A new model of food delivery.

Nourishing Hope (formerly Lakeview Pantry) is an award-winning food pantry and social service organization that has made a powerful impact on Chicago hunger relief, with every aspect of the design and service model aiming to uplift client’s lives. After their tremendously successful flagship home opened in 2016, the organization was flooded with support and had to turn away many large donations due to space.

The Hub was created to serve as the organization’s primary large-scale intake warehouse to support the flagship market and future service outposts to come. The new facility includes social support services and Chicago’s first food pantry online-ordering and pick-up service, which better serves clients with unique circumstances.

The Hub adapts an existing 10,000sf 1960’s masonry building with code-required upgrades, including new water service, sprinkler system, electrical service, mechanical and structural upgrades, and a ramp to make the space fully accessible to all.

The DNA of their flagship market weaves through the Hub; bright colors and large food graphics appear along the windows, a light-filled waiting area welcomes clients with flowers, and a greeter personally checks-in each individual. A bright blue core volume houses the online market pick-up center, private huddle rooms, and a staff/volunteer kitchen.

In the warehouse, capacity to store sizable donations enables the organization to serve even more Chicagoans who are facing difficulty. Pre-existing building materials (brick, cmu, steel, gypsum roof deck) are all sprayed white, creating a single, cohesive space. Both natural and LED lighting illuminate the sorting, gleaning and packing activities taking place.

Ultimately working toward a hunger-free Chicago, The Nourishing Hope Hub serves as a new model of food delivery, and a physical and spiritual hub for dignified, uplifting experiences for its growing community of staff, volunteers, and clientele. Everything to help, nothing to hinder.

General Contractor: Favor Construction
Structural: Enspect Engineering
MEP: Building Engineering Systems
Lighting Designer: LuxPopuli
Photography: Tom Harris Architectural Photography