Collaboration Opens this Fall
Future Community Center Concept Rendering image provided by BNMO Design
Watch Video Announcement!
Project H.O.O.D.(Helping Others Obtain Destiny), an organization based in the Woodlawn/Englewood communities, offers job training, essential resources, and tools to empower community members to become peacemakers, problem solvers, leaders, and entrepreneurs. Norman Teague Design Studios and BNMO Design joined Project H.O.O.D. and New Beginnings Church to construct an installation on a vacant lot along the commercial corridor at 6600 South King Drive.
Photo: Norman Teague, (l-r) Ebere Agwuncha and Negin Moayer
The vacant lot across from New Beginnings Church, where the Project H.O.O.D. installation of an outdoor community space will be located, encourages communal gathering, performance, play, reflection, historic references, and adventure. The site features an interactive workspace, stage, and exhibition space that showcases the history of Project H.O.O.D. Uniting all elements is an approach to design that brings about unique moments in spatial freedom. Activations that highlight local artists and community members began in Summer 2021 to invite community residents into the space to showcase the work of Project H.O.O.D. that is by and for the Woodlawn community.
Specifically, the design and activation of the lot, which is the proposed future home of the Project H.O.O.D. Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center, it calls attention to achieve their long-term vision that responds to as many social, economical, emotional, educational needs that south side of Chicago has been struggling with for decades. The design of the facade of the project is an attempt to bring a refreshing while modest colorfulness to the existing monotonous character of the stretch of King Dr. in Woodlawn neighborhood. It is also meant to provide bright, airy, vivid and fun interior spaces for the community users, consisting mainly of youth. Lastly the Project H.O.O.D. pillars apart of their current capital campaign are dispersed throughout the building including: peace making, creating leaders, strengthening character, fun and learning. There have been several ongoing fundraising efforts to gather the design and construction budget of roughly $25M.
Photo: Ebere Agwuncha, (l-r) Norman Teague, Negin Moayer on site
Full Team CAB coordination meeting at New Beginnings Church
Meet the Team
Chicago Architecture Biennial Project H.O.O.D Design Team
Norman Teague - Founder of Norman Teague Design Studios, Designer, Associate Professor at UIC School of Design.
Ebere Agwuncha - Project Designer and Manager, Designer with Norman Teague Design Studios.
Negin Moayer - Architect, Founder of BNMO Design, Architect for the Project H.O.O.D. Leadership & Economic Opportunity Center.
Project H.O.O.D
Pastor Corey B. Brooks., Brain Alexander, Rafa, Desmond Marshall, TJ Grooms, Maurita M. Gholston