Client:
World’s Finest Chocolate

Size:
440,000 sf

Location:
Chicago, IL

Through a combination of Living Building Challenge Certified architecture, landscape design, interactive exhibits and custom furnishings, the future factory and environmental visitors center for World’s Finest Chocolate will celebrate the story of WFC’s history, mission, origins, and process. The new 450,000 SF facility includes exhibits, retail shops, café, offices, and factory space allowing WFC to share their origins, vision, and process and production that has resulted in 4 billion raised and reinvested in communities across North America to date.

Rooted in WFC’s agricultural ingredient process, shipping, and production, the visitor experience is designed under a modern reinterpretation of row house barn buildings with a surrounding landscape of restored prairie, gardens, and orchards. The factory and visitor experience wing are inviting and logical, with exposed structure supporting a roof array of PV and skylights and including a high degree of transparency through daylight hallways and greenhouses. Inside, an in-depth look at chocolate growing processes, history, and logistics coupled with a dynamic environmental learning center will celebrate the legacy of WFC family, employees, and community impact. Visitors will observe production and processing firsthand and take part in the chocolate making process through interactive exhibits.

The mass-timber cafe, retail, and dining hall will allow guests to sample treats, make their own chocolate bars and deserts, and host community events.

Inside the visitor’s center exhibition hallway where guests can journey through spaces learning about the chocolate making process, see factory operations in action, and celebrate the community impacts WFC helps enable through it’s philanthropic fundraising efforts.