L. DARRELL JONES | CHICAGOJAN 11, 2010 -–
If you happened to catch the news clips of the celebratory
opening of the Burj Khalifa, you probably couldn't have
imagined the extent to which the hoopla welcoming the
arrival of the latest world's tallest building could rise.
The 2,716-foot "super-scraper" official unveiling was
accompanied by fanfare which would rival most New Year's
Eve's celebrations and perhaps some past Olympic Opening
Ceremonies. The worldwide spotlight was indelibly upon
Dubai, U.A.E. But Dubai wasn't exclusive as the focus of
global attention for this record-breaking engineering and
construction achievement. Although Chicago hasn't held the
title of the world's tallest building since the Sears Tower
lost it to Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers in 1998, Dubai's
newest claim to fame has a direct Chicago connection.
Designed by the internationally renowned Chicago-based
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and Adrian Smith now of his
own firm
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, the Burj
Khalifa was born of design concepts and principles founded
in the Windy City. The cloverleaf plan was patterned after
Chicago's Lake Point Tower and the vertical progression with
its varied and offset heights seems to be the logical
evolution of a Willis Tower for the next millennium.
So,
although Chicago fell embarrassingly short in its bid to
land the 2016 Olympic Games last fall, it can bask in the
Burj Khalifa's glory due to its involvement in the design.
We'll take it. Of course research and travel will arguably
reveal that much of the world's innovative contemporary
structures are not typically in Chicago or the U.S. for that
matter but in Asia, the Middle East and the Netherlands.
This isn't due to a greater talent pool as much as its due
to an abundance of capital and carte blanche civic
cooperation. Yet, the "Chicago school" of design has long
been recognized as an incubator of innovation and except for
a brief down period is once again measuring up to high
expectations. In time, who's to say that Chicagoans will
have the privilege to not just be acknowledged by
association with the next iconic accomplishment, but will
take center stage in showing the world how its done.
ACCOLADES FOR AREA ARCHITECTURE FOR 2009
CHICAGODEC 13, 2009 | -–
Despite the recent pronouncement that Chicago's architecture
community has been devastated, the reports of its death are
greatly exaggerated. Yes, the recession has stalled and
shelved a number of notable building projects - not the
least of which is the Spire, but there was a healthy amount
of exhibitions, media, and even high-rises which made their
way to the forefront this past year. Here is a list of some
of our most noteworthy (and notorious) architectural events
in Chicago for 2009:
Best Completed High-Rise
Aqua Tower designed by Studio
Gang Architects
Most Innovative
Entertainment Architecture
"The Ledge" at the Skydeck of
Sears Tower - SOM
Most Uninspired Opening of
an Anticipated Building Project
Block 37 Mall - Joseph
Freed and Associates LLC,
developers
Most Exciting Civic Project
Initiated
Extension of the Riverwalk
along the south bank
Best Restoration Effort
The 1920 Michigan Ave Bridge
Railings
Most Disappointing
Temporary Exhibition
The Burnham Pavilions
Most Bitter/Sweet
Architectural Project that Wasn't
2016 Olympic Architecture (the
snub - bitter to some, sweet to others)
Best Temporary Exhibit to
Become Permanent
The CAF Model City
Most Popular New
Architectural Space
The Rooftop bar of the Wit
Hotel
Best Depiction of Chicago
in a Video
1,2,3,4 by the Plain White T's
The Best Case for Filing a
Missing City Report
Public Enemies (If you blinked
you missed anything recognizable)
Most Overrated Completed
Building Project
Modern Wing of the Art
Institute
The Biggest Elephant in the
Room
Trump International Hotel &
Tower
Coolest Architectural
Archeological Find
Sullivan facades at 18 S.
Wabash and 22 S. Wabash
Best 100 Year Celebration
Burnham Plan of Chicago
area-wide activities
Greatest Example of
Senseless & Stubborn Destruction
Gropius Buildings on the
former Michael Reese Hospital campus
COUNCIL
REDEFINES BUILDING HEIGHT CRITERIA
CHICAGONOV 23, 2009 | Press
Release -–
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH)—the
international body that arbitrates on tall building height
and determines the title of “The World’s Tallest
Building”—has announced a change to its height criteria, as
a reflection of recent developments with several super-tall
buildings.
The new
criteria wording—“Height is measured from the level of the
lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to…”
allows for the recognition of the increasing numbers of
multi-use tall buildings with often several different
entrances at different levels, whilst also accommodating
buildings constructed in non-traditional urban or suburban
locations. The CTBUH Height Committee has determined that
the previous description of where to measure tall building
height from—“Height is measured from the sidewalk outside
the main entrance to…” is now no longer sufficient.
This
will have an impact on both the height of tall buildings and
their relative international height rankings. Burj Dubai,
set to open as the world’s tallest building in January 2010,
will now be measured from the lowest of its three main
entrances (which opens into the entrance lobby for the
tower’s corporate suite office function), while the recently
completed Trump International Hotel & Towers in Chicago will
be measured from the lower, publicly accessible Chicago
Riverwalk. In the case of Trump, this additional 27 feet
means that it will surpass the Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai to
occupy the rank of 6th tallest on the current list of
completed buildings.
“Beginning in 2007, with the knowledge that Burj Dubai would
be significantly taller than any structure ever built, the
CTBUH Height Committee met to review the criteria by which
we recognize and rank the height of buildings,” said Peter
Weismantle, Chair of the CTBUH Height Committee and Director
of Supertall Building Technology at Adrian Smith + Gordon
Gill Architecture in Chicago. “As one might guess, with the
committee being made up of architects, engineers,
contractors, developers, building owners and academics, a
variety of opinions and views were expressed. The resulting
revisions almost two years later reflect a general consensus
of the committee in recognizing the most recent trends in
tall building development around the world.”
Also in
response to the changing designs and forms of tall
buildings, the Height Committee has elected to discard its
previous “Height to Roof” category. “The roof category just
doesn’t make sense anymore,” said CTBUH Executive Director
Antony Wood. “In the era of the flat-topped modernist
tower, a clearly defined roof could usually be identified,
but in today’s tall building world—which is increasingly
adopting elaborate forms, spires, parapets and other
features at the top of the building—it is becoming difficult
to determine a ‘roof’ at all, even less so to measure to
it.”
The
revised CTBUH Height Criteria and diagrams of the tallest 10
buildings in the world as of November 2009 can be found at
criteria.ctbuh.org, ranked according to the three height
categories now recognized by CTBUH. These are: (i) Height to
Architectural Top, measured to the topmost architectural
feature of the building including spires, but not including
antennae, signage, flag poles or other functional-technical
equipment; (ii) Height to Highest Occupied Floor, measured
to the level of the highest, consistently occupied floor in
the building (thus not including service or mechanical areas
which experience occasional maintenance access); and (iii)
Height to Tip, measured to the highest point of the
building, irrespective of material or function of the
highest element.
ARCHITECTURE CRITIQUED FROM COAST-TO-COAST
L. DARRELL JONES | CHICAGONOV 9, 2009 -–
In a unique way to enjoy an usually warm Thursday evening
for Fall in Chicago, hundreds of architectural enthusiasts
turned out to hear A Conversation with the Critics:
Imagining the Future of the City at the
50 East Erie Murphy Auditorium. The
event was sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation
and was a component of the inaugural American Architecture
Organizations conference the weekend of Nov. 5 - 7. A panel
of esteemed journalistic critics was brought together from
coast-to-coast and included Christopher Hawthorne,
(Los Angeles Times,), Paul Goldberger (The New
Yorker), Sarah Williams Goldhagen (The New
Republic), and Blair Kamin (Chicago Tribune).
Edward Lifson, cultural critic and creator of Chicago Public
Radio’s Hello Beautiful!
moderated.
Paul Goldberger introduced the
conversations with a synopsis of New York City's Highline
adaptive-reuse project which is converting an unused
elevated stretch of freight lines into landscaped public
space. The New York Times critic evoked widespread laughter
as images of the ideas competition for the project which
included uses as linear swimming pool and a roller coaster
venue were shown to the audience.
Tribune architecture critic
Blair Kamin was next and began by declaring he "would not be
talking about Millennium Park!" but on the contrary would
bring to focus one of Chicago's great streets - Wacker
Drive. Actually, Wacker Drive was the necessary context to
highlight what he referred to as "the [city's] most
important infrastructure projects" - the emerging Riverwalk.
A connection was drawn to Burnham's 1909 Plan of Chicago as
the historical context for this iconic endeavor which has
transformed "what could have been a mere road repair... into
an urban amenity - done without star architects."
The Boston Globe's Sara
Williams induced probably the loudest gasp when she
calculated the total coast of the "Big Dig" and the Rose
Kennedy Greenway to be the most expensive public works
project in U.S. history at $21 billion. She went on to
bemoan the lack of an initial design process or plan which
has produced nothing more than miles of uninspired and
disjointed green space with few successful stretches in
between.
Christopher Hawthorne of the
Los Angeles Times bookended the introductions and spoke in a
self-effacing manner of the L.A. area's confused and
misguided sense of any kind of civic design direction where
things seem to center around their many highways. He did
give a glimpse of brighter possibilities for the future of
the Los Angeles area as they recognize the need to "retrofit
the city for a more denser population. commercial districts
and green considerations."
Finally, the evening's
moderator. Edward Lifson sought to generate a debate about
how we in the U.S. could compete with or learn from China's
success in taking iconic projects from concept to
construction in minimal time. The consensus group response
was that we're not a communist dictatorship but a democracy
and must succeed within the constraints of the system of
government and commerce we have.
CTBUH:
CELEBRATING 40 YEARS
NATHALIE RAZO | CHICAGOOCT 25, 2009 -–
On October 22 and 23, Chicago welcomed the Council on
Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat for the second time in
the past three years. Three years ago, the organization
moved the headquarters to the IIT campus. This past week
they brought international delegates to celebrate the
fortieth anniversary of the organization and to discuss the
future of super tall buildings given the economic situation
of the past year.
The
conference, entitled “Evolution of the Skyscraper: New
Challenges in a World of Global Warming and Recession,”
featured presentations covering a range of topics such as
sustainability, building technologies, the future of the
industry, and growing markets in the world. The
presentations brought together multiple speakers on a single
topic, creating a forum from which conversations and ideas
were provoked. The conference began with the most locally
relevant presentation - “Chicago- City of Big Shoulders.”
Eric
Trump and Andy Weiss of The Trump Organization
spoke about Skyscrapers as Business Strategy during which
the recently completed Trump Tower of Chicago was discussed.
In this project they implemented a phased occupancy, which
allowed financial gains before the project was completed.
William Testa of The Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago
talked about the history of Chicago and the need to grow
up. As a result, he suggested that Chicago has a role in
the global economy and will continue to grow. This led to
Richard Tomasetti of Thornton Tomasetti in New
York who spoke primarily about the development of the
Chicago Spire. This project features some of the most
innovative solutions to structural concerns that have been
proposed for tall buildings, once again showing that Chicago
is at the forefront of global recognition. Together these
presentations represented not only external factors that
affect the success of large-scale projects, but the economic
and technical conditions that make them relevant. This
combination of speakers created buzz about an ever-changing
skyline in Chicago that was founded on a scarcity of land.
The
conference also presented an award for best tall buildings
and the Lynn S Beedle Lifetime Achievement award. The
Lifetime Achievement Award went to John C. Portman Jr. from
John C. Portman and Associates. The building winners
included Manitoba Hydro Place for the Americas,
Linked Hybrid for Asia and Australasia, The Broadgate
Tower for Europe, and the Tornado Tower
representing the Middle East and Africa. Congratulations to
these projects for creating a precedent to which the world
can aspire. The Council continues to look forward at the
changing market of world structures, and is planning next
year’s conference in Mumbai, India. The world stage has been
set and we can only wait to see how super structures have
been influenced by the environmental and economic times.
