Lawson House

Supportive Housing in the Jewel of the Gold Coast

Lawson House, Chicago’s historic YMCA, occupies the northeast corner of Chicago and Dearborn in one of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Built in 1931 as the tallest structure in a then-changing part of town, the building became a “city in a block,” with 583 sleeping rooms, two gymnasiums, an indoor pool, cafeteria, barber shop, and many period-themed amenities.

The project’s 28-month transformative rehabilitation provides dignified living conditions in 409 low-income single-room occupancy (SRO) units, approximately 1/3 of Chicago’s new 2024 online units. The project’s modernization marks the only complete renovation of units since the building’s opening ninety years prior.

Designed for LEED Gold Certification, the biggest impact will be on the owner’s utility bills: both water and electric bills are designed to a 37% reduction in usage. Considering the high-intensity usage of SROs, that difference saves ~$215,000 per year. We look forward to following up with management 1-, 3-, and 5-years post-occupancy to evaluate their utility bills for actual savings. 

This monumental historic renovation received the largest single allocation of LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credits) funding in Illinois history and receives housing vouchers from five sources.

Client: Holsten Real Estate Development

Location: Chicago, IL

Role: Architect of Record

Project Area: 250,000 GSF

Project Cost: $122,000,000

Completion: 2024

Case Study: Read or download our Lawson House Case Study & Lessons Learned

The Building’s Hub: The hotel-like lobby emphasizes natural light and materials and rich colors in an Art Deco style. Staff can casually perform wellness checks on residents as they advance from street to elevator.

The Building’s Hub: The hotel-like lobby emphasizes natural light and materials and rich colors in an Art Deco style. Staff can casually perform wellness checks on residents as they advance from street to elevator.

Salvaged & Reimagined Event Hall: The project infilled the pool for safety reasons, but the design allows for a complete reversal to bring the pool back at any time.

Salvaged & Reimagined Event Hall: The project infilled the pool for safety reasons, but the design allows for a complete reversal to bring the pool back at any time.

Historic Barbershop Turned Laundry Room: Clad in vitrolite, a reflective black glass tile, the former Barbershop houses the hygienic function of laundry while still allowing people to congregate.

Historic Barbershop Turned Laundry Room: Clad in vitrolite, a reflective black glass tile, the former Barbershop houses the hygienic function of laundry while still allowing people to congregate.

Dignified & Accessible Living: Walls and ceilings are painted the same color to enhance the natural light and make the 150 SF footprints feel large.

Dignified & Accessible Living: Walls and ceilings are painted the same color to enhance the natural light and make the 150 SF footprints feel large.

“This housing has been preserved in one of the most unaffordable neighborhoods in Chicago.

It is a reminder of how affordable housing is needed everywhere and shows a model of how to develop it in amenity-rich and highly desirable areas.”

—Jackie & Peter Holsten

The Lawson House Rehabilitation has been awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

These awards celebrate the best of the best in historic preservation and adaptive reuse. The award was presented during the opening ceremony at the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s annual conference, PastForward, in Milwaukee on September 16, 2025!

Above, left to right: Carol Quillen, Anne Lazur, and Jackie Holsten at PastForward.

Image: David Keith Photography

Standardized, Yet Flexible Units

Today, all units include:

  • Furnishings

  • Universally-designed kitchens

  • Private bathrooms

  • Individual temperature controls

Required to comply with six accessibility codes and design standards, the design team decided to simplify and provided only two kitchen layouts: a standard and accessible version.

This allowed the units, where nearly all are unique layouts, to be flexible, while standardizing key components.

Behind the Curtain Wall

The design team thoroughly outlined building systems impact on unit ceiling & floor space.

Lawson House Case Study

Learn more about the project in our Case Study. Written from the architect’s point of view, it features information about Lawson's historical significance, reflections on the design process, and lessons learned.

The case study is a living document and will expand over time. If you have memories or stories to share about Lawson, please let us know!

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