LJC has completed the adaptive reuse of the former Loyal Casket Factory at 148 S. California Ave. in Chicago’s East Garfield Park, transforming the historic industrial building into a performing arts center and community hub for nonprofit BandWith Chicago. The project delivers a permanent home for BandWith’s drumline, dance, choral, sound engineering and multigenerational community programs.

The new center consolidates BandWith’s programs into one dedicated location, expanding youth and multigenerational offerings open to the broader community.

Highlights include:

• A dedicated band and drumline rehearsal room, choral rehearsal room and dance studio
• Five private practice rooms
• A music library housing an extensive collection of music in all formats, available to students and the community at large, including a monthly ”Inside the Music Library: Sound Sessions” series
• A professional recording studio and control room available to local artists and students in BandWith’s sound engineering program
• A full-service coffee shop
• A large flexible community room and outdoor plaza for community events

LJC’s design approach was guided by BandWith’s emphasis on directly influencing the student experience. It was also an opportunity to let the building’s bones tell the story. The sawtooth skylight roofs, exposed heavy timber structure and original masonry were not obstacles to work around, but assets to build from, according to the design team. Public gathering areas are intentionally located beneath the skylights, allowing visitors to experience the building’s most distinctive architectural elements. Interior glass walls highlight key program spaces while allowing daylight to flow throughout. The original 100-year-old walls and structural elements remain exposed, creating a striking contrast with the project’s crisp, contemporary architectural improvements.

“Our goal was to provide BandWith with a permanent home that supports its mission and strengthens its long-term impact while remaining deeply rooted in the community,” said Nicholas Moen, associate principal at LJC. “Every aspect of the project was guided by BandWith’s needs, ensuring the space serves students, families and community members today and for years to come. Revitalizing a century-old building in the process made the project even more meaningful.”

“What LJC created for our community is more than a facility — it’s a physical expression of belief in our students’ potential,” said Annie Palomino, BandWith founder and executive director. “The design doesn’t just support our mission; it elevates it.”

With the opening of the new center, BandWith will now serve 1,000 youth and community members annually, with room to grow. In addition to after-school programming, the new facility will introduce job training, mentorship, studio apprenticeships and employment pathways with professional musicians, artists and community members.

About LJC:

LJC is a full-service design and architecture firm, with newly integrated engineering services, committed to enhancing the quality of the human experience and to improving how design and architecture can impact each individual’s emotional being. By harnessing the power of integrated design, including architecture, workplace strategy, interior design, landscape architecture, urban planning and engineering, the company achieves its clients’ goals and aspirations. For more information, please visit www.theljc.com.

All photos accompanying this release can be found HERE. Photos can be credited to Sarah Elizabeth Larson; renderings should be credited to LJC.