Thresholds Center for Mental Wellbeing

The project expands an existing facility on Chicago’s South Side with a 7,000 SF addition that introduces full accessibility, light-filled supportive spaces, and a dignified new entry sequence. A sloping courtyard and double-height atrium foster calm, privacy, and connection to nature. Durable masonry grounds the building in its neighborhood, while textured modern panels add rhythm and movement—together creating a lasting, welcoming resource that reflects investment, dignity, and hope for the community.

The project’s design was directly shaped by neighborhood engagement. The initial concept placed the new entrance on Emerald Avenue, filling a vacant parcel just north of the current entry. During community meetings, residents voiced concerns about safety and the potential for commercial activity to spill into the residential blocks. In response, the entrance was reimagined and internalized within a protected courtyard accessed from 47th Street. A new centralized entrance, framed by a gently sloping courtyard, creates a layered procession that discreetly resolves a 42-inch grade change while offering privacy and calm for members.

This entry sequence culminates in a light-filled interior that welcomes visitors into a space where a new elevator links all levels and introduces a fully accessible third floor housing a staff lounge and a conference center with panoramic views of the surrounding neighborhood. A compact radial plan centered on a modest double-height atrium structures programming while maximizing daylight and views within a constrained footprint. External and internal materials come together in context to reinforce openness, connection to nature, and therapeutic calm.