CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND

The Chicago Lighthouse Seniors Center is a proposed renovation and addition to the current facility on the University of Illinois Medical Campus. The program will serve seniors who are blind or visually impaired and is intended as a “beacon” for adult education and recreation to engage and empower seniors.

The design embraces the legacy lighthouse imagery by developing a two-story, light filled atrium/lobby with balcony, wellness studio, and lounge with second level modeled after the interior of a lighthouse. The lighthouse cupola can be seen from the street providing a distinct entry from the facility’s school and clinics, also on premises. A sensory garden is located north of the new entry and is envisioned as an “outdoor room” with adjacency to the new “wellness studio”. The facility will also include an art room, music room, demonstration kitchen, computer room, and a small performance auditorium.