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New West Ridge Library To Be Designed By Firm Behind O'Hare, Rush Hospital

By Linze Rice | March 20, 2017 8:24am
 A rendering of the new West Ridge library, by Perkins and Will.
A rendering of the new West Ridge library, by Perkins and Will.
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WEST RIDGE — City officials announced Sunday a firm behind some of Chicago's iconic modern sites will lead the charge on designing the new West Ridge library and senior housing complex.

After a design competition that started late last year, Perkins + Will has been selected from a group of three semi-finalists competing to design the library at the corner of Pratt and Western avenues.

The Western Avenue branch is one of three new mixed-use libraries and housing facilities slated to open across the city, including others on Taylor Street and Elston Avenue.

On Monday night at 6:30 p.m., Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th) is holding a community meeting to discuss the project at Warren Park, 6601 N. Western Ave.

The project is a collaboration between the Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Public Library and Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office.

Perkins + Will, headquartered in Chicago since 1935, worked on the Rush University Medical Center, O'Hare International Airport, the Jones College Prep campus in the Loop and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

The firm has also designed a number of mixed-use libraries. It was started by Lawrence Perkins and Philip Will, Jr. and has offices in more than 20 cities.

Perkins and Will will soon begin working with project developers and community members to come up with final designs, including holding design workshops by the Chicago Housing Authority, Chicago Public Library officials and the city Department of Planning and Development, according to city officials. 

LEARN West Rogers Park — a group of local organizations that includes Devon Bank, Friends of Northtown Library, Indo-American Center, Jewish Community Council of West Rogers Park and the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society — is circulating an online survey for residents and other groups to gauge interest in the structure's design, the library's programming, hours, parking and more. 

Construction is slated to begin by the end of the year and wrap up in late 2018 or early 2019.