CALATRAVA OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SPIRE
NATHALIE RAZO | CHICAGOOCT 18, 2009 -–
On Wednesday, October 7th, 2009, a group of people got to
experience a rare lecture by Calatrava as part of the
official opening of the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago. The
event brought together a great mix of people including
people from the architecture community and many who were
not.
“Beyond
the Spire” was a look at some of his well-known and upcoming
projects, a sort of reflection on how he feels about his
work up until now. He emphasized his desire to gap the
bridge between architecture and engineering in his projects,
specifically the Milwaukee Art Museum. Calatrava has also
recently focused many projects on infrastructure including
high speed rail, bridges, and transport depots across the
world. This work he says is a great way to landmark areas
while being dedicated to the hundred of thousands of people
that use the transportation everyday. His lecture was
entertaining, thought provoking, and inspiring.
However, one of the best parts, by far, was the dialogue
between Calatrava and Blair Kamin, Architecture Critic of
the Chicago Tribune. It was an informal discussion that
resulted in train of thought tangencies that often led back
to a “message of boldness” in his. Calatrava is optimistic
that these economic times are turning around, and that he
will be able to see the addition of the Spire to the Chicago
skyline. We all hope he is correct.
NO
OLYMPICS BUT A NEW OPPORTUNITY ARISES
L. DARRELL JONES | CHICAGOOCT 12, 2009 -–
So now that we've crashed from our collective Olympic "sugar
high," a resulting opportunity to achieve something great
beckons for our attention. I'm speaking of the prime
southern lakefront property currently occupied by the
Michael Reese Hospital campus once targeted for our Olympic
Village - now owned by the city which looks to develop it as
residential. I don't doubt that a new mixed-use
residential community there would be nice, but is it the
best we can conceive for it in light of the former grandiose
plans and its significant location?
I believe that just because
we've been deemed not Olympic-worthy at this time, is no
reason to not make grand plans for our city going forward
into the next decade. Opportunities to make a truly great
architectural statement due to the opening up of prime land
on out southern lakefront only come around in a generation.
An example of this is the currently stalled Spire
skyscraper. The buzz created by its innovative twisting
torso design was heard the world over. Lets hope for
brighter days ahead for that undertaking.
Certainly, one of the unique
opportunities we have related to the diverted use of the
Michael Reese from an Olympic Village is the renewed hope
that many more or most of the rare Gropius-designed and
influenced buildings could be saved through adaptive-reuse.
Often, mid-century modern examples such as these are
difficult to garner much public support because they
typically are not the most attractive structures
comparatively speaking. But if one of the nuances tourists
love about Chicago is how the architecturally old is
juxtapositioned against the new so commonly throughout our
city. We have blown many past opportunities to progress in
this area, so here we stand at yet another significant
juncture to respect and retain our past or to junk it.
Here's hoping that our
impetuous mayor does not stiffen his resolve on going
forward with a new residential district without seriously
considering the merits of alternate ideas being floated for
the use of that campus. Among the ideas put forth by
aldermen and others are a casino-entertainment complex, a
hospitality-based high school and maybe a future
presidential library. Regardless of what eventually is
chosen to emerge there, a public competition, public forums
and dialogue would appear to best serve our interests in
insuring an outcome that we all could eventually be proud
of.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS CONVENE IN CHICAGO
CHICAGOSEPT 28, 2009-–
Chicago recently welcomed the largest annual gathering of
landscape architects in the world at the McCormick Place
Convention Center. More than 5,000 attendees affiliated with
the American Society of Landscape Architects enjoyed the the
sights and sounds of an early Fall season in the city. In
addition to participating in several tours, over 125
educational sessions were available along with an expo of
400 industry-specific exhibits displaying the latest in
green roof technology, outdoor turf and furnishings,
playground structures, innovations in skatepark design and
more.
Mayor
Daley was one of the featured speakers and received the
ASLA's LaGasse Medal in recognition of his management and
conservancy of public landscapes. Other notable dignitaries
in attendance were President Obama's senior environmental
policy counsel Lisa Heinzerling, Kermit Baker, the chief
economist for the the AIA, as well as many more top design
and sustainability experts.
"Chicago
serves as a model for landscape architecture and
sustainability, featuring some of the world's best examples
of green roofs, public parks and urban streetscapes," said
Angela Dye, FASLA and president of the Society. "Landscaper
architecture can address a multitude of economic,
environmental and social problems facing large urban
environments, and we are delighted to visit a city that puts
so many excellent design practices into use - especially on
the 100th anniversary of the 1909 Burnham Plan."
Since
2000, ASLA has awarded Chicago nine national awards for
landscape architecture, including Lurie Garden in Millennium
Park, Chicago City Hall Green Roof, Spider Island Chicago
Botanic Garden, Michigan Ave., One North Wacker Drive and
the Chicago campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology.
OPRAH'S
SHOW SHOWCASES SHOPPING MECCA
AP PHOTO/DAVID BANKS
CHICAGOSEPT 13, 2009-–
Crowds estimated at upwards of 20,000 descended upon
Chicago's premier shopping district - The Magnificent Mile -
Tuesday, September 8 to "kick-off" Oprah's 24th season
anniversary. With the iconic backdrops of the Wrigley
Building and Tribune Tower, Oprah staged a party featuring
Jennifer Hudson, the Black-Eyed Peas, James Taylor and
hoards of her adoring throngs for the millions of viewers
who watch her show daily. Oprah stated her motivation for
shutting down this tourist hub for 2 days was 2-fold. First,
she related the need to do something spectacular to garner
the level of attention which this would; and second, to help
promote Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games of which
Oprah is a supporter. Certainly her first objective was
accomplished by any standards. As for the second - a
correlation to the Olympics not being entirely clear -
remains to be seen. Although Oprah's show is broadcast in
Chicago at the out-of-way Harpo Studios, precious few
tapings occur in the public realm of the city to the extent
that the average viewer could easily forget that Chicago is
the city of broadcast origin. If Oprah truly believes that
this is "the greatest city in the world" and one of the most
beautiful global cities - and we believe she does - then we
challenge her to make this kick-off event not just an
opening to her 24th season, but also the beginning of
incorporating more of the city -minus the shut-downs - into
her show's broadcast.
ADRIAN
SMITH HONORED AT STREETERVILLE AFFAIR
ALEX TSPARIS | SPECIAL
PROJECTS | CHICAGOAUG 30, 2009-–
BLUEPRINTs, an annual event that celebrates the unique
Chicago neighborhood of Streeterville was generously hosted
by the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR)
the Museum of Contemporary Art on Monday, August 10th.
This
year’s event honored the world-famous architect, Adrian
Smith. A former partner of Skidmore Owings & Merrill and a
graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Adrian
Smith has been responsible for such masterpieces as the NBC
Tower, the Trump International Hotel and Tower, and the Burj
Dubai – soon to be the world’s tallest structure. In 2006,
Adrian Smith co-founded Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill
Architecture, a prestigious practice with current projects
around the world.
SOAR
presented Smith with the Vision Into Reality Award at the
BLUEPRINTs event. This award was inspired by the
forward-looking city plans by Daniel Burnham that were
conceived one hundred years ago. Naturally, this award
recognizes individuals whose progressive ideas will impact
the city of Chicago into the next one hundred years.
Dubai,
once a small fishing village in the United Arab Emirates, is
now a globalized megapolis with very high architectural
demands for Smith and his firm. Along with the Burj Dubai,
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture currently have other
projects planned in that city, but those remain concepts
after the stock market crash in 2008. Aside from the
prestigious projects in Dubai, Smith and his practice are
currently working on projects in Abu Dhabi, Mumbai,
Vancouver, and right here in Chicago.
The
BLUEPRINTs event also involved a live auction selling
conceptual drawings by Adrian Smith and a silent auction
featuring photographs of Streeterville and Calatrava
Buildings along with works by up-and-coming local artist
DeMarcus Pulham.
ABOUT SOAR
The
Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR), is a
volunteer organization that works to see that Streeterville
remain “a unique vibrant and beautiful neighborhood. For
over 30 years, SOAR has worked to improve the public
transportation in Streeterville, promote a healthy and safe
environment, and increase the amount of green and open
space.
GREAT
RENDERINGS, AVERAGE OUTCOMES
ALEX TSPARIS | SPECIAL
PROJECTS | CHICAGOAUG 16, 2009-–This
summer, two temporary pavilions were erected in Millennium
Park to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Daniel
Burnham’s 1909 Plan of Chicago. The north pavilion,
designed by Van Berkel of UN Studio, is formed by two
parallel rectangular planes joined by curving scoops covered
in white plywood. The planes are meant represent the city’s
orthogonal, grid-like texture while the curving scoops offer
unique vistas of the cityscape and represent the diagonal
boulevards Burnham had originally planned. The south
pavilion, arriving weeks late due to contractor issues, was
conceives by Zaha Hadid and is formed by 24 custom-made
canvas pieces zippered together and precisely stretched over
an aluminum shell. Hadid combines various naturalistic
forms complete with a video projection to create a unique
and inviting fluid space that invites us to contemplate the
future as Burnham once did.
The
pavilions work very well symbolically and artistically and
both frame vertical the city skyline in an engaging way.
However, both of these spaces are lacking in a single
fundamental aspect; the reality of public interaction.
UN
Studio’s Pavilion is white – correction – was white; it is
now pretty much gray from all footprints and scuffmarks.
[note: currently closed for repairs] Kids have naturally
been climbing in the “scoops” which have caused permanent
gouges in the white façade. Circulation proves to be a bit
awkward as the pavilion is elevated a bit too high off the
ground. Additionally, the ADA accessible ramp on the north
end is an odd addition that completely detracts from the
“floating” effect.
Hadid’s
idea of a fluid transition from the park through the
pavilion is sadly clogged up by people habitually standing
too far back to watch the projection on the screen and not
allowing any space for passage. Unfortunate as this may be,
all these issues should have been designed for when
conceiving an outdoor, public space. If kids want to
interact with the artwork by climbing on an accessible and
safe part, they should be able to.
Overall,
these logistical flaws in the pavilions sadly detract from
their original artistic beauty and intellectual appeal. Lets
hope that not only the re-ordering of these two imaginative
pieces produce a better outcome for public interaction but
that they also serve as a lesson for any such future
endeavors.
A QUEST FOR QUALITY IN
THE WEST LOOP
KYLE THOMAS | SPECIAL
PROJECTS | CHICAGOAUG 2, 2009-–
This unique structure doesn’t just tell its own story but
embraces the existing fabric of the city with its
eleven-story new steel tower on an existing seven-story old
concrete loft. The Belgravia Group took an existing old and
extremely structurally-sound building which is not exactly a
historic landmark but is architecturally noteworthy and
brought it into the 21st century. This unique hybrid design
style - merging the old with the new - is an example of how
a design can be sustainable all on its own without using
fancy technology to give it a “green” label. Although the
architect might not have had the intentions of a sustainable
design, one may believe the building speaks for it’s self by
preserving an existing older building and turning it into
new one.
565 Quincy
has a lot of offer with eighteen stories of 241 condominiums
units. In addition to contemporary-styled condominium units,
there are also a selection of lofts which range from “true”
lofts to “den-style” two bedroom lofts. Overall, this
notable addition to the West Loop has thirty-five different
floor plans ranging from 600 square feet to its largest of
1,227 square feet. On the exterior, a thoughtful
design feature was to stagger the private terraces so as not
to have the sun blocked by neighboring terraces directly
overhead. The roof features a large community sun deck with
kitchenette which is on top of the existing older building.
