Chicago Construction News staff writer
The Chicago Plan Commission has approved DePaul University’s plan to build a four-story, $42 million basketball practice facility on its Lincoln Park campus, but the project continues to face opposition from local residents and preservation groups.
Designed by HNTB and Antunovich Associates, the facility at 2300–2316 N. Sheffield Ave., will include dedicated practice courts for men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as training rooms, team meeting spaces, sports medicine facilities, locker rooms, and other wellness areas. The upper-floor courts will feature floor-to-ceiling glass, making the action visible from the street.
To accommodate the new building, DePaul plans to demolish four rowhouses constructed in the 1890s and a 1925 courtyard building. Two of the rowhouses are considered “orange-rated” by the city, due to potential historic significance, but none meet the threshold for landmark status, according to the Chicago Department of Planning and Development.
The university has added sustainability features, including rooftop solar panels and bird-friendly glass, and reduced the building footprint to allow for wider sidewalks and landscaping.
The project must still receive final approval from the Chicago City Council. If approved, demolition is now expected to begin as soon as summer 2026, with construction anticipated to finish by fall 2027.
Preservationists and some residents continue to oppose the project, arguing the loss of historic buildings diminishes the character of the neighborhood.
