The Palace of All Trades

Location Chicago, IL

Year 2024

Instructor Ashley Bigham

Partner Pelé Carney

Software Rhino 8

Description Overview: In an era where the public library remains the final "public palace"—one of the few spaces offering free entry and utility—this project proposes a new typology for the American city. Developed in collaboration with Pele Carney, The Palace of All Trades is an architectural homage to the "hidden labor" that sustains our built environment. Rather than concealing the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that traditional architecture tucks away, our design utilizes an industrial aesthetic that brings these vital systems to the forefront. The building functions as a pedagogical hub where the public can learn the very trades that power the structure itself. Within the celebrated floorplates, spaces for metalworking, plumbing, and wiring turn the act of labor into a public spectacle, bridging the gap between the user and the maker.