For “in-building” recreation, designers fashioned an
extremely unique “Q” room located on the bottom floor. The
“Q” room features a private bowling ally, movie screening
room, putting green, video arcade, lounge with bar, and
fully-equipped fitness center for the exclusive use of 565
Quincy homeowners.
These hip
and stylish condos seem to be geared towards the younger
professionals of Chicago. Located in downtown Chicago’s West
Loop, just a block away from Union Station, this up
community offers an array of up-scale restaurants and
endless shopping boutiques. The Belgravia Group with more
than 50 years of experience and countless award-winning
building designs has done it again providing a new and
sophisticated addition to Chicago’s condo collection. For
inquires about 565 Quincy. contact Dan Katz, Belgravia Group
at
Dan@BelgraviaGroup.com, or call 312.751.2777 x157.
A CHICAGO ICON IN
JEOPARDY
L. DARRELL JONES | CHICAGOJULY 26, 2009-–
We really had no idea of the impending demise of one of
Chicago's most unique treasures - The Prairie Avenue
Bookshop - when we filmed there just last June. But
according to a recent Tribune story, Bill Hasbrouck, founder
and owner of a collection of literature much beloved by area
architects, the store is scheduled to close its doors for
good September 1st. Through no fault of its own, Prairie
Avenue is falling victim to the modern trend of internet
retailing with big volume and deep discounts. This has
affected street-level businesses including books, movies,
music and T-shirts. Recently even Borders announced its
intention to shutter its North Michigan Avenue store. As it
is with other like-brick-n-mortar establishments, people
more often browse than buy. I must confess, this has been
true of me on a few occasions. Certainly, being in the midst
of recession hasn't helped matters as people have less
disposal income to purchase non-essential items. I can't
help but think that having a more prominent market effort
and internet presence may have precluded this unfortunate
scenario from coming so perilously close this ending. We may
never know. But with the history and rare volumes that's
tied up in this resource, we're hoping someone sees the
value in investing in whatever it takes to save this Chicago
icon.
ANOTHER ICONIC MUSEUM FOR
CHICAGO?
L. DARRELL JONES | CHICAGOJULY 12, 2009-–
With the recent opening of the new Modern Wing of The Art
Institute of Chicago. has the city filled its quota for
iconic cultural additions? Apparently one local visionary
doesn't think so. Paul Poloz, principal of Poloz
Architects,
sees room for one more - a 55,4000-square-foot Museum of
Native American Culture and Spirituality to honor the
diverse American Indian culture and the millions which
perished after foreign contact and conquest. According to
indiancountrytoday.com The Chicago-based architect is
spearheading the effort to erect a $90 million museum and
monument in Chicago or perhaps another city. The monument is
to be a 15-20-foot statue of a yet-to-be-determined
historically-significant figure to stand in the building's
courtyard.
Again, according to Indian
Country Today, the design includes interior portions
housing artifacts, artwork, and indoor and outdoor
sculptural gardens. The exterior will include about 120,000
square feet of landscaped space and a courtyard where
cultural activities such as pow wows will take place.
The interior will be “designed with structures referencing
traditional Native American architecture from tribes around
North America to create an intertribal village community,”
according to Poloz. The design “is based on the concept of
the cosmic circle, a strong symbol of life, with endless
forces spinning around the center. The central part of the
circle is the Great Tipi surrounded by swirling streams of
water.”
Poloz plans to present the project to Chicago mayor Richard
Daley and thinks Chicago would be an appropriate place for
it. “The project has been designed for a city site,
contributing to the urban environment as an oasis of nature
to provide people with an escape from the sterility and
hectic pace of the city.”
He is
currently also involved in setting up a nonprofit foundation
for the project, which will include tribal involvement and
help raise the money needed. Poloz said it will apply to the
federal government for grants and also the private sector.
He hopes to have the foundation up and running in the next
couple months. While
Poloz says “it is difficult to estimate a time of completion
with the current economic crisis, we are doing what we can
to give exposure to the project.”
SEARS TOWER STEPPING OUT
L. DARRELL JONES | CHICAGOJULY 7, 2009-–
Just halfway through 2009 and Chicago has already
experienced more momentous architectural coming out parties
than most places experience in a decade.
We we initially treated to the much anticipated opening of
The Art Institute of Chicago's new Modern Wing by Italian
architect Renzo Piano. Before we caught our breath from that
event. one of two Centennial Celebratory pavilions also
premiered in Millennium Park. And now rising up to steal the
spotlight from these two showstoppers is unveiling of The
Ledge at Skydeck level atop the Sears Tower. The long lines
leading up to the remodeled Skydeck and the innovative
suspended viewing ledge testify to the excitement generated
by this new opportunity to step out a few feet from the
tallest building in America.
The
architectural firm of Skidmore Owings & Merrill designed the
3 (eventually 4) 10'x10' protruding glass boxes which extend
4' out from the building's west side providing views which
glass-pressed foreheads could only hope to obtain. For the
nervous crowd, the glass bottom only 1.5" thick has been
designed to hold 5 tons - twice the weight capacity required
to be safe.
According
to the
Metal Miner online resource, The “Ledge” is essentially
a suspended glass structure with no steel framing. The 8’ x
8’ x ½’ structural ceiling front hangs from high strength
steel beams, custom fabricated plate and high strength tube,
custom machined pieces, stainless steel connections and a
lot of little pieces. The entire box is suspended from
bearing rollers, similar to wide flange beam traveling
rollers. The system is run by a rigged chain drive overhead
motor. Think of it as a “very expensive garage door opener.”
Always a
destination for Chicago's many tourists, The Ledge will no
doubt renew the interest of locales who have scaled this
man-made mountain once in the past and also for those who
coyly have to admit they have yet to experience it. Seems
like they've waited for the perfect time.
MODELING CHICAGO'S
PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
By Darrell Jones
CHICAGOJUN 15, 2009-–
After observing the child-like twinkle in the eyes of
various on-lookers of the Chicago Architecture Foundation's
Chicago Model City in the atrium of the historic Santa Fe
building, I left feeling this surely looks to become one of
its most successful exhibitions to date.
This perspective is in addition to my own love of
finely-crafted scaled models and the difficulty I
experienced trying to tear myself away from this giant-sized
one. One comment overheard from a college student was, "I
was I could grab some "Hot Wheels" miniature-sized cars to
roll down the streets of this thing." The 25-foot by 35-foot
model is one of the centerpieces of city's celebration of
its 1909 Plan of Chicago by architect and visionary Daniel
H. Burnham.
Although
the Foundation has always featured a similarly-scaled model
of Chicago in its visitor's center at 224 S.
Michigan,
this new updated offering boasts approximately 400
blocks of over 1000 highly detailed buildings achieved
through a laser-cutting process.
In
addition to the large-scaled mono-chromed model city (its
Sears Tower stands almost 3-feet tall), kiosks surround its
perimeter recounting Chicago's historical emergence as a
global city. Some of the themes throughout include Chicago
as the Beautiful City, Global City, Connected City, Green
City and New City. Several other smaller models also
tell the story of where the city is now and where its going
as they highlight current major urban re-development
projects.
From the
constancy of photography and the ease at which various
locales and landmarks were being pointed out within the
model's environs, Chicago Model City is off to a rousing
start. It appears to be effective in tying together our
past, present and future with clarity and visual substance
allowing the average patron to make a comfortable approach
and eventual connection with it all. The
exhibition is free and open to the public until November
20th.
NEW ADDITION
STRIKES BALANCE
By Erik Munck
CHICAGOMAY 23, 2009-–
As
swarms of people gathered around the Art Institute on
Saturday, it was obvious that the opening of the $294
million Modern Wing addition was highly anticipated, as it
should be. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Renzo Piano,
the 264,000 square foot space creates a memorable experience
for observing the modern works of art that it houses. Upon
entering, one is bathed in natural light, emanating from the
many windows and Piano’s own “flying carpet” skylight, made
up of rows of aluminum blades. His clever use of glass
diffuses the light and surrounds the works in natural
daylight. Not only does this make for ideal gallery viewing
conditions, but also cuts down on the building’s electricity
demand. The natural daylight, coupled with the white walls,
also gives the sense that the viewer is in a studio, taking
a first hand tour of the artist’s work. Hardwood floors and
railings contribute to the warmness and keep the space from
looking too institutional.
As viewers
progress through the interior, it seems that the linear
space offers a clearer path of travel than the old museum,
with a large central atrium and exhibitions branching off
from it. However, after turning into an exhibition, I found
that the viewer is still subject to the same flaws of
minimizing the need for simplicity of navigation which
plague most art museums. Winding rooms with multiple entry
ways often bring the gallery goers to rooms they have
already been in, or unfortunately, as is the case with the
architecture/design gallery, a walled off dead-end. Things
get especially confusing in the abstract art sections, where
there is a strong chance that someone will accidentally step
on a floor installation, or mistake an art piece for
meaningless wires or wood.
The
building does offer clear views of downtown Chicago though,
with many vantage points that almost show off the city as an
exhibition in its own right. The sense of lightness, which
Piano is known for, is carried in a cantilevered bridge that
crosses above Monroe Street. Walking across it, I got a
great view of the stunning Millennium Park music pavilion,
designed by Frank Gehry, whose work I had just seen in the
museum. Also in view were the crowds of people enjoying the
free concerts, giveaways, and other attractions of the
carnival-like atmosphere surrounding opening day. The Modern
Wing was not only designed to be open to light, but to the
public as well. In many ways, it appears that a concerted
effort was made to connect the new wing with its exterior
environs, Millennium Park in particular. But a museum
designed by a top architect using high-end materials has its
price, as does the constant maintenance of light surfaces
and hardwood floors. This could be one reason for the
increase in ticket prices. Regardless, the Modern Wing does
try to show that modern art is not something solely reserved
for scholars and critics, but also to be appreciated by the
general public.
RIVERWALK FROM VIRTUAL
TO REALITY
By Darrell Jones
Animated
walk-around by Ross Barney Architects
CHICAGOAPR 27, 2009-–
The
construction of Chicago's Riverwalk is
one of the more exciting civic projects taken on by the city
since the planning out of the Museum Campus. This ambitious
carving out of a new and significant public realm represents
perhaps the third leg of a paradigm shift in our
relationship to the river. With
the cleaning up of this waterway after the historic reversal
of its flow in 1900, developers eventually awakened to the
realization that a location along this body of water which
embraces rather than shunning it can be profitable. Of
course it didn't hurt that the city also began to insist on
the creation of public access areas and "green space" to be
a part of new riverfront developments. Now, the
anticipation of billions of dollars from local, state and
federal funds to construct a continuous path from the lake
westward on both banks of the Chicago River has given this
final piece of its re-adaptation a new sense of certainty.
With New
York City's identity closely tied in to the man-made canyons
of Manhattan, San Antonio being known for its Riverwalk, and
Miami for its beaches, it hardly seems fair that Chicago
will soon benefit from the possession of each of these. Of
course, the inclusion of the right type of commercial
establishments, pedestrian amenities (i.e. lighting,
benches, landscaping, etc.), and interactive opportunities
will determine the overall success of this endeavor. Our
hope is that unlike Navy Pier (which yes is the city's #1
tourist attraction to date), we think through how to
maximize the use of each stretch of the Riverwalk without
having to revisit its design 5-10 years after its completion
in the near future.
2009 DRIEHAUS AWARD
By Darrell Jones
Abdel-Wahed
El-Wakil 2009 Driehaus Prize laureate
CHICAGOAPR 6, 2009-–
On
the weekend of March 27-28, 2009 The University of Notre
Dame School of Architecture honored the 2009 recipients of
the
the most significant award for classicism in
the contemporary built environment. Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil was
presented with the 2009 Richard H. Driehaus Prize at a
colloquium at the historic John B. Murphy Auditorium in
downtown Chicago. Also present were over 40 5th-year
students from the school of architecture along with WTTW
which was recording the proceedings for future broadcast.
