Permit Issued for Chicago Fire Training Center in Near West Side

A construction permit has been granted for the Chicago Fire soccer team’s new training center in the Near West Side. Situated within the CHA’s Roosevelt Square development plan, the 23.3-acre location is surrounded by W Roosevelt Road, S Ashland Avenue, W 14th Street, and S Loomis Street. Previously, the broader site was home to parts of CHA’s ABLA Homes.

Intended to serve as a preparation and development space for the team, the complex will feature two and a half hybrid grass fields for the main squad and three synthetic turf fields for the Chicago Fire Academy. There will be an inflatable dome covering the northwest field during winter months, from November to March.

Updated rendering of new Chicago Fire training facility by Crawford Architects

Crawford Architects is responsible for the design of the 53,000-square-foot, two-story training facility, which is a reduction from the initial 95,000-square-foot, three-story plan. The ground floor will accommodate locker rooms, a medical area, workout facilities, hydrotherapy, and a video room. The second floor will house offices, a cafeteria, and meeting areas for team operations. A separate 4,100-square-foot building for field staff will be situated near S Loomis Street and W Hastings Street.

Updated rendering of new Chicago Fire training facility by Crawford Architects

Updated site plan of new Chicago Fire training facility by Crawford Architects

A pedestrian greenway corridor will be incorporated into the site, beginning at the junction of S Loomis Street and W 14th Place and extending through to S Ashland Avenue and W 14th Street.

With an estimated cost of $75-80 million, the project will be fully funded by the team, without any city financing. The city recently disclosed a ground lease agreement between Chicago Fire FC and the Chicago Housing Authority, which will generate $40 million for the CHA over the next four decades. The funds will support the agency’s housing programs.

The initial permit granted for the project covers the construction of the single-story maintenance building for field staff and site preparation for the practice fields. Pepper Construction is in charge of building the facility, with a planned opening in the summer of 2024.

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