The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation stands as a powerful symbol of transformation and resilience, embodying the vision and determination of the Austin community on Chicago’s West Side. Once home to the historic Robert Emmet Elementary School—closed in 2013 due to declining enrollment and systemic disinvestment—the site had long remained a boarded-up relic at the intersection of Madison and Central, serving as a daily reminder of the disparities faced by South and West Side neighborhoods.

That narrative began to change when residents of Austin took the lead. In a bold move, the community included the Emmet site in their updated Quality of Life Plan, identifying it as a cornerstone for reinvestment and revitalization. Through a collaborative effort, Austin Coming Together and Westside Health Authority secured the property and initiated a grassroots-driven visioning process to redefine its purpose.

In 2019, Lamar Johnson Collaborative joined this ambitious initiative, bringing architectural expertise to help shape a new future for the site. Together with the community, the team reimagined the former school as a vibrant workforce hub, designed to foster opportunity, inclusion, and upward mobility.

The architectural transformation centers on reorienting the building to embrace its prominent corner. A striking new atrium addition anchors the Aspire Center, opening up what was once a fenced parking lot into a welcoming public plaza. This gesture removes physical and psychological barriers, signaling openness and accessibility to all.

Inside, the lobby is envisioned as a bright, airy commons—featuring casual gathering zones, quiet work areas, and flexible conferencing spaces that support both informal interaction and professional collaboration. A sculptural graphic stair connects the interior to an elevated outdoor terrace, offering views over the plaza and reinforcing the building’s new civic presence.

The renovation preserves and celebrates the architectural integrity of the original school, with carefully restored windows and punched openings that reconnect the historic corridors to daylight and activity. Former classrooms have been adapted into office suites for mission-driven nonprofits, each dedicated to workforce development and wraparound services.

Key tenants include Austin Coming Together, Westside Health Authority, Jane Addams Resource Corporation, the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, and BMO, all co-located to amplify collective impact. Their shared mission: to advance economic opportunity and wealth-building pathways for Austin residents.

The Aspire Center is more than a building—it is a renewed beacon of possibility, shaped by and for the community it serves.

 

Aspire Center - Open June 19th, 2025 - Lamar Johnson Collaborative

photography: Tom Harris