Nike turns old church in Chicago into basketball facility (PHOTOS)
Sports giant Nike has converted an old church in Chicago’s West Side into a basketball facility, allowing local high-school teams to train there.
The Church of the Epiphany was transformed into a modern sports facility containing a basketball court, sports gym and locker rooms.
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Built in 1885, the church was one of Chicago’s earlier examples of Romanesque architecture, a popular style in medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches.
Nike's converted Chicago's Church of Epiphany, in the West Loop, into a spot for young ballplayers to hoop, attend workshops and skills clinics, and link up with pro athletes. #JustDoItpic.twitter.com/J4tFHX1K5J
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) 6 августа 2018 г.
The 19th-century church, where the funeral of Chicago Mayor Carter Harrison Sr was held in 1893, was closed in 2011 due to lack of parishioners.
.@wnbachicagosky Nike Athletes Alaina Coates (@Aye_itslaylay), Allie Quigley (@alliequigley) & Courtney Vandersloot (@Sloot22) at THE CHURCH ⛪️🙏🏽🙌🏽 (@NikeChicago)#WNBAxNIKE#NIKExWNBA#TheChurch#JustDoIt#JustDoItHQ#NikeChicagopic.twitter.com/7lCqQIHJPa
— The Sky Show CHI (@TheSkyShowCHI) 8 августа 2018 г.
Nike bought the 132-year-old building earlier this year, and decided to convert it into a sports facility that will be open through the end of August for local high-school basketball teams.
The stained-glass windows were made in the form of a basketball, while the locker-rooms design is reminiscent of confessionals.
Nike open Gym at the Church pic.twitter.com/9rgb46tK4N
— Mac Irvin Fire (@TheMacIrvinFire) 7 августа 2018 г.
On Monday, Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen visited the newly opened basketball center, where he worked out together with young athletes while also talking to them about fulfilling their sports goals.
