Community Building – 6th floor

I can’t wait to start bringing people from different worlds together. Up on the 6th floor, we’ll have a community space where recyclers, farmers, artisans and manufacturers will gather. There will be a kitchen, eating area, couches and an amazing view of the skyline to stimulate the rhizome discussion deep into the night (I think that’s what farmers talk about). If things go well, we’ll even have a restaurant serving food so fresh that it’s picked after you order it.

We hope to remove the roof over about 8,000 sq. ft. toward the south end. Here, you’ll see the rooftop greenhouses cascading down and terraced gardens along a dramatic promenade. There will be a long, curving glass wall separating inside and out, with the farming operation visible inside. Right now these details are being worked on by the architecture team in Blake’s class at IIT. A big, boxy building needs some curves and angles to spice it up a bit.

The 6th floor also contains our auditorium, the former board room from Chicago Public Schools administration days. It’s a 3,000 sq. ft. room with risers and theater seating, the conference table and all of the furniture is intact. With some new paint to cover the beige, we’ll be able to use the space for events and education. Right now, the space is being used as a shooting gallery by the police, they like to shoot at posters of tough guys and break down doors. Get out your mud knife there’s lots of bullet holes to fill.