The
$200,000 Driehaus Prize is awarded annually to an
outstanding architect whose work applies the principles of
classicism in contemporary contexts, including sensitivity
to the historic continuum, the fostering of community, and
the impact on the built and natural environments. It is the
largest unrestricted prize of its kind. Fabio Grementieri
was also honored at the event with the $50,000 Henry Hope
Reed Award, presented annually to an individual whose work
has supported the cultivation of the traditional city
through planning, preservation or promotion.
At the
colloquium honoring the 2009 laureates, Abdel-Wahed El-Wakil
will discussed his career in a one-on-one interview with
New Yorker architecture critic Paul
Goldberger. Fabio Grementieri was featured in a group
conversation on public policy and preservation with Adele
Chatfield-Taylor, president of the American Academy in Rome,
and Russell Keune, former director of international
relations for the American Institute of Architects.
"VAN DER VOGUE"
By Darrell Jones
OrganiK
Revolution modeling a 111 S. Wacker-inspired creation
CHICAGOMAR 30, 2009-–
Architecture + Fashion. On first glance one would think
these two design communities have little if anything in
common. Yes, architecture is about artistic beauty as much
as the science of construction; and fashion can be distilled
down to the simplicity of form and function of what we wear.
But can the two share meaningful expression and interplay in
design theory with cutting-edge results? Well, apparently a
few fashion designers and architects set out to make it
happen as they came together with their productions for "van
der vogue" - an Illinois Institute of Technology hosted
event celebrating the 123rd birthday of
architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and his contributions to
architecture by featuring the creations of local fashion
designers inspired by his buildings and similar modernist
examples around the Chicago area. Among the buildings from
which inspiration was derived for these one-of-a-kind dress
creations were the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies,
south on Michigan Avenue, the God-Box Mies-designed chapel
on the campus of IIT, and 111 South Wacker designed by
Goettsch Partners.
Some of local fashion designers
participating included Kristin Frieman of Red Shift, Lindsey Boland of Habit Chicago, Cynthia
Ryba of Cynthia Ryba, Lara Miller of Lara Miller, Alice Berry of
Alice Berry, Kristin Hassan of Organi K Revolution, Lidia
Wachowska of Evil Kitty and Laura Lambert of Scarlet Designs
present their architecturally-inspired creations. According
to Laura Miller of Laura Miller, "we were following through
on very simple elements and began with functionality in
mind. [Our goal was] not just design for aesthetics, but
[design with] purpose." Also on hand for the celebration
were architecture firms
Goettsch Partners, Dirk Denison Architects, UrbanLab, DePree
Bickford Associates and Krueck + Sexton Architects.Dirk Lohan
open the evening with a brief introduction to the
celebration and its fashion component and commented that
"Fashion designers give us new ways of looking at these
buildings and structures." Visit the
Architecture + FashionPage to view
photos from the evening's presentation.
ARCHITECTURE - FOR
FREE
By Darrell Jones
Rada
Architecture's Clybourn Point
CHICAGOMAR 16, 2009-–
With the official arrival of Spring just around the corner,
Chicagoans will no doubt find it to be a welcome sign that
despite no matter how adverse the season, new life is sure
to follow. In this context, the current economic downturn
has been and continues to be a winter of discontent for
many. But in spite of the realities of tightening of
budgets and disposable incomes, recent statistics have shown
that Americans are finding the resources to enjoy the escape
Hollywood provides and a few other entertainment outlets
like it. One thing this shows is that we value the means by
which we can put our issues on the back burner for awhile
even if they cost us some of our hard-earned income.
Despite
this fact, there are many others who still can't afford many
of the high-priced entertainment venues or traveling to
far-flung corners of the world to take in breath-taking
memorable sites. Consequently, not only have we seen a
decline in our foreign tourists, but the locals are finding
more affordable ways to escape closer to home. As our
thoughts begin to turn toward a long-anticipated Spring and
Summer and the ways we can enjoy the outdoors without going
broke, Perhaps one of the best means to do this is to go out
and listen to free outdoor concert, relax at the beach or
stroll around town and check out the architecture which
brings the world to our doorstep.
Yes there
are a myriad of tours available at nominal rates, but the
thing about Chicago's museum of architecture is that its
open and accessible for free 24/7 year round. You may not
hear all about the history of these places of interest from
a tour guide, however with the wealth of information made
possible through the internet today, we all can be experts
on art deco if we choose to be. While its true that more
than a few developments have been stopped and many others
scrapped, its a good bet that Chicago's neighborhoods hold
enough newly built surprises to satisfy any architecture
enthusiast. For an added twist, maybe a surveying of the
area's halted projects could be someone's idea of fun.
So whatever your tastes, make a point to get out and enjoy
all that Chicago has to offer - for free!
HALSTED STREET-THAT
"GREAT STREET"
By Darrell Jones
University
Village, Chicago
CHICAGOJAN 18, 2009-–
During a recent snowstorm (take your pick), a colleague of
mine bemoaned the unfortunate circumstance of having to
detour to work through the congested University Village
Halsted Street corridor. A section stretching from Roosevelt
Rd north to 15th Place to the south. Of course if the
planners of this new community had fully envisioned what a
successful outcome of their project might look like, perhaps
they would have considered requesting a 4-lane or at worst a
turn-lane throughway down one of the more heavily trafficked
gateways into downtown Chicago.
Of the
many notable roadways throughout the city, few can rival the
rich history and continued significance of Halsted Street.
From its place as the epicenter of the meat-packing
stockyards industry at the beginning of the 20th Century
through the ethnic outdoor markets of Maxwell Street to
emerging university communities today, Halsted Street is
indelibly meshed into the warp and woof of the "City of big
shoulders."
Although
only a small section of the meat-processing business remains
there, and Maxwell Street has been neutered into
insignificance, University Village seeks to instill a sense
of place along a stretch of Halsted which can extend
street-level vitality from downtown several blocks
southward. With human-scale lighting, public spaces, and
curbside parking, the area is beginning to awaken with
residential and retail traffic. Still needed are more green
spaces, additional parking and better traffic flow to
enhance the effort underway there.
The story is reversed several
miles south at 63rd and Halsted Street where Kennedy-King
College's new 40-acre campus is spearheading a
re-vitalization in the heart of economically-distressed
Englewood. This is an area which enjoyed the limelight as an
intercity retail destination back in 50's and early 60's.
The locating of the city college campus there is the first
injection of new life into the area as the streets have been
re-paved, the CTA station improved, and noticeably more
green space has appeared.
According to CBS2chicago.com,
a new Walgreens next to the college is expected to attract
more commercial development. New housing, retail centers and
a new police station are all opening near the college. A
large, stately vacant building sits a block north of the
campus and could be a critical piece to changing the
personality of the neighborhood. What once was a former
temple of worship could with re-investment become a central
focal point through re-adaptation as a cultural center, a
community center, a jobs center or of course a church again.
This restoration, taken with all the others could signal
sincerity to this community that hope for change will be
more than just political rhetoric but can be in fact a
visible reality along that "Great Street."
FOUNDATIONS TO THE
FUTURE
By Darrell Jones
The
stalled Waterview Tower on Wacker Drive
CHICAGODEC 29, 2008-–
In
our determination to make it through an early winter
onslaught here in the Chicago area, its easy to experience
the natural memory fade of all the headlining events in
architecture from this past year. But as a new year is
already upon us, a compelling question arises from the ruble
of all the promise of 2008. What are the top stories which
are foundational for what could be future headliners in
architecture for 2009? Well, of course there were many
candidates from which to choose, such as the impact the new
administration will have on the nation's infrastructure and
planned re-dos of Grant Park and woeful stretches of North
Michigan Ave. But we settled on three which might have the
greatest continuing impact on into the new year.
Heading up
this list has to be the ongoing crippling effect of the
economic recession not only here but globally. Extremely
fortunate are some projects of note which were well into
construction and secured financing before the downturn hit.
Case in point, Trump Tower (which still is challenged to
sell out its units), The Legacy, Aqua Tower, and One Museum
Place lead this group. Conversely, one of the most
anticipated and acclaimed projects in the world -
Calatrava's Spire -remains just a gigantic "hole in one." In
spite of the liens and shriveling up of needed capital to
restart and finish this iconic building, we predict that all
parties involved will find a way to overcome extraordinary
odds to get this thing done.
Next at
the top of this list is the conflict over locating the new
Chicago Children's Museum - formerly of Navy Pier, although
when the mayor makes his mind up about a project (see Meigs
Field), it is all but gift wrapped and delivered. Yet, the
jury is still out on the finalities of this project. In the
face of editorial alternatives touting better locales,
reports slamming subterranean children's museums, and
increasing public scrutiny of the project, the pro-Grant
Park forces march forward undaunted. We anticipate
additional design concessions, but ultimately expect to see
another building staking a claim in Chicago's front yard.
What may be regarded as
surprise inclusion here are preservation concerns. With each
passing decade, the issue of preserving as many of our
historical architectural treasures as we can has heightened
in the public consciousness. In the spotlight of late
has been efforts to recognize, rescue and restore
mid-century modern masterpieces. Additionally,
mainstays such as Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House in
Plano, IL continues to be ravaged by the floodwaters in its
Fox River Valley locale. On another front, little movement
seems to be detected in raising the necessary capital to
fund the restoration of Louis Sullivan's fire-decimated
Pilgrim Baptist Church on south Prairie Ave. On a more
positive note, the discovery of a few Sullivan-designed
storefront facades at 18, 22 and 28 S. Wabash Ave are in the
process of restoration by Chicago architects T. "Gunny"
Harboe and Douglas Gilbert. With numerous other projects due
to be unveiled or re-adapted, look for 2009 to yield a few
more pleasant surprises in the preservation effort.
ANOTHER PROPOSED
UNIQUE TOWER IN JEOPARDY
Hines
Interest development at 444 W. Lake St.
CHICAGODEC 16, 2008-–
These days it seems all too frequent that the "best laid
plans of mice and men come to naught." So it is with another
statement-making downtown structure - 200 N. Riverside
Plaza. The 52-story office tower proposed for development
along the Chicago River by Hines Interests L P is being
crunched by the current credit crisis. According to
ChicagoBusiness.com, Hines needs a $328-million construction
loan but has only $200 million committed by a group of four
banks thus far. Another $30 million in equity is required
from Hines or an outside investor before making any
additional loans for the project. Hines has already
appropriated $128 million in equity to this point and would
be incurring a greater percentage of risk with further
personal investment. The $536-million skyscraper
designed by
Pickard Chilton Architects Inc. of New Haven, CT was
scheduled to begin construction in 2009 and has already
secured two high-profile tenants:
investment bank William Blair & Co. LLC and law firm Baker &
McKenzie LLP.
A RESIDENTIAL
RENAISSANCE
By Darrell Jones
Residences
of Bradley Place II near Addison & Western
CHICAGONOV 24, 2008-–
While much has been made of the effect the current economic
slowdown has had on Chicago's high-rise boom, the city's
low-rise residential projects continue to spring up at
various locales around town. This trend exists despite the
downward spiral in new housing starts which typically
reflect the suburban market more because of its greater
availability of buildable space. Several examples of new and
soon-to-be-completed low-rise residential tracts in the
"windy city" include: Parkside homes at Lakeshore East,
Residences at Bradley Place, Hartland Park, The Jazz
District, Oakwood Shores, Chicago Haven on West Madison and
Park Boulevard at 35th and State. Taken together, these new
housing developments comprised of similar exterior elements
are indications of movement toward the next generation of
distinctive architectural housing.
