Rauner Family Veterans Studios

The 45,891-square-feet Rauner Family Veterans Studios houses 90 efficiency residences primarily designated for veterans on Chicago’s West Side. Clad in variated grey panels punctuated by wood and aluminum-clad feature units, the five-story-tall building represents a positive development within the North Lawndale community. The plan is straightforward: The building’s lobby is accessed from sidewalk and parking at the east end of the ground level. An elevator adjacent to the lobby provides access to a double-loaded corridor that organizes the building on each floor. The 90 studio apartments face either north or south, with shared public amenities located on the ground floor facing the sidewalk. The building deploys a “hospitality” approach to its public spaces, reminiscent of a boutique hotel. Bright contemporary finishes complement classic modern furnishings in public and private spaces. Features and amenities include a common meeting/community space, a computer room, a lounge, and an outdoor landscaped area with a gazebo. A bike storage structure and 26 designated off-street surface parking stalls are located behind the building. Seventy-five of the building’s 90 units are dedicated to military veterans. The fully furnished studio apartments house low-income, senior, and disabled military veterans. Residents are referred by the local United States Veterans Administration (USVA) and Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) offices.