Barbara Vick Western Branch
Project summary
To allow development and growth to early education, Bailey Edward, in partnering with Chicago Public Schools, identified a bank/office building to be the new home for satellite pre-k classrooms. The Barbara Vick Early Learning Branch program serves the entire Beverly and Morgan neighborhoods, ensuring academic achievement.
Along with fulfilling the accommodations of Chicago Public Schools with more classroom and office spaces, Bailey Edward accomplished renovations to the current existing building that aids in the expansion of the program. The renovation includes seven brand new Pre-K classrooms which will be located on two floors, multipurpose room, kitchen, offices and administrative spaces. There will also be enough space for a 25-person office not directly associated with the pre-k space. All the office spaces contain maximum flexibility in being able to be easily transformed into a classroom at any time as necessary.
Sitework was conducted involving the conversion of the current existing bank teller drive through into a newly covered playground. Modifications were carried out to the drop-off and pick up areas, as well as upgrades to the accessible pathways within the existing parking lot.
Chicago Public Schools can both provide pre-k learning opportunities and develop the program in the future in a neighborhood of high demand.
client
Chicago Public Schools
location
Chicago, Illinois
size
35.680 sf
Services
Specialties
client
Chicago Public Schools
location
Chicago, Illinois
size
35.680 sf
Services
Specialties
Awards
The Barbara Vick Western Branch has been recognized nationally and internationally by the following organizations:
American School & University
Educational Interiors Showcase Outstanding Design (2024)
Learning by Design Magazine
Honor Award (2024)
Architizer
A+ Awards Special Mention (2025)
Elev8 Design Awards
Gold Award : Civic / Public (2026)
spaces4learning Design Showcase
Grand Prize: K-12 Renovation (2026)
American School & University
Architectural Portfolio Outstanding Design in Adaptive Reuse (2026)
History
The Barbara Vick Early Childhood and Family Center, situated in the 19th ward in Network 10 on Chicago’s southwest side, serves as a model Early Childhood Center established in 1999. Originating from a community-driven initiative to support young children with disabilities and their families, the center adopts an inclusive educational model, offering multidisciplinary intervention and support services for 3-5 year old children and their families.
Emphasizing a close partnership between education, families, and the community, the program functions as a best practices demonstration center for educating at-risk children and those with diagnosed special needs. Named after Barbara Vick, a dedicated community member known for her extensive volunteer work, the center embodies her spirit of service.
Barbara Vick’s legacy, marked by her involvement in various community organizations and her commitment to education, is honored through this center. The fall of 2011 saw the expansion of the Barbara Vick family with the addition of the Barbara Vick Village in the Marquette Park neighborhood, maintaining the original site’s philosophy, school design, and educational model while incorporating a dual-language component.
The center’s outdoor spaces aim to recreate the engaging and thought-provoking educational environments found within the classrooms. By introducing outdoor classrooms, the center aspires to educate and inspire not only the children, staff, and families within its walls but the entire community. The intention is to keep these spaces accessible year-round, providing the community with the opportunity to connect with the natural world and experience the wonder it offers.