THP imagines the potential of Chicago’s iconic bridgehouses, proposing that these underutilized infrastructures are civic hubs that breathe new life into the Chicago River and its banks. At a moment when there is growing interest in developing the Chicago River, envisioning alternate uses for vacant bridgehouses provides a pathway to the historic preservation of these unique structures while offering a new and exciting platform for cultural and community engagement.

Tender House Project creates a window to the river’s past and invites the city to consider the great possibilities for its future. It aims to cultivate interest and ideas in the unrealized potential these bridgehouses carry. By working closely with community organizations to envision a future for these overlooked structures, there’s not only the opportunity to preserve architectural history but the opportunity to bridge communities separated by the river’s edge and build community agency on the Chicago River. An inclusive riverfront can be a segue to creating a more engaged Chicago where the voices of all communities are heard to guide in the planning and building of a more accessible riverfront, and a more equitable city.