The former St. Barnabus Episcopal Church and the attached church hall are currently the headquarters for the MAAFA Redemption Project, a residential gun violence prevention and workforce development program. The MAC will continue to house this important work and the renovation preserves and expands upon functions required by the participants, alumni and their life coaches. A thirst for the arts has been identified through community engagement and market studies have revealed that the need is not being met. The MAC will deliver intergenerational arts programming for the community coupled with grassroots activism training and facilitation.
The main sanctuary space will provide flexible arts and instruction spaces; meeting rooms; a break room; new toilets; libraries for adults and children; workout space including basketball and weights areas all within the incredible volume of the church and side aisles. Movie screenings, spoken word and musical performances, dance classes and engagement parties can all happen here. The underutilized and poorly maintained rear building will become an event space. A space like no other in the neighborhood, the Relic will provide covered open-air space to showcase the talents of the neighborhood and beyond.
The MAC sits with the Sankofa Wellness Village, a finalist for the Chicago Prize. Bureau Gemmell is partnering with Moody Nolan to design the Sankofa Village Wellness Center, the catalytic development planned for the corner of Madison and Kildare.
Consulting Architect: New Office
