CHINATOWN — Two new buildings in Chinatown and Back of the Yards have earned honors from a local Realtors group.
The field house at Ping Tom Memorial Park and the Back of the Yards College Prep High School and Library have been recognized as "good neighbors" by the Chicago Association of Realtors.
The properties, both completed in 2013, have "transformed their communities and [are] encouraging a strong sense of civic pride," an association spokesman said in a statement.
The association's "Good Neighbor Awards" honor properties that have set the standard for the best in urban revitalization, residential design and community development. The winners were chosen based on the quality of construction, service to a specific population and architectural significance, among other attributes.
A complete list of winners can be found here.
The field house, 1700 S. Wentworth Ave., sprouted up from a patch of vacant land adjacent to the South Branch of the Chicago River. Decades in the making, the ornate 30,000-square-foot facility features meeting rooms, a terrace with skyline views, gymnasium, fitness center and a six-lane swimming pool.
It was dedicated just weeks before the death of local parks advocate Leonard Louie, a strong backer of the project.
The high school at 2111 W. 47th St. is billed as the first of its kind, a combination Chicago Public Schools high school and Chicago Public Library branch. The 212,285 square-foot building features steel frame and masonry construction and houses 1,200 students.
The 9,000-square-foot library on the lower level includes a computer lab, a media lab, a large book collection and meeting room, with special sections geared toward high school students.
Developers for the projects and community leaders will collect the awards a ceremony on Thursday at the Montgomery Club, 500 W. Superior St.
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