Haven on Lincoln

Designed by Gensler, Haven on Lincoln transforms a former Diplomat Motel in Chicago’s Lincoln Square into a trauma-informed transitional housing community, providing 37 private sleeping rooms alongside support services, communal amenities, and landscaped outdoor spaces.

The project combines Petrarch and Steni composite stone façade systems, selected for their performance, durability, and design flexibility. Petrarch panels were used across column wraps, fascia, soffits, and exterior wall areas, delivering the look of natural stone with the durability and low-maintenance performance required for a high-use public building.

Steni panels provided a smooth, stable canvas for an approximately 865-square-foot hand-painted mural by Chicago artist Ryan Tova Katz, making public art an integral part of the building’s identity while maintaining the performance expected from an exterior rainscreen façade.

Haven on Lincoln demonstrates how thoughtful material selection can bring together performance, creativity, and human-centered design to create a welcoming and enduring community environment.