West End Woman’s Club gets new life on the West Side

Posted on September 19, 2024 by danieldschell

An historic two-story brick building at 37 South Ashland Avenue in the Near West Side Community Area is getting new life, thanks to a renovation from ZSD Corp. Built in 1904 as the West End Woman’s Club, it became the home of the United Electrical Workers in 1948. ZSD purchased the building from the union in March of this year for $1.65 million; they’re in the midst of overhauling it into apartments. In keeping with the original name, it has been dubbed West End Club. They hope to welcome their first tenants in summer 2025.

The West End Woman’s Club, via Chicago History Museum

Rendering of West End Club courtesy of ZSD Corp.

A permit was issued by the City of Chicago to make the office-to-residential conversion to the building, located on the northeast corner of Ashland Avenue and Monroe Street, on May 15, 2024. It calls for a two-story addition atop the two existing levels, while lowering the original basement, and adding a rooftop deck. There will be 22 rental units here: 16 one-bedroom, 4 three-bedroom, and 2 four-bedroom apartments. An elevator will be added, and the front of the building will feature a sunken patio. The main entrance will be placed along Monroe Street. There will be no parking spaces included in the development.

Google image shows the UE Hall limestone nameplate that covered “West End Woman’s Club”

Google Street View image of Electrical Workers murals on the south façade.

Before gutting the interior, yeoman’s efforts were made to remove and preserve a painted mural on the walls throughout the building’s interior. UE is leasing office space at the Chicago Teachers Union building at 1901 West Carroll Avenue, and the mural will be on display there. You can read more about those preservation efforts at the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.

According to ZSD’s Zev Salomon:

“We’re proud to be restoring the facade of this historic building and we’re happy to collaborate with the seller to ensure the preservation of the Solidarity mural.”

ZSD Corp, along with developing West End Club, is also acting as their own general contractor. The design team includes Andrew R Wang as the Architect of Record, Philadelphia firm IS Architects as the Design Architect, and SK Design Group as the Interior Designer.

The photos below include some taken on the first of September when scaffolding covered the west façade. That has since been removed and reassembled for work on the south wall.

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

Rush Specialty Hospital steel tops out

Posted on September 12, 2022 by danieldschell

RUSH Specialty Hospital. The little tree at top right means they topped out with no injuries.

How about a quick update at RUSH Specialty Hospital?

I was here in June to check out caisson work. Now, the five-story venture between as Rush University Medical Center hospital along with Select Medical has topped out the steel skeleton.

A permit was issued May 23rd for a five-story “inpatient hospital building” at 516 South Loomis. A hoist permit followed on August 9.

Permit issued, work underway on Rush Specialty Hospital

Posted on June 4, 2022 by danieldschell

A caisson juts from the ground at Harrison & Loomis.

A very busy two-block space on the west side of the city just got a little busier, as Rush University Medical Center began construction on a new RUSH Specialty Hospital facility.

A permit was issued May 23rd for a five-story “inpatient hospital building” at 516 South Loomis. Earlier anticipation of this project may show an address of 1400 West Harrison. Either way, this is the place. Rush is developing the hospital along with Select Medical.

This is what Rush had to say in a news release for the groundbreaking:

Select Medical and Rush University System for Health held a ceremonial ground-breaking to celebrate the new RUSH Specialty Hospital being built on Chicago’s West Side.
The 100-bed facility will be a combined critical illness recovery and inpatient rehabilitation hospital on the RUSH University Medical Center campus. The hospital is slated to open in 2024 and will feature 44 critical illness recovery and 56 inpatient rehabilitation beds.
“It is the beginning of what will be excellent care for our community,” said RUSH CEO Dr. K. Ranga Rama Krishnan.
To celebrate the construction of the future hospital, RUSH and Select Medical executives were joined by local leaders, including 28th Ward Alderman Jason C. Ervin and Illinois state Rep. Lakesia Collins.
“It’s a phenomenal partnership that speaks to innovation and brings patients the care they need when, where and how they need it,” said RUSH University Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Omar Lateef.
Together as partners, Select Medical and RUSH are delivering a world-class acute to post-acute continuum of care for Chicagoans.
“The promise of excellence is often achieved through our joint ventures,” said Tom Mullin, executive vice president of hospital operations for Select Medical.

Select Medical and RUSH entered a joint venture partnership agreement on Sept. 24, 2020, to build and manage operations of the new hospital.
In addition to the new RUSH Specialty Hospital, Select Medical contributed 63 of its outpatient centers to the joint venture. Today, those locations are rebranded RUSH Physical Therapy, and the footprint has expanded to 71 centers, including 19 dedicated to pediatrics under the RUSH Kids Physical Therapy brand.

Power Construction is the general contractor, with assistance on concrete from Adjustable Concrete Construction. Stalworth Underground rigs are on site drilling caissons. Like I said, this is a very busy two-block area, with the Joan and Paul Rubschlager Building nearing completion, along with its adjoining parking garage. The photos below include all three projects.