Inside Chicago’s Lacuna Artist Lofts

by Natasha Wolff | April 22, 2015 10:36 am

The Lacuna Artist Lofts in Pilsen is the vision and personal project of Joey Cacciatore. Cacciatore’s father, a Chicago real estate[1] tycoon, purchased the building in 1985, and what was once the world’s largest macaroni factory has now been transformed into a multipurpose cultural arts center and venue.

Cacciatore started the business in 2009 upon finishing college. The tenants were initially artists and fashion-focused companies, but the building now plays host to a variety of businesses.

The massive 250,000 square-foot area boasts 156 studios, event space, a rooftop, an upcoming restaurant and the Remix Project, an alternative art school for underserved young creatives. And visitors don’t have to look far to catch a glimpse of the tenants’ work. The wide hallways are full of large-scale pieces. Neon signs, paintings, artwork done directly on the walls and sculptures are all around.

Cacciatore is more than just a landlord. His artistic sensibilities can be seen in the structure and décor of the building. He has an eye for design and has been extremely creative in utilizing repurposed materials in the process—one example being the bathrooms in the bridal suite, which were built out of shipping containers. He even purchased a CTA train, utilizing the seats in one of the Remix Project classrooms.

Source URL: https://dujour.com/cities/lacuna-artist-lofts-chicago/