My community market design - located at 2012 S California Avenue, Chicago, IL - will serve the community of the impoverished, low income, Mexican/Latino community by providing a safe and convenient shopping market right off of a public transit station.

In preparation for the competition I did a researched and interpreted the criteria necessary in this competition. And, I researched the local demographic trends of the past few years.

I needed to get a good understanding of the area I was working with, so I created a zoning analysis and a site analysis. Then a bubble diagram was needed to sort out each room to its appropriately corresponding floor. I had changed my building design so many times that I ended up forgetting to make a new brand for each one, so I decided to just use my initials.

Nearby the site for the community market is a Cermak Fresh Market and a Walmart. The market I design shouldn't just be a place for fresh food, but a place for people to gather, communicate, and create.

I wanted to go for a light-shaded slate material along the exterior walls to compliment the glass. Each floor is supposed to have a medium brown wood textured floor to compliment the light-shaded brown interior walls. Everything else would be a metal to contrast from the other rough textured materials. As for the vendors inside, I wanted them to have easy access to their set up areas, so the first floor became their floor. But they have to share space with the market’s café and coffee shops. I wanted to have the third and fourth floors join together in a way where there was more open space to enjoy the luxurious art galleries. And these floors are for people to relax or have gatherings for any meeting they may need.

The market is facing the street to great any customer inside the building, providing easy access from the main road. Pedestrians exiting the 54th/Cermak Station are able to get off the tracks by taking the staircase that already exists now. This staircase leads to either of the following options: ground level, to either enter the building from the first floor or to easily exit the station and go about their day; or the third floor, leading to an open space for lounging, meeting, or entertainment. As for the inside vendors, I wanted them to have easy access to their set up areas, so the first floor became their floor. But they have to share space with the market’s café and coffee shops. I plan on contacting Local fresh produce stores such as Pete’s Fresh Market and Cermak Fresh Market, while allowing local vendors and farmers to sell their own produce. As the wintering weather harshins, i plan on seeking to the Walmart Neighborhood Market just a few blocks from the market to provide additional convenient options such as their new “To Go” kiosks and their internet ordering. The third floor shall be the main attraction for leazure along with plenty of space and comfort to gatherings. Any art curated from donations or local artists will be hung everywhere for the community to enjoy. The fourth floor will have privately sanctioned rooms for inclosed meetings. The second floor holsters an amphitheater on one side and a library on the other. The library will have many computers for students and others to fulfill their much needed hard work in a quiet environment.