For more
than a century, Chicago has quilted together neighborhood
patterns of single-family and 2-3-flat homes defined by
bungalows, Victorian and European-styles, Prairie-style,
ranches, brownstones, Cape Cod interpretations and other
eclectic blends. These houses have each featured their own
unique mix of layouts, materials and colors. Although
today's current projects don't adhere to one identifiable
design style, they do appear to share a few common
characteristics. Among them are: the use of brick
throughout, earthtone colors of browns, reds, and
off-whites, front steps leading to a porch on a 1 1/2 to
2-story building many sporting a large arch over an entryway
or window. One reason for the consistent look across
residences is that only a few developers are responsible for
them.
Generally
speaking, these new single and multi-family units do project
a grit, strength and character expected in urban areas. This
is a hopeful trend because of how easy it might be for
developers to conceive suburban-style enclaves within city
limits if they were so inclined to go in that direction. So
while Chicago will maintain its architectural eclecticism
beyond any current dominant design trends, don't be
surprised to see a slight directional shift in architectural
housing styles filling pockets of our urban landscape for
some time to come.
SULLIVAN ICON READY'S
FOR REBIRTH
By Darrell Jones
Sullivan
Center, 33 S. State St.
CHICAGOOCT 20, 2008-–
One of Chicago's most revered architectural mainstays is
poised to begin yet another of its seemingly "9 lives." The
former Schlesinger & Mayer department store which most us
identify as the long time home of Carson Pirie Scott & Co.
is now morphing into its latest personality - the Sullivan
Center. Though this 1903 national landmark's facade has been
under wraps for months at the intersection of State &
Madison, vibrant and visible change has continued within its
interior. Over 1 million sq. ft. is being divided up
for office, academic and retail use. Among the Sullivan
Center's new tenants is the project's developers - Joseph
Freed and Associates LLC whose headquarters will occupy
the fourth floor. Additionally, the architecture and
engineering firm of PSA-Dewberry has leased almost
11,000 sq. ft. and is consolidating its Naperville and South
Loop offices there by Dec.1. In 2007, the architecture
and fashion departments at the School of the Art
Institute moved into its new digs at the Center.
Recently, the SAIC opened 32,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space
on the seventh floor for its new Sullivan Galleries.
Utilizing 25,000 sq. ft. of available space opened by the
vacated Carson's department store, current plans are to have
the high-end retailer Fox & Obel store taking
occupancy upon completion of the renovations. Several
pictures of what looks to be an elegantly restored lobby and
various sections of the facade can be viewed at
www.jfreed.com.
DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY
By Ross Renjilian
Glen Tower
Center, Glenview, IL
CHICAGOSEPT 28, 2008-–
Many architecture firms become recognized for creating
beautiful, sleek, and innovative buildings. Whether these
buildings shoot up into the infinite blue, demonstrate
values, or house some of our most prized possessions, they
typically stand alone in solemnity. Today's architecture
firms take on these "breakout" projects focusing all their
energy on this one structure by creating what they hope to
be an "icon" from start to finish. Pappageorge and Haymes
Ltd. has been a firm with much of their focus in the
Chicagoland area via large contributions to housing
restorations, townhome communities, and even residential
skyscrapers. In Chicago's continually emerging, constantly
evolving cityscape, this is a firm that seems to be
determined to be front and center in the discussion as to
what shape this city's built environment is going to take in
the near and distant future. Creating whole "walkable"
communities with local restaurants, retail, entertainment,
accessible transportation and communal green space has
become a primary way in which Pappageorge & Haymes is
leading the way in fostering interaction between people and
the built environment.
One of
their best examples of this firm's community approach is the
Glen Tower Center located in Glenview, IL. This project
focused on the redevelopment of an abandoned naval air base
through providing high-density housing and mixed-use
programs. The Glen Tower Center incorporates townhomes,
apartments, retail shops, department stores, a movie
theater, parking facilities , and of course, restaurants.
The area also takes advantage of open park spaces, allowing
people to escape from the congestion of main street. Glen
Tower Center has been extremely successful in its objective
to create an environment in which people can comfortably
interact with each other and their surroundings.
LOCAL ARCHITECTURE'S
UPCOMING SEASON
New
mezzanine at Grand & State substation
CHICAGOSEPT 8, 2008-–
If you had an opportunity to see any of China's iconic
contemporary architecture during the 2008 summer games, you
no doubt couldn't help but be impressed. While Chicago
doesn't have an upcoming season of anticipated projects
which would quite measure up to any of that, we do have a
number of exciting developments to look forward to this
season and beyond. Some of these new design/build projects
will potentially have an immediate and lasting impact upon
our urban environment, visually and functionally. Several
are as follows:
The Grand/State
CTA - Red Line Station. Work continues to progress
on this vital transportation hub which services an
estimated 8,000 patrons daily. The renovation will add
over 2,000 sq. ft. of mezzanine space along with new
granite floors and stairs, glazed wall tiles, new
elevators & escalators, kiosks and more.
The Roosevelt Rd.
Metra Station. Truly an overdue renovation
project if their ever was one. This station is one the
city's more strategic portals near Soldier Field and the
Museum Campus. The old platforms have all but been
replaced along with new heated shelters . Elevators are
currently being installed with the rickety wooded
pedestrian walkway to be made kindling next.
The Residences at
Lakeshore East. Chicago's newest major neighborhood
is in the midst of its final phase as it adds a number
of single-family residences and retail spaces to ring
the perimeter of its ventrally-positioned iconic park
area. Additionally, Jeanne Gang's Aqua Tower sits
to the west of this development and is sure to be an
attention-grabbing part of the entire area.
Roosevelt Square.
Driving through the circle one can see a noticeable
section of construction framework and scaffolding rising
from among the glut of structures in the south Loop.
This new urban plan promises to bring new life and
vitality to this section of Chicago's South Loop through
the development of a "walkable" community of residences,
retail, restaurants, entertainment and public space.
Carson Pirie Scott
Store. As frustrating as it has been to have
Sullivan's historic landmark work under wraps all year
for restoration, its good to hear that interior spaces
are being re-adapted and utilized for School of the Art
Institute classes and a public gallery. Its ultimate
success will no doubt be measured by the installation of
a proposed food market in the lobby space.
Additional Projects
of Note. Several other projects with high expectations
moving toward conclusion which will command our
attention are: Block 37 and 22 W. Washington
CBS2 Studios, One Museum Park and the Blue
Cross Blue Shield building vertical addition.
COULD CHICAGO TOP
BEIJING IF 2016 BECOMES OUR TURN?
By Darrell Jones
National
Center for the Performing Arts - Beijing
CHICAGOAUG 25, 2008-–
Wow would probably be an apt exclamation for the effort and
outcome resulting from the XXIX Olympiad held in Beijing
China. As exciting as the summer Olympics can be and Michael
Phelps doing a fine impression as Aquaman, much of the buzz
this year was generated from the cutting-edge Chinese
architecture both old and new. Along with the CCTV
irregularly-shaped building, the Bird's Nest stadium and the
Water Cube have presented worldwide-watchers with stunning
backdrops, night shots, and aerial images of these
structures. Total costs for these games have been reported
at over $44 billion.
So where
does Chicago fit in the game of 'one-upsmanship" in its hopes
of impressing a good part of world still ignorant of
Chicago's emerging presence of the world stage in the vein
of New York, Paris, London and Rome? Well, for one, we
certainly aren't expected to spend with the fanatical
abandon of the Chinese government. Second, China is seeking
to show its positioning itself as a 21st century player in
economics, culture and architecture. Chicago, I believe is
that already as its markets, politics, cuisine, and of
course architecture has put it on the map in subjects of
global opinion.
With
Chicago's present world-class mix of classic and
contemporary architecture, we don't need to blow anyone with
new Olympic structures. However, we do need to design to a
standard of excellence and innovation we've already set for
more than a century. The hope is that if we land the 2016
games, we would proudly improve the design/build environment
and transport infrastructure which currently exists. Landing
these games should be see as an opportunity to show the
world how and why we defined progressive architecture.
CBS 2 BROADCAST SCREEN
OUT OF PLACE
By Darrell Jones
View from
Washington St.
CHICAGOAUG 3, 2008-–
Forget the "curse of the Billy goat;" the "curse of Block
37" yet lives! No, its not that the 17-story office
building at 22 West Washington is not going to be
completed-on the contrary; its due to be finished this
summer with what looks to be a well-designed and well-placed
shinny new broadcast studio. Although its retail neighbors
hit a snag with the axing of the super transit station
project, it is otherwise on track as well. No, my beef is
with the past week's revelation of what its new outdoor
broadcast screen will look like. Too many times when given a
seminal moment to make an architectural statement which is
worthy of our reputation and could move us forward,
corporate or civic heads go brain dead and we're left with a
legacy of less. Several notable examples ever with us are
the River North McDonald's on steroids and landmark-stripped
re-fitted Soldier Field to name a couple (see Chicago's
Not So Magnificent Seven in local archives).
Unfortunately, Chicagoans are left once again with
second-tier design results as WBBM-Ch 2 president and
general manger, Joe Ahern and other suits chose to overrule
their architect's opinions for the size and location of this
screen fronting Daley Plaza at Dearborn and Washington
Streets. Ralph Johnson of Perkins + Will planned for a
screen, I believe, that was much anticipated in the playful
energy it would add to an enlivening State Street theater
district. Johnson's designs called for a unit which
would be larger and stretch horizontally 80' to the corner
or at least would've had the smaller unit asymmetrically
placed. We got neither. Instead of contributing to a
mini-Times Square-like feel emerging in the area, the little
screen (30' x 19') they settled for seems more like an
afterthought or typical video billboard found on many
buildings today. Worse yet, the exposed framework behind it
looks as though its unfinished. If CBS 2's goal is to step
into the arena with the broadcast news big boys (ABC 7 and
NBC 5), it just embarrassingly tripped on the way up to
center stage.
Public
sentiment at least in the blogesphere seems to be revealing
a general angst at the broadcast screen's size and
placement. I hope that CBS 2 reconsiders this design in
consideration for Chicago's architectural reputation and the
wishes of the community it purports to serve. Our hope and
our appeal is that they will give is something to readily
embrace and be proud to show-off for years to come.
DOLLAR BILLS, PALM TREES &
OTHER GREEN THINGS
By Darrell Jones
Bridge to
Millennium from New Modern Wing
CHICAGO
JULY 27, 2008-–
Somehow I imagined the bridge leading from the Art
Institute's New Modern Wing to Millennium Park would be
thin, flat and somewhat transparent. Seeing it now for the
view-obstructing "half-pipe" structure that it is, my
impressions are--not cool.
In light
of the stalled construction at the future home of Chicago's
Museum of Broadcast Communications and the recent radio ad
appeals for contributions, its unbelievable and shameful
that this project is not more widely supported or
sufficiently funded.
Speaking
of stalled projects, I hope the Waterview Tower on Wacker is
able to resume construction soon. Looks to be a nice
riverfront addition.
Funny how
the idea of a Public Housing Museum here in Chicago always
seems to draw chuckles and sarcasm from whomever I mention
it to.
Along that
line, unsolicited suggestions for possible rides included an
elevator which stalls, drops and breaks for several days and
a courtyard obstacle course complete with a hot asphalt
barefoot walk and sniper- evasion run.
Since
green roofs are all the rage, how long before we start to
see actual "green" buildings covered with Wrigley Field-type
ivy on all sides?
No matter
what they do, they'll unfortunately never be able to make a
continuous Riverwalk along the Chicago River.
Did anyone
hear about the Palm trees purported to be brought in for
this summer's AVP tournament at North Ave. Beach? What next,
faux mountains placed as a backdrop for the next PGA Tour
event in here?
