5531 S. Russell Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
Hours
Facility Hours
Description
Located in the Washington Park/Woodlawn neighborhood, the Washington Park Refectory sits adjacent to the Aquatic Center, which houses a 36-foot water slide plus a swimming pool with a patio and fountains. The Refectory has a rich history that is interwoven with Chicago’s architectural design legends. Daniel H. Burnham & Company designed and built the pool and Russell Drive in 1891, two years before the Columbia Exposition. The Refectory features ground level colonnades and four open-roof towers. The classically designed Refectory building and grounds offer two distinguished floors: "The Park Level" and "The Tower Level."
The Park Level: This level gives you a “bird’s eye” view of the 36-foot water slide and pool. This space also contains a fireplace (which features a remnant of the building’s original mosaic flooring), mid-room elevators and side stairwells that lead to the Tower Level.
The Tower Level: This level provides a bright and airy panoramic view overlooking the park to the north and the Aquatic Center on the south. The amenities include a full-service kitchen and a dazzling fireplace mantle reminiscent of the turn of the century.
This facility is available for rent for such occasions as: Weddings, Receptions, Baby Showers, Repasts, etc.