Project Overview
Part of a multiphase, transformational effort on Chicago, Ill.’s West Side, Westhaven Park Station delivers 96 affordable apartments to the community inside an attractive, 12-story complex. The redevelopment project replaces a series of deteriorating and poorly maintained high-rises that had long symbolized concentrated poverty and disinvestment. The new, thoughtfully designed apartment structure offers modern, high-quality housing, bringing together residents of varying income levels and fostering a more inclusive, sustainable neighborhood. The development, which is adjacent to a new public train station, was also designed with transit in mind, providing residents with quick access to public transportation and boosting community connectivity. Precast concrete was essential in bringing this transformational effort to fruition, with project precast concrete producer, Wells, partnering with LBBA Architects on a total–precast concrete design.
A New Vision for Urban Revitalization
Precast concrete was leveraged for the entire building, including both structural and architectural components. This total–precast concrete approach offered exceptional control over quality, aesthetics, and performance, all while meeting the development’s ambitious timeline and budgetary goals. Each of the precast concrete panels was engineered to span three stories vertically and serve as a load-bearing element. This significant technical achievement maximized structural efficiency while minimizing the number of on-site crane lifts required. The panels feature a ribbed pattern around the windows along with a combination of dark charcoal and bright white sections, resulting in a dynamic façade. These elements were carefully coordinated by the design team to bring visual depth and variation to the exterior while simultaneously contributing to wayfinding and community identity.
On-site, the project’s footprint presented several significant design and logistical challenges, including a tight site in a densely developed area of Chicago adjacent to an under-construction train station. With limited space for staging and material storage, traditional construction methods would have posed substantial disruptions to the neighborhood and risked extending the schedule. To address this, the team adopted an “inside-out” installation strategy, allowing the crane to operate from within the site and work its way outward as erection progressed. This innovative sequencing reduced the need for road closures and minimized the impact of the effort on the surrounding community.
Beyond structural and architectural advantages, the precast concrete panels also offer Westhaven Park Station residents a substantial boost to their living experience. Because of the complex’s proximity to the under-construction train station, acoustics were a serious design concern, with the constant rumble of passing trains and surrounding traffic posing a risk to residents’ comfort. Precast concrete effectively addressed this issue; the material’s inherent mass and density served as a high-performing acoustic barrier, significantly reducing external noise penetration. The insulated precast concrete panels further enhanced sound attenuation with less vibration, creating a quieter, more livable environment. Additionally, the density of precast concrete provided a cost-saving advantage by eliminating the need for supplemental acoustic materials or complex sound-dampening systems that are often required with alternative construction methods.
Overall, the precast concrete panels—combined with other precast concrete products including hollow-core, columns, and beams—allowed Westhaven Park Station to fulfill a decades-long vision for the revitalization of the project site with dignity, efficiency, and innovation, setting a precedent for future affordable housing developments in dense urban environments.
Mason Nichols is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based writer and editor who has covered the precast concrete industry since 2013.
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