Congratulations to the Chicago Park District (CPD) Headquarters project team for receiving the First Place 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design. This prestigious award recognizes the vital role that both non-profit and for-profit developers play in shaping Chicago-area neighborhoods. Richard H. Driehaus was a pioneering and legendary investor, businessman, and philanthropist who was deeply committed to making a difference. In 1983, he established the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation which provides impact-driven grants that support the local built environment, vibrant arts and culture, Chicago’s working poor, and investigative journalism for government accountability. The Award for Architectural Excellence celebrates projects that integrate superior architecture and quality design into new construction and historic preservation.

The new CPD headquarters is a state-of-the-art multi-story building designed by John Ronan Architects. The building, located in Brighton Park, IL, spans 80,000 square feet and includes 174 acres of multi-use park space comprising of a fieldhouse with gymnasium, fitness and club rooms. Consistent with historical Chicago fieldhouses, the building is designed to be a distinguished presence with an organized park space around it, creating recreation and relation spaces for field house employees and neighborhood residents. Primera provided commissioning services for the project, which included the development of the commissioning plan and verifying operations and maintenance manuals, staff training, and warranties.

Congratulations to John Ronan Architects and all members of the project team! More information on the award can be found here.