Mission to cultivate healing—and produce—in it’s new green home

A massive vegetated roof will top the new, 156,000-sf facility for Pacific Garden Mission, a Chicago rescue mission that provides food, shelter, clothing, medical/dental care, religious services, and counseling to destitute individuals. The two-story building, set to open in September 2007, will accommodate as many as 700 people each night. Other green features include solar panel water heating and an energy-efficient greenhouse, where organic produce will be cultivated by the mission residents and sold to the public. Designed to achieve a LEED Silver rating, the facility will have a 600-seat dining room, an auditorium, two gymnasiums, classrooms, a library, a barbershop and beauty salon, laundry areas, and a central indoor street. Design architect is Chicago-based Tigerman McCurry Architects.