POPCourts!

Transforming an empty lot into a bright and welcoming public open space in the Austin neighborhood.

ARC, a Chicago Architectural Biennial initiative, is a network of local designers, city planners, and community organizers committed to making Chicago safe, healthy, and economically resilient for all. ARC was formed in the summer of 2020, during the height of the pandemic and after the civil unrest, to help communities on the city’s south and west sides re-open during challenging times. In a matter of weeks, ARC deployed an outdoor dining solution in Chatham, The 75th Avenue Boardwalk (75th St. – Indiana to Calumet), with the help of community leaders, volunteers, and local artists. In 2021, our work will carry on. By the end of the year, (5) five ARC initiatives will be complete, all focused on an equitable re-opening of Chicago.

POPCourts!, ARC’s second project, was developed in concert with Mayor Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West initiative. The goal in Austin was to create a sense of place and identity for a community with limited access to public open spaces. The team transformed a vacant lot at the corner of W. Chicago and N. Lockwood Avenues into a place for activity, gathering, and commerce.

The project includes three zones, “Courts,” each serving various community functions, with the programming meant to be flexible, allowing activities to “Pop” up and transform over time.