Barbara Vick Early Learning Branch: Bank-to-Pre-K Conversion in Chicago
Barbara Vick Early Learning Branch reimagines a former bank as an elementary school extension in Chicago, IL, United States. Led by Bailey Edward, the project brings new pre‑K classrooms and flexible offices to serve the Beverly and Morgan neighborhoods. The conversion pairs civic reuse with child‑scaled planning so early learners get purpose-made rooms, a covered outdoor play area, and clear circulation from drop-off to door.
Morning light pushes under the deep canopy where teller lanes once held cars. The drive-through becomes a protected playground, and the building reads as a new front door for early learners.
Inside, the conversion takes a straightforward shell and refits it for pre‑K use. The project is an elementary school branch in Chicago by Bailey Edward, organized to expand classroom count while reworking circulation and site access. The story centers on reuse: a bank and office stack transformed into child-ready rooms, administrative support, and a covered outdoor yard.
Convert the Shell
A two-floor plan now holds seven new pre‑K classrooms set within the former office footprint. Windows and existing structural bays guide room sizing, keeping clear zones for learning, small group tables, and teacher storage. Adjacent to the classroom run, a multipurpose room and kitchen support daily rhythms—from art projects to snack prep—without cluttering corridors.
Rework Arrival
Drop-off and pick-up areas are reshaped so families have a direct, safe path to the entry. The team upgrades accessible routes through the existing parking lot, stitching new walks to level thresholds and clear sightlines. Short walks matter here, and the revised approach calms the first minutes of a school day.
Play Under Cover
The old teller canopy becomes a weather-sheltered playground that extends use through rain and heat—shade, airflow, and supervision align under one span. What was a vehicular zone now hosts games, soft-surface activity, and outdoor lessons, keeping movement tied closely to classrooms for quick transitions.
Plan for Flexibility
Offices are planned to convert to classrooms as demand grows, with proportions, power, and storage set from the start (a pragmatic hedge against shifting enrollment). A 25-person office sits outside the pre‑K suite to avoid cross-traffic while staying close enough for coordination. Administrative rooms group near the entry, giving staff oversight without pulling attention from teaching.
Link Program and Neighborhood
Serving the Beverly and Morgan communities, the branch extends access to early education where need is high. The plan builds capacity today and reserves headroom for tomorrow through convertible rooms and site improvements. It’s a local move with citywide logic.
Late in the day, shadows slip across the playground and into the quiet halls. The former bank holds a new routine, scaled for small hands and big milestones. The building’s bones stay, but its daily purpose shifts toward learning and care.
Photography courtesy of Bailey Edward
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