News & Media
Skender Completes Construction of Breakthrough FamilyPlex Facility
Skender Construction has completed construction on the $11.4 million Breakthrough FamilyPlex, a community center built to empower Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood and combat the area’s disadvantages. The 42,500-square-foot facility provides youth and preschool classrooms, a gymnasium, medical clinic with 10 exam rooms, art studio, community café, technology center, fitness center and playground for local residents. The new building is one of three operated by Breakthrough, a four-star urban ministries charity partnering with those affected by poverty to build connections, develop skills and open doors of opportunity.
“The Breakthrough FamilyPlex is quickly becoming a beacon of hope for the East Garfield Park community. Residents view it as a place where they can find support, inspiration and wellness,” says a Breakthrough spokesperson. “The FamilyPlex has enabled Breakthrough to increase its impact by expanding our youth development, early childhood education and community outreach programs. It is improving the lives of residents by providing them with technology resources, access to health care, a local fitness option and communal meeting spaces like the cafe. Once the ramp up plan is complete, it will also add an estimated 46 permanent jobs (30 full-time, 16 part-time) to the community. Breakthrough believes the FamilyPlex is more than just a building, it is a hub that connects the community.”
Skender served as general contractor in a joint venture with Ujamaa Construction for the Built Form-designed, LEED Silver certified project. Unique elements of the project included a precast gymnasium, commercial kitchen, and an architecturally modern atrium with skylights and custom steel stair and handrail system. Skender subcontracted local MBE/WBE/DBE firms to perform more than 50% of the work.
About Breakthrough Urban Ministries
Breakthrough is a community organization that serves as an anchor in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on Chicago’s west side. Breakthrough provides a myriad of services in the community focusing on homeless intervention, youth development and neighborhood transformation. Since its foundation in 1992, Breakthrough has provided shelter for over 12,000 homeless Chicagoans, 1.8 million meals to homeless adults and supported over 890 youth through achievement-based programs and a network of caring adults.