Has anyone
noticed the textbook-like layout of the city's skyscrapers
in view as you drive into the Loop on the Dan Ryan
Expressway?
Isn't the
silence deafening now that the mayor has appeared to come
through victorious in placing his new subterranean
Children's Museum in Grant Park?
Are plans
in the works or deals on the table bringing Chicago its
first major movie studio lot yet?
CHURCH STREET VILLAGE
THE REVITALIZATION OF
EVANSTON’S WEST SIDE
Press Release
Evanston, IL
– Cyrus Homes has partnered with Indie Energy to provide
affordable year round heating and cooling from geo exchange
systems provided by Indie Energy at their newest
development, Church Street Village. Church Street Village,
a Townhouse Green located at 1613-1691, offers 40 brand-new,
all-brick two and three bedroom town homes from $389,900.
The development is 50 percent sold as of this month.
The
town homes at Church Street Village will be built to LEED
certified standards in order to ensure that it is a truly
“green” community. It is one of the first residential
communities in the country to offer geo thermal energy
systems which, in addition to Energy Star appliances and
double insulated windows cut energy usage. According to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the geo exchange
system is the most efficient HVAC system on the market. Not
only does the use of the geo exchange system reduce wasted
energy but it also reduces the cost. As a result of the
over all efficient system a homeowner can expect to see up
to 70% energy savings on annual operating costs.
The
developers have recycled over 6,000 tons of material that
was on site that would normally be taken away to landfills
and re-used it for the community’s construction. In
addition, they are offering non-V.O.C. (Volatile Organic
Compound) paint and the option for non-V.O.C. carpeting, as
well as exploring environmentally safe alternatives to
insulation which includes made from recycled blue jeans!
In
addition to their mission of providing eco-friendly option
in Evanston, Cyrus Homes and Indie Energy teamed up with
Community Builders to offer guidance and jobs to local
residents. Community Builders,
overall
goal is to provide workforce development and life skills
acquisition opportunities for young people in a wide variety
of fields. Many of the people that come to their
program
are high school dropouts who had been unemployed or working
dead-end, low-wage jobs before starting the program. Some
had also been involved in illegal activities. These
individuals are trained in a skill and then work on projects
within the community, such as Church Street Village.
“We are
pleased to see such a great response to this unique living
opportunity that Church Street Village brings to Evanston”,
notes Walter Kihm, Jr., Chairman of Cyrus Homes and a life
long resident of Evanston. “As native Evanstonians, we want
to give back to the community not only by bringing an
attractive and high-quality development to its west side but
also by contributing to this forward thinking community with
an energy conscious neighborhood”
Indie
Energy, located at 1020 Church Street in Evanston is a
clean-technology energy services company. They design,
finance, install and maintain energy systems based on an
innovative combination of new technologies and renewable
energy sources: geothermal and solar. Visit
www.indieenergy.com for more information on Indie Energy
and geo thermal energy systems.
Church
Street Village is located at Church Street and Florence
Avenue within walking distance to parks, the CTA, Metra and
downtown Evanston. The Sales Center is now open Saturdays
and Sundays from 1 to 4 PM or by appointment. To schedule
your visit to Church Street Village, please call
877-879-5900 x 101 or visit
www.churchstvillage.com to request more information on
this new community.
A Wee Bit of Scottish Flair
in Chicago Design
By Ross Renjilian
The
Scottish Manor in Deerfield, IL
Orren
Pickell is one of Chicago’s leading residential home
designers which specialize in grand homes, classy styles,
and luxurious details finished with the industry’s finest
materials. This summer Pickell is at it again with not just
one house, but with an entire development. “Tarns of the
Moor” is located in the Deerfield, IL and is the setting for
one of Orren Pickell’s newest masterpieces-the aptly named
“Scottish Manor.” This grand, super-sized, European-styled
mansion has set the tone for what we can expect from this
housing development in terms of scale and style with its
castle-like feel.
After
visiting the “Scottish Manor”, I left with a desire to pack
up all of my belongings and move in the next day. The truth
is all of my stuff would fit into a small corner of this
estate home as it is “nearly” 9,000 square feet boasting 6
bedrooms, 5.3 baths, 7 fireplaces, and to top it off- a pub
in the basement! Unfortunately, upon learning that the
price tag was but a “mere” $4.8 million, my desire was
quickly demoted to dreaming.
The
house has several interesting layout features from a design
standpoint. Yet, despite its size, the “Scottish Manor”
actually possesses a very quaint feel. It’s worth noting
that the entrance was not overdone or extremely dramatic as
many are apt to be for this type of high-end residence. To
create a more old-style feel, the front windows were leaded
which also adds privacy, but also sets a tone for
anticipation of what’s inside. The dining room is located
right in the center of the house, visible upon entry. This
was a bold move because the foyer was toned down in order to
put a hierarchy on the center table.
The
house is split up into two different sections; one side is
for formal entertaining whereas the other side has a more
rustic-home feel and is designated as the living area. In
order to create this contrast, different materials and
languages were used to create these divergent spaces. The
formal section used many curves, to give it a smooth flowing
feel. These curves were used in the arched doorways, the
barrel vaulted corridor, an oval shaped dining room, and a
cylindrical foyer accompanied by a spiral staircase. The
area used much cooler colors and shades of light gray and
creams in the walls and furnishings. The floors were a
combination of acacia wood and travertine stone. The rustic
side, although not devoid of any luxury does carry a much
warmer feel. It does so through its use of materials such as
hand scraped oak floors, granite countertops, slate stove
back drop, cherry cabinetry, and limestone. The house is
suited with top of the line appliances which are masked in
order to keep the rustic feel.
A new
and unique design decision was to create, not one, but two
master suites in strategic locations. While the primary
master suite is located on the first floor, Orren Pickell
has placed another essentially versatile suite on the second
floor. The idea behind this is to make the house more
flexible to the eventual owner who would be able to exercise
a preference of locating their sleeping quarters on the
first floor, second floor or maybe even both.
My
overall impressions were that the “Scottish Manor’s”
interior is very well-organized with ample space for living
and storage. Within the context of high-end residential
design, this house makes a definite statement with its grand
size, intricate details, and lavish use of materials. It is
this skillful approach the “Scottish Manor” masters in
creating an elegantly cohesive living space which make this
type of luxury a dream destination not just for this writer
but for many.
Green is the New Pink
Inside of one Chicago’s
more trendy residential complexes
By Ross Renjilian
Interior
of the newly opened Emerald
CHICAGO, IL,
JUNE 16, 2008-Styles
and trends come and go. At one time bellbottoms were the
must haves, the yoyo was one of the most popular toys, and
everyone had, yes, a pet rock. The truth is that the realm
of architecture also goes through many cycles of different
styles and trends, and right now that trend is “going
green”.
The
Emerald is a recently completed residential building that is
ironically and perhaps intentionally located on “Green”
Street. Chicago-based architects Pappageorge/Haymes, Ltd.
designed The Emerald and have ownership of numerous other
projects throughout Chicago. The residential building is a
twin tower set-up, which is connected by an 8,000
square-foot foyer and lobby space. What makes the Emerald
truly unique is its substantial effort to bring green,
recycled and sustainable materials into the built
environment. These materials were demonstrated in their $4
million lobby, which included: LED/ Fluorescent lighting,
Bamboo veneers, recycled glass terrazzo/ quartz floors,
recycled glass countertops, and even green furniture made
from sustainable materials. Beyond the Lobby, The Emerald
also gives residents the option of putting green features
into their residences including recycled counter tops and
bamboo flooring. With this idea in mind, the Emerald’s
selling point is a green lifestyle, in which they create an
image for themselves, and that is making green design trendy
and fashionable.
On the
surface the Emerald demonstrates many innovative uses of
green materials, but unfortunately missed the mark by not
being a LEED certified building. The building has been in
planning for the last three years, and three years ago green
technology was still under development. Therefore
architecturally the building does not demonstrate innovative
technologies, or design efforts, which cater to a more
sustainable or green design. With the new trend being
“green”, even though the LEEDS criteria was not established
when the building was originally conceived,
Pappageorge/Haymes, Ltd made a good effort to incorporate
sustainable finishes into the completed building in order to
minimize its environmental impact. Overall, The Emerald is a
nice residential building, with beautiful panoramic views of
the city, and inviting spaces that create a fun and trendy
atmosphere. The use of sustainable and green materials is
also a ever-widening sphere of innovation in today’s
residential design program. It was a great idea to think
about sustainable and green solutions into the final
finishes to keep pace with current green trends. The Emerald
demonstrates that even though a building was not originally
designed to fulfill LEED’s standard, it can incorporate
aspects of sustainable design prior to its final completion
and thus reducing its carbon footprint on the earth.
Chicago Firms Show
Their "CAN-Do" Attitude
Canstruction of Chicago Skyscrapers
Chicago, IL,
June 10, 2008-If
you didn't have the good fortune to have grown up using
LEGO's, viewing the 2nd Annual Chicago Canstruction
at the Merchandise Mart might bring back memories of your of
your innovative childhood improvisations. In conjunction
with the Greater Chicago Food Depository (CFD),
20 top local architectural and engineering design firms
unleashed their precocious inner-child as they utilized over
86,000 full cans of food ranging from Spam to Campbell's
Soup to construct scaled-models of notable figures. These
food items will be donated to the CFD at the conclusion of
the exhibition. Among the obvious favorites on display were
Booth Hansen's "paCmAN," RJN Group, Inc.'s
A SOUPer Bowl of Nutrition and 4240 Architecture's
"Tuna City." Maybe this exhibit represents the next
step in renewable and sustainable building resources for
environmentally-conscious design or maybe its just cool and
fun way to contribute to a good and noteworthy cause.
Canstruction Chicago 2008 will be on display to the public
now thru June 22 at 350 W. Mart Center Drive (Apparel
Center). The AIA-Chicago, SEAOI, SMPS and other were
sponsors.
Local Awards:
"People's Choice" - Will be determined June 16 and
announced June 17
"Most
Cans Used" - Booth Hansen, "paCmAN"
"In
Demand" (Greater Chicago Food Depository) - RJN Group,
Inc., "A SOUPer Bowl of Nutrition"
"Make
No Small Cans" - 4240 Architecture / Charter Sills,
"Tuna City"
Chicago, IL,
May 26, 2008-Over
the last 20 years, Chicago has seen the construction of more
architecturally significant projects than most cities around
the nation could ever imagine for themselves. While these
projects represent signs of economic health and growth in
our city, they also represent additional pieces to the
overall mosaic which defines the character of our built
environment. For better or for worse, once these structures
are thrust upon us they become new "in-laws" among our
family of buildings.
Chicago
over recent decades has grown increasingly more conscious
and more proud of its architectural heritage and place in
the world. When great architecture which is innovative or an
aesthetic-knockout is produced, we share a collective pride
and joy-not unlike a proud proud parent or child. So, it
stands to reason, we feel diminished, perhaps more so than
other municipalities, when an opportunity for greatness is
lost or squandered by the new construction of a bland,
unattractive, or backward-reaching structure.
Recognizing the long term negative impact these
underachieving buildings have on our visual environment,
Chicago Architecture Today has compiled a list of what we
believe to be seven of the city's greatest missed
architectural design opportunities. Perhaps you agree with
our list, have others which should be on it or some which
you think shouldn't have made it. Feel free to let us know
what you think.
The
Museum of Contemporary Art - 1996, designed by Berlin
architect Josef Paul Kleihues: An above ground bunker or
handball walls extreme.
Soldier
Field -2003, designed by Wood + Zapata, Inc: The
resulting renovation brought about a delisting of the
stadium as a national historic landmark. This marriage of
old and new (which doesn't pass muster as good contemporary
design) may be the most hideous I've ever seen.
