Lathrop Homes

As Design Architect of the new Lathrop Homes redevelopment, JGMA has developed both large scale master planning frameworks and micro-focused interior unit layouts. While maintaining public housing units, this redevelopment aims to be a catalyst for change and growth, overcoming years of negative stigma as a neglected and run-down public housing project.

Our design approach is rooted in intensive research and careful analysis of many aspects of a project such as site conditions, historical data, community/ neighborhood relationships, current/future housing trends and the Client’s budget, among others.

Additionally, JGMA has served as an advocate of the project in helping the client in presentations to the community, the authorities and other stakeholders to promote and embrace the project’s common vision. In implementing this vision, JGMA has closely collaborated with and supported a large design team of housing experts, landscape architects, civil engineers, structural engineers, MEP/FP engineers etc. The site contains a mix of retail, community program, public park space, and 1,208 residential dwelling units.

Bowa Construction provided construction management services for the re-purpose of the Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) historic 32-acre Julia C. Lathrop Homes into a sprawling mixed-use, mixed-income campus. In total, the redevelopment delivers 413 mixed-income housing units and 11 acres of green space including a new riverwalk component. This project achieved both LEED® Silver and Enterprise Green Communities LEED for Neighborhood Development certification.