The brand-spankin' new building that just opened on the corner of Halsted and Waverly in Chicago is an impressive "green" building. Add on to that feat that it is the new home of the Center on Halsted - the LGBTQ community center for the Greater Chicagoland and you just might be blown away.

I went on a tour of the building with a few folks from other LGBT community centers in cities such at NYC and Sioux Falls & Rapid City, South Dakota the other night with Executive Director, Robin Burr. From the moment I stepped into the modern lobby that opens up to the second floor reception to the moment I left I was "wowed" by all the work, thoughfulness, and effort that went into making this building. The Center on Halsted occupies nearly 60,000 square feet of space with a anchor tenant, Whole Foods, utilizing the first floor.

From the Cyber Center with customized tables, meeting rooms with high-tech gadgets such as distance learning video equipment, color monitors, wi-fi (which can be accessed throughout the entire building), to the counseling rooms (designed by the hottie Nate Berkus who also designs for Oprah) and youth space that includes a kitchen for feeding the very hungry youth accessing programs the Center on Halsted has it all. And just when you thought that was enough, COH also includes a full sized regulation basketball court and gym along with a locker room to change in. Every bathroom is furnished with retro-funky chandeliers. They also have a theatre with dressing rooms, full-service kitchen which will cater events, and gallery space along with a stunning view of Chicago on the Richard M. Daly Rooftop Patio.

The roof is green which means that several beautiful plants are growing with plans to perhaps start a vegetable garden. The building also uses a greywater system - which is rain water that is collected from the roof and held and treated in the basement - and used to flush all the toilets in the building.

The Center on Halsted is a beacon for our community. It certainly raises the bar for what LGBT community centers could - and should - be shooting for in their communities. If you are in the the Chicago area make sure to stop by and check things out - in June 2007 they will be having a Grand Opening event - which is already sold out.

Congratulations Center on Halsted! Every single staff person, donor, and volunteer deserves to bask in this tremendous success. And if you happen to see Robin Burr make sure to tell her what an AMAZING job she did making this center happen.