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The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation is rooted in a powerful idea: that a closed school can become a launchpad for a community’s future. West Side Health Authority and Austin Coming Together partnered to repurpose the former Emmet School, one of 50 Chicago public schools that closed in 2013, into a hub for opportunity in the Austin neighborhood.
We completed a 16,000-square-foot interior renovation of the building, creating revitalized workspaces for both organizations, a kitchen and gathering spaces designed for conversation and connection. The center now houses offices for West Side Health Authority and Austin Coming Together, space for community-based organizations and dedicated areas where residents can participate in workforce training programs.
