CHICAGO — A Beverly fire station that was transformed into a hat-making workshop has won an award.
Chicago-based Optimo has a celebrity following, with its fans including actor Johnny Depp and musician Jack White. The hatmakers set up shop in the firehouse in 2013, and the renovated workshop won a Design Excellence awrad from the American Institute of Architects’ Chicago chapter this week, according to a news release.
The century-old firehouse, 1700 W. 95th St., was shuttered after a bigger fire station was built nearby in 2008. Optimo bought the spot in 2013 for $1.
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Optimo tried to maintain historical features of the building during a redesign, which was led by Chicago firm SOM.
Optimo crafts its hats in the revamped spot using antique equipment and maintains a corporate office in the fire station’s second floor. The hats themselves as sold at Optimo’s Downtown shop, 51 W. Jackson Blvd.
Photos from the fire station’s interior:
