District Brew Yards Adaptive Reuse

Chicago, IL

Located in the West Fulton Market/West Town neighborhood of Chicago, District Brew Yards (DBY) is a creative collaboration between Burnt City Brewing and Structured Development that brings together local breweries for the purpose of sharing space, resources, and knowledge. The unique concept invites patrons to “craft their own experience” by providing a taproom for sampling a wide variety of beers across 40 taps. AltusWorks was engaged to design this one-of-a kind environment that embodies the ever-growing craft beer culture in Chicago. Parallel to the business model of creating a shared facility to house three breweries, the project physically combines three vintage industrial buildings, each listed as “Orange Rated” on the City’s Historic Survey, in order to create a single complex with a cohesive exterior image. Inside, the new facility houses production space, a large beer hall, and a commercial kitchen. The design utilizes, enhances, and creatively repurposes existing architectural elements to give a nod to the industrial past while creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. 2022 brought a second location in Wheeling Illinois, where AltusWorks refreshed an abandoned RAM Brewery with the unique DBY vibe where ‘no one comes between you and your beer’!