The Union

The Union is a 7-story mixed use residential building in the Village of Villa Park, Illinois. This Chicago suburb is currently undergoing significant changes as it continues to shift away from its industrial past with the southern face of the building overlooks the former Chicago Great Western Railroad corridor. This train line was built to transport freight to and from the village’s factories, including the 1917 Ovaltine Factory across the street. Rail service on the line ended in 1954, and the line was converted into a greenway and recreational trail in the 1990’s. The building takes its inspiration from the nearby factories with exterior red brick and black metals. The north and east sides of the building sit close to the sidewalk, defining the street edge and activating the street level. The upper floors of the building open up to the south, creating two terraces overlooking the greenway trail and maximizing daylight and views for building residents. A restaurant space with outdoor dining is incorporated at the southeast corner of the building, further activating the street and the entrance to the recreational trail.