Taylor Street Apartments and Little Italy Library

Located in Chicago’s University Village neighborhood, Taylor Street Apartments is an innovative mixed-use development totaling 88,000 SF. Possible through co-location and a public-private partnership between the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), the Chicago Public Library, and Related Midwest, the project provides affordable housing and a public library branch in the community.

The seven-story complex includes 37 CHA units, 29 affordable units, and seven market-rate units with floor-to-ceiling windows to create bright, daylit interiors with views of downtown Chicago.

The project includes a 15,000 SF public library located at a prominent corner of the site and features open spaces designed for different age groups. It also offers various amenities and programs, such as an Early Learning Play Space for developing early literacy skills, a YOUmedia space for teens to explore digital design and technology, individual study rooms, and areas dedicated to workforce development and technology for adults.

Sustainability was a key focus of the project due to its dual public and private functions. The design incorporates various eco-friendly elements such as bike racks, designated spaces for carpool and low-emission vehicles, and local vegetation. The building benefits from a green roof infrastructure that helps reduce the local heat island which manages over 95% of precipitation on-site.

The architectural structure was designed to combine sustainable elements and to complement its neighborhood streetscape, using various unique eco-elements and incorporating terracotta-colored corrugated metal panels and red brick masonry. The building’s street-level community room, along with the apartment and library are set back and staggered across the site to create a more inviting sidewalk presence. This design approach also preserves the Taylor Street Farms community garden, encouraging passersby to stop and check it out.