YMCA at Kelly Hall

A struggling neighborhood is seeing new hope at a once-tragic site
On December 1, 1958, 92 children and three nuns died in a deadly blaze at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic elementary school in Chicago, Illinois. The school re-opened after the fire, but the surrounding neighborhood continued to suffer the after-effects of the tragedy; quality of life declined. The parish closed in 1999, but the Archdiocese of Chicago decided to remain in the neighborhood.

In 2005, Father Bob Lombardo established a mission including a food pantry, chapel and retreat area in the former rectory house, but a campus building across the street from the school, Kelly Hall, remained vacant. Lombardo saw an opportunity to create a community center and approached the YMCA of Greater Chicago and Greater Chicago Food Depository to partner in a renovation/rehabilitation of Kelly Hall. Ryan joined the partnership to perform the 20,000-square-foot build-out.

Ryan completely renovated the 1950s structure, removing everything down to the original brick walls. Now there is a gymnasium, fitness center, technology center, food pantry, youth/teen lounge and a community room. Outside the hall, a memorial for the victims of the 1958 fire was erected. Ryan delivered the project three weeks ahead of schedule.