Yollocalli Arts Reach

Civic Projects has partnered with Wallin Gomez Architects (AOR) to work with Yollocalli Arts Reach on the design and development of their new home in a Little Village firehouse.

Yollocalli Arts Reach, established in 1997, is a youth initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA), offering free arts and culture programming to teens and young adults. Yollocalli serves as an open community center with studio spaces, a computer lab, radio production studio, a large art library, and a creative, supportive staff who are always around to help, encourage, and inspire.

Civic Projects has led engagement workshops with Yollocalli staff members and youth participants to develop programming, space planning, and overall aesthetics of the Firehouse design, and has served as the Design Architect in developing the final floor plans, finishes, and materials for the Firehouse, guiding the development of the drawings by Wallin Gomez Architects.

Yollocalli Arts Reach’s mission is to strengthen the value of youth art and culture by providing equal access to communal, artistic, and cultural resources that allow youth to become creative and engaged community members. Through community engagement, Civic Projects and Wallin Gomez aim to embody these values within the design of the new Firehouse.

In the collaborative design process with Yollocalli staff, we co-developed the finishes and colors to not only reflect their organizational values but also reflect the Yollocalli vibe and aesthetic, including walls for bright and creative murals, and walls of glass tile inspired by disco balls.

Upon completion of the project, Yollocalli will maintain its current space, with the Firehouse providing a second location within Little Village to broaden the geographical area served and provide opportunities for more youth within the community. The Firehouse, over 7,000 square feet of space, will include a large, open events space for flexible use on the ground floor as well as a DJ/ Recording Booth to expand upon their existing radio and music production programming. The Firehouse will include 4 art studios on the second floor, including a ceramics studio, which will be a new program offering for Yollocalli.