Rock n'
Roll McDonald's - 2005, designed by McDonald's corporate
in-house group: Great forward-looking designs submitted by
Helmut Jahn et. al rejected for this giant happy meal box.
Harold
Washington Library - 1991, designed by Hammond Beeby
Rupert Ainge, Inc.: This oversized retro-styled behemoth
eclipses all light and life in the south loop.
U.S. Cellular Field
-1991, designed by HOK Sport, Kansas City, HKS, Inc,: Parked
resides in the no-man's land of mediocrity between the great
neo-classic designs and the exciting contemporary
facilities.
Navy Pier - 1992,
Renovated: 1992 by Benjamin Thompson and Vickery/Ovresat/Awsumb:
Despite its popularity everyone knows it needs another major
redo.
Trump Tower - scheduled
completion 2008, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill,
Honestly, the building isn't half bad, but the footprint
somewhat overwhelms the site, the glass used for the curtain
wall is not the the first and best choice, and the shape
once again seeks to evoke the designs of past local icons
instead of stimulating new architectural dialogue for
contemporary construction as is occurring today in Asia and
the Middle East.
Looptopia + Architecture
= ?
By Darrell Jones
A
Looptopia musical performance at Federal Plaza
Chicago, IL,
May 12, 2008-So
another Looptopia has come and gone and with it the renewed
expectations of a better showing than last year's offerings
of Chicago's now annual Spring all-nighter. The multi-venued
artistic event been auspiciously with another mid-Spring
date which in the minds of most Chicagoans is just asking
for trouble with our extended winters. Yet, despite the
torrential rains at the outset, mother nature relented and
brought clear skies and acceptable temperatures to the
delight of in-coming suburban and city crowds anxious to
find a good time" hanging-out" downtown till dawn
(Although
many of the "late-nite" wristbands were already out from the
designated pick-up stations by 6 p.m.).
From an architectural
perspective, the idea of staging free concert events
throughout the loop (Daley Center, Federal Plaza, etc.)
under the stars amidst the backdrop of Chicago's urban
cliffs is a great experience. Also. the utilization of the
city's cultural, academic and retail interior spaces is a
nice opportunity to enjoy those venues by people who may not
normally have reason to patronize those places. There were a
couple of specific architectural goings-on at the Santa Fe
building. Nestled among the current exhibition on
preservation in the buildings atrium was a number of
human-scaled Lego-like model buildings of Chicago giants
being constructed by a gentleman seated at a table. Later in
the evening an improvisation troupe performed
architecture-inspired themes at the Chicago Architecture
Foundation.
Apart from the afore-mentioned
architecturally-related events, there wasn't much more to be
experienced in this area at this year's Looptopia. Some
suggestions for next year which could make for a more
memorable night architecturally-speaking are: first, line-up
a number of our river-worthy vessels and ferry people down
the south branch for a taste of one of Chicago's most
popular vistas; second, open up the offices of Chicago's
largest architecture firm-Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM),
the mayor's office and Aon Center to rarely scene Loop
interior spaces; and three, recruit local architects to lead
public sketching and/or modeling sessions using simple
materials. These kind of offerings along with free looks
into some nearby historical landmarks and luxury Loop
residential spaces we believe would make this night on the
town a truly much talked about and anticipated event.
Observations, Opinions
& Rants about Architecture
By Darrell Jones
The South
Loop's Emerging One Museum Park Skyscraper
Chicago, IL,
April 28, 2008-The
Chicago Tribune's editorial alternatives for re-locating the
Children's Museum away from Grant Park and to either
Northerly Island, Lincoln Park, and the near West side are 3
great ideas which will be totally ignored by city hall.
Does
anybody else think Calatrava's original Spire design looked
more elegant than the current chubby one? Does anyone even
remember?
I think an
antenna or something would make the Spire look a bit more
complete; don't you?
Every
summer since the cows "paraded" around town, the city has
tried to re-capture that glory with as much success as the
Bulls current playoff run... Oh wait...nevermind.
Come on,
admit it. You dislike the look of Trump Tower just because
of Donald Trump. That works for me.
If you've
never been on one of those river boat tours or its been a
few years, shame on you!
With the
exception of the Spire, is there any more highly anticipated
building than Jeanne Gang's Aqua Tower?
Will the
new home of the Museum of Broadcast Communications ever get
the funding for construction to become the amazing resource
that its ready to be?
Is it me
or has the latest behemoth-One Museum Park-in the south Loop
snuck up on you too?
One of the
coolest things will be the opening of the Nickerson House at
25 East Erie Street as a public museum preserving its
exterior and interior furnishings.
The Power of a Place
By Darrell Jones
Chicago, IL,
April 6, 2008-As
America's pastime heralds the arrival of Spring, the
faithful are religiously populating the temples of the
athletic idols of their affection. Most of these "temples"
or
stadiums
though loaded with fan-friendly and high-tech amenities,
tend only to hold the attention and allegiance of their
patrons as long as their team is playing well. Fair enough.
Notably, there are a few venues which stand out because of
their place in the history of the sport i.e. Yankee Stadium,
Madison Square Garden, Wimbledon, Augusta National, etc.
Yet, one place stands out in defiance of continuous
championship moments because of its inherit power in the
psyche of its visitors--Chicago's iconic Wrigley Field, home
to the Chicago Cubs. As the Chicago National League Ball
club plays out the century mark since its last World Series
championship, its 94-year-old facility is notoriously
cramped, crumbling and out-dated in its infrastructure.
Nevertheless, Wrigley Field has been filled to capacity and
is almost as sought a ticket as when Jordan's Bulls graced
the United Center. In a recent AIA survey of the nation's
most beloved architectural spaces, Wrigley Field led the
list among Chicago's nominees.
In spite of this iconic
popularity, Wrigley Field has been named this past week to
the list of Illinois' top 11 most endangered landmarks by
Landmark Illinois due to its impending sell and talk of
possible renovations. Needless to say, concern for the
historical integrity of this ballpark has been loudly voiced
by its passionate patrons. Make no mistake, the passion for
this place is real and intense. Although we may rarely
vocalize it, we do care deeply about many of our significant
spaces. For you it may be an iconic place or a place on a
smaller scale like the local bar, a favorite club or workout
facility, a park, bedroom or rec room area. Regardless
of the preferred venue, the time spent, experiences shared
and emotions invested, cherished spaces often reveal the
power an endearing built environment can have in all of our
lives. Perhaps this fall Wrigley Field can will finally
reward the Championship-weary Sun worshippers with memories
so positive as to solidify the power of that place in the
consciousness of its faithful forever?
Re-Making the
"Un"-Magnificent Mile
By Darrell Jones
Chicago, IL,
March 4, 2008-In
an article reported last week by
Crain's Chicago Business, the less magnificent portions
of Michigan Avenue may be receiving an extreme makeover.
Anyone who has traveled the length of Michigan Avenue from
Randolph Street to the south, and as far as Wacker Street to
the north, knows that there is little reason in between
to slow one's pace. With a hodgepodge of cheap retail, dark
cavity-like spaces, and uninspired plazas, this strip has
long been the architectural and retail pimple on the
princess that is North Michigan Avenue and its newer sister
- the southern end dubbed the "Cultural Mile."
According to Crain's, the Chicago Loop Alliance and the
city's department of planning and Development along with
42nd Ward alderman Brendan Reilly have brought on a group of
architects, retail experts and urban planners to submit a
plan to elevate the the profile of the section in scrutiny.
On the
table for consideration are the construction of two sets of
"landscaped, ornamental steps leading from Michigan Avenue
to the Illinois Center Office complex" not unlike the
Spanish steps in Rome. The stairs would be designated for
the southeast corner of Michigan and South Water Street and
at 321-325 N. Michigan Ave. where a low-rise currently sets.
Additionally, plans are to extend Lake Street to Columbus
Avenue and add new lighting at street level in concert with
the modernistic tones of Millennium Park. The planning
department has indicated that they will most likely not be
accepting all the proposals. Nonetheless, we assume that
they are aware of the chance for a bold and forward-thinking
solution to truly make a lasting, indeed world class
statement here. We trust that they will sign on to the ideas
which will not only be the most feasible financially but
also architecturally innovative and functionally sensible.
Environmental Facility
Set to "Nest" in the Calumet Region
By Darrell Jones
Chicago, IL,
February 11, 2008-Beijing
isn't the only place that knows how to put together an
imaginative, oversized bird's nest. Looks like Chicago is
going to put together its version of one of nature's most
basic living arrangements. The Chicago Plan Commission has
recently approved the development of the 27,000 square-foot
Ford Calumet Environmental Center. Located in the far
southeastern community of Hegewisch, the "Best Nest
Building" so-named by its designers - the Chicago-based
Studio Gang Architects - is scheduled to begin construction
this June. Studio Gang was awarded the commission
after winning a 2004 city-sponsored national design
competition for a "green building" project. According
the firm's website, the new center will serve to "educate
visitors on the past and the present of the Calumet region's
unique patchwork of industrial and natural areas."
Although the site selected is
most associated with the nearby Ford Chicago Assembly Plant,
the area is also home to the 4,000-acre Calumet Open Space
Reserve of marshes, wetlands and prairies. The project,
funded by the Ford Motor Company, the city of Chicago, and
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was delayed due
to land-acquisition issues.
The building's nest-like
design incorporates indigenous materials which are abundant
and even discarded. The structural composition of the
building utilizes "salvaged steel from the Calumet
industrial region and other recyclable materials such as
slag. Studio Gang's website also reveals that the south
facing porch is enclosed within a basket-like mesh of
salvaged steel which protects the migrating bird population
from collisions with the glass they cannot see.
Additionally, an outdoor classroom will be the result for
visitors and becomes a window for observing wildlife.
Jorge Perez, executive
director of the Calumet Area Industrial Commission, in
statements to
nwi.com has stated his excitement for the project.
"We're excited that it passed the Plan Commission and
building will proceed." Perez said. "It feeds off the
Calumet land use plan that looks at opportunities for
industrial projects and open space, and what can be
preserved and reclaimed. It will be a great gem for the
area."
The Making of
Convention City-Chicago style
By Darrell Jones
Chicago, IL,
January 14, 2008-Plans
have been announced for new 21-story hotel towers to be
constructed across from the recently completed McCormick
Place West building on 2.7 acres of land on east 22nd street.
When built, the 1,500-room facility will also include
restaurants, retail shops, 100,000 square feet of meeting
space, and possibly a casino if the approved by the Illinois
General Assembly. The Alter Group Ltd. which may have beaten
McPier to the acquisition of this parcel of land has chosen
architect Lucien Lagrange to design the hotel.
Lagrange has several current projects in various stages of
development around the city ranging from the
traditionally-designed Elysian Hotel at 11 East Walton to
the distinctly contemporary and publicly-contested X/O
Condominium also in the south loop.
Alter
Group's hotel complex would be the 4th largest hotel in the
city. If they land the casino they covet for this prime
venue near McCormick Place and key expressway interchanges,
this somewhat stark, uninviting outdoor local could be
transformed into another major tourist destination within
the city. In some cases, this emerging convention
complex-especially with casino-if realized, will be the
first prolonged experience these tourists will have with
Chicago. The design of this hotel is a choice opportunity to
not only put our best foot forward aesthetically but to also
thoughtfully shape the architectural character of an
emerging streetscape. The no-nonsense clean, contemporary
lines of the new McCormick Place West has set the standard.
The placement of another separate high-profile hotel across
the way form it will most likely enliven outdoor areas with
pedestrian traffic between facilities.
