Bud Rodecker worked with Susan Benjamin and Michelangelo Sabatino to design their forthcoming book Modern in the Middle: Chicago Houses 1929–1975 published by Monacelli Press.

The book features modernist homes in the Chicagoland area. The bulk of the book consists of written descriptions of each house, illustrated with original and historical photography.

Thirst's designed system allows the body of the book to continuously flow and be punctuated occasionally with images.