On Saturday August 29th, the Chicago Public Library, in conjunction with the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC), celebrated the opening of the new Chinatown Branch, designed by SOM and Wight & Company.
Located on Chicago’s near South Side, the library serves as a new civic, educational, and social hub for Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. The facility is not only driven by technology-based learning, but also provides a much-needed public gathering place for community activities.
The inauguration was attended by Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the library’s architect Brian Lee of SOM, and members of the Chinatown community. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a traditional Chinese lion dance, followed by family-friendly activities.