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SOS_Childrens_Village_Community_Center_Tim McCormick_Community_Center_mass_timber_clt_glulam_illinois_chicago

SOS Children’s Village Community Center – The Tim McCormick Community Center

The Campus “Front Door” with Mass Timber Innovation

At the heart of SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is the Tim McCormick Community Center, a central hub for providing essential programs and services to families and youth in their foster care program. This single-story, 1,021-square-meter facility, completed in 2020, is designed to be both a resource center for Village residents and a safe, welcoming communal space for the wider Chicago neighborhood. The center is a prototype for urban human services, offering academic, therapeutic, social, and recreational activities.

Sustainability and Wellness in Focus

The Center serves as a vital resource for the community, with a strong focus on educational and social programming. A key component of the facility is the 3,000-square-foot Goya Learning Kitchen, intentionally designed for culinary demonstrations and hands-on learning. This space will be used to educate the community about nutrition and culinary skills, including job training. The use of mass timber as the building system contributes to the center’s warm and inviting atmosphere, providing a natural and comfortable environment for learning and community engagement.

Architectural Integration of Mass Timber

The Tim McCormick Community Center is an assembly-type building constructed with a mass timber building system. The project utilized both Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) and Glue-Laminated Timber (GLT or glulam). These materials create a visually appealing structure that is integral to the building’s purpose as a community gathering space. The choice of mass timber reflects a modern approach to community-focused design, combining functionality with an emphasis on natural materials to create a beneficial environment for all who use the space.

Project Highlights

  • Community Hub: A centerpiece for SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, providing a range of services from academic to recreational for youth and families.
  • Neighborhood Resource: Serves as a safe, communal space for local residents to access resources, training, and special events.
  • Goya Learning Kitchen: A key feature of the center, this 3,000-square-foot kitchen is designed for culinary and nutritional education and job skills training.
  • Mass Timber Construction: Built in 2020 using a mass timber system with CLT and glulam, contributing to the building’s welcoming and natural aesthetic.
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