but also to rural communities through outreach (off-site) programs. By lowering entry barriers to such experiences, K-Town will enable transformative growth through meaningful engagement for students, professionals, and the larger community. 

To bridge the gap between need and accessibility to high quality music and visual arts experiences, the design centers around spaces that provide community engagement and facilitate learning and discovery. Programming includes studios for local professional artists and musicians, education-based studios incorporating the latest tools and technology, 2 public art galleries, a public library, 2-story auditorium, Maker’s Space, recording studios, a 4 story Atrium with an indoor garden and water-wall, and masterplanned residential living on the 4th floor for future use as subsidized housing for artists and musicians.

This project will seek WELL certification to provide the most comprehensive human health and wellbeing standards for future occupants. Additionally, utilizing human behavior theories and evidence-based design solutions will ensure K-Town meets the needs of the diverse user groups as well as goals of the client and ultimately serve as a blueprint for future accessible and Well Certified art and music education centers.