In the
context of this unique opportunity, we're hoping that Lucien
Lagrange will seize it to smartly and pleasingly integrate
the now dormant landscape into a vibrant theme which ties
all parts into a cohesive whole. This entails the design of
"green space," human-scaled building entrances, lighting,
public seating, walkways, and casino marquee's (if
applicable). We see this as a chance to define a singularly
specialized "neighborhood" with an architectural flair and
functionality while not sacrificing a new modernity which
proudly proclaims "Chicago!"
Area Architectural
innovation Goes Back to the Future
By Darrell Jones
Chicago, IL, December 31, 2007-Worldwide, Chicago
is known to be, among other things, the birthplace of the
modern skyscraper. It is an urban center which boasts world
class cultural institutions like The Art Institute if
Chicago. Yet, there is no need for this city to memorialize
its architectural treasures through the confines of four
walls. On the contrary, what remains among our past
structural masterpieces which have not thoughtlessly been
destroyed comprise exhibits of a living, functional museum
of design innovation on a grand scale. Although Chicago has
had its moments of breakthrough with cutting-edge
architectural design, recent history has given us more
noteworthy projects in Europe, Asia, and as of late, the
Middle East. In some ways, we seem to be only reflecting the
glories of our past. But, the city which has been challenged
"to make no little plans." has re-awakened to discover the
freshness, fearlessness and fun of edgy design as it once
again embraces this creed through the work of several
bright, young members of our architectural community.
Projects completed this year such as 340 on the Park, the
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, and Optima Old Orchard
Woods along the Edens Expressway are a few of the shining
stars which appear to lead Chicago back to its former status
as leader in modernistic design.
Yet, the
new year brings with it the threat of slowing or even
sidetracking some of the city's latest architectural forays
into the future. The economic downturn in the housing market
with its ripple effects throughout the lending community
have jeopardized the viability of such projects as the
Waterview Tower, X/O condominiums, and even the Spire
itself. Since most of these on-the-board projects have a
greater residential component to them than other uses, they
find themselves at a greater risk of stalling. With the
optimism that any year brings. lets hope that we've seen the
worst of our housing woes but just the beginning of a future
re-establishing Chicago as the place to experience the next
wave of architectural innovations.
Downtown Edifices
Shine as Stars during the Holiday Season
By Darrell Jones
Dec 17, 2007
Who says
only single-family homes can have all the fun during
Christmas time getting decked out in lights, holly and
reindeer? Well, certainly not some downtown edifices in
Chicago. In what has become an annual installment during the
holiday season, a fair number of our old mainstays like the
Merchandise Mart and the Hancock Center, and a few of our
new arrivals on the block i.e. 191 N LaSalle and 311 S.
Wacker dress-up in their Yule tide best for locals and
tourists alike to enjoy. Many of these office buildings
flood their upper floors with alternating red and green
lights in either vertical or horizontal patterns. In
addition to this, the placing of large wreaths over
entryways and the stringing of lights through the trees
along their fairways have become staples to our streetscape
during this time of year. It has been pleasing to observe-at
least in a few cases-how our buildings tend to mimic us as
they aspire to wardrobe changes befitting the various
celebrations of life. Office towers such as the AON Center,
the Blue Cross Blue Shield buildings even utilize their
facades year-round by arranging their interior lights to
announce certain events or causes like local professional
athletic team playoffs, breast cancer awareness or Chicago's
Olympic bid. So here's to our big shouldered neighbors in
the loop and beyond and their desire to shake off the
doldrums and step out into the night wearing their holiday
best. Party on!
New Spertus Facade
Flashes onto Historic Michigan Ave.
By Darrell Jones
Nov 26, 2007
While
vacationing in Chicago this summer from France, a tourist
cited one of the things he liked best about the city was how
the older buildings where everywhere in juxtaposition with
the new. Nowhere is that more evident than at 610 S.
Michigan Avenue where the new home of the
contemporary-styled Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies sits
wedged between its more traditionally-designed neighbors.
The $55 million multi-purpose center which includes
galleries, a library, a 400-seat theater, high-tech
classrooms, a Wolfgang Puck cafe and a gift shop will be
officially unveiled to the public Friday, November 30. The
jewel-like 10-story designed by the Chicago-based
architectural firm of Krueck + Sexton, also lauded for their
innovative work in Millennium Park which includes the Harris
Theater and Crown Fountain, stands out along the historic
Michigan Avenue streetwall in many ways. The multiple angles
of the 161-foot-tall, 80-foot-wide glass facade turns a
corner from the norm of flat-surfaced curtain walls of
typical post-modern skyscrapers. The structure boasts an
exterior composition of 726 individual pieces of glass of
which there are 556 diverse shapes. To further add to the
gem-like appearance of the facade, the size of these pieces
vary in size though most typically are 4'x 7' with a lower
section extending out as a canopy over the entrance
approximately 4 feet. The glass facade has a light
smoky-gray tint to the passerby owing to the interior and
exterior lamination for solar glare reduction.
As one
would expect judging from the building's exterior
composition, the interior utilizes transparent walls,
skylights and clean open spaces to promote the entry of
natural light throughout. Although some of these interiors
areas can be publicly viewed at no cost such as the gift
shop and lobby, the galleries will require a fee to enter.
The
newly-remodeled facility represents another radical step
toward out-of-the-box post-modern design framing Chicago's
front yard. With the recent approval of Lucien Lagrange's XO
Condominiums, Jeanne Gang's Aqua tower in Lakeshore East,
and other similar proposed projects, the Chicago
architectural design community is showing an increasing
comfort level in flexing its innovative-muscle moving the
city once again toward the forefront of cutting-edge
architectural design.
Final Identity of
Block 37 Could Define a Revamped State Street
By Darrell Jones
Nov 5, 2007
As
construction continues at pace as brisk as Chicago's
pre-winter weather on the once thought-to-be accursed Block
37, rumors about possible future high-profile tenants are
also moving at a similar pace. While the
attention-grabbing development bounding State, Washington,
Dearborn and Randolph Streets already claims CBS2 News
and a David Barton Gym, plans are in the works for an
800-seat, seven screen movie complex. In addition, the
multi-use project to be completed in phases by Joseph
Freed and Associates of Palatine has been mentioned in
conversations as a possible location of the city's first
casino. Now that this key tract of property in Chicago's
central core is off and running, it is naturally attracting
interest from parties and projects looking to capitalize on
the opportunity of partnering with an exciting development
at a high profile site. With the embracing of the street and
public by the re-designed WLS7 State Street studios,
the refurbished Chicago Theater, and the relocation
of the Joffrey Ballet in Smithfield's soon to
be completed MoMo mixed-use construction, State Street may
be auditioning to become (forgive the comparison) Times
Square-lite.
The type
of tenants and how those tenants within the Block 37
development architecturally herald their presence to the
surrounding streetscape will most likely significantly
influence the character of that section of the Loop for
years to come. Let's hope that the final architectural
statements made by Block 37's streetscape serve to lift what
was once known as "that great street" to not just a glitzy
exclamation but to a renewed vibrant urban space which
contributes to the elevation of the spirit.
A Dilapidated Building
Awaits Rebirth As a Place of History
By Darrell Jones
Oct 8, 2007
By all
accounts, Chicago seems to take its museums seriously. With
the Chicago Children's Museum currently the focus of a
passionate debate as to its future location and a modern
wing for the Art Institute currently under construction,
these civic facilities don't figure to be playing second
fiddle any time soon. With so much of our storied past well
represented in various receptacles of history around the
region, one omission is conspicuous by its absence. At the
corner of Halsted and Exchange in the Southwest side
communities of Canaryville and Back of the Yards sits an
old, neglected building-the former Stock Yards National
Bank-which was once a part of Chicago's reputation
as "Hog Butcher to the World."
The city
has given a nice nod to the famed Union Stock Yards by its
creation of Stockyards Industrial Park incorporating with it
the preservation of the limestone gate (designated a
National Landmark in 1981) which served as the entrance to
the Union Stock Yards originally designed by John Wellboorn
Root of Burnham and Root around 1875.
Although
nearly all of the architectural structures have been
destroyed to make way for the modern facilities which now
populate the area, the building at 4150 S. Halsted which
mimics Philadelphia's Independence Hall has sat vacant for more
than 20 years still remains. Already proposed as a move which
would undoubtedly be an economic and cultural asset to the
city and the local community, the Community Design Workshop
Department of the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
and neighborhood organizations have envisioned this as an
opportunity to contribute to a greater renaissance of an
area striving to refine and re-assert itself as significant
in the fabric of this city. This facility and
surrounding industrial park would become not only a top
destination for historically-minded tourists but would be a
boon to Chicago's educational community as well. Re-adapting
this building into what would be a museum of Chicago's
stockyard history complete with images, artifacts, and even
the sounds and smells of that period would be a long overdue
and invaluable addition to Chicago's museum community.
Is Grant Park the Best
Location for New Children's Museum?
By Darrell Jones
Sept 23, 2007
Who could
have ever foreseen that when it came time for the highly
successful Chicago Children's Museum to re-located to
accommodate its success that that move would engender so
much angst and controversy. As the mayor went public with
not only his support for the move from Navy Pier to Richard
J. Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park, but his charges
of racism toward those residents opposing the use of this
location, the ghosts of Daniel Burnham and Montgomery Ward
have been drudged up to witness for one side or the other.
Its obvious that the intent of those civic pioneers to keep
Chicago's front yard clear and free of buildings and
obstructions has not been honored since the first building
to erected, the Art Institute of Chicago, was allowed to
"fudge" on that stated intention in 1891 along with other
subsequent "structures." Yet, that doesn't justify throwing
the flood gates wide open to every "worthy" new project
coming down the pike to fill what remains as open space in
Grant Park.
In a
recent conversion with one of the city's many international
visitor's, Sebastian, from Santiago, Chile remarked that
compared to New York's Central Park, our lakefront parks
lacks the "feel of being away from the urban environment as
you still hear and see the roar of traffic around you along
with the proliferation of buildings placed throughout."
Additionally, he commented that there was no easy access to
the lakefront from the park due to having to ford Lake Shore
Drive. Although there is some ease of access with the museum
campus re-design, much remains to be improved upon.
Sebastian does make perceptive observations. We need to be
careful to preserve our parks as green space first,
everything else second. In lieu of all the focus upon our
South Loop area, both because of the recent construction
boom and its consideration as a possible 2016 Olympic venue
should the Chicago receive the bid as host city, locating
such a popular cultural institution there as an "anchor" of
sorts in the midst of new developments would seem to make
more sense. Hopefully, museum officials, the park district
and the mayor will put aside the politics and be open-minded
to an alternative location for the Children's Museum which
would "spread the wealth" of significant developments and
not just seek to cram everything into an already greatly
populated central core.
Are We Again the
Epicenter of 21st Century Design?
By Darrell Jones
August 20, 2007
In its
September 2007 addition of
Chicago Magazine, Jay Pridmore listed and
commented on what the magazine dubbed as 10 buildings which
best "illustrate" Chicago's re-established leadership in
innovative contemporary architectural design. These
buildings according to the magazine are a testament to the
fact of Chicago being "once again, the global epicenter of
architecture". While we enthusiastically assent to our
city's awakening out of what could be described as a 20-year
innovation slumber-ending with the cutting-edged design
evident over the last two decades-we hardly think we have
arrived yet. The design dialogue has certainly been elevated
as referenced by such works as John Ronan's Gary
Comer Youth Center, Jeanne Gang's under construction
Aqua Tower and Santiago Calatrava's Spire also
presently under construction. But with the free flow
of funds and unbridled freedom to express their ideas given
by attention-happy local governments to architects, Asia,
the Middle East and even Europe have emerged as probably the
most fertile soil for avant-guard design in the world today.
Nevertheless, even as Chicago Tribune architecture critic
Blair Kamin noted in a recent story, many of the newest
concepts in skyscraper construction are taking place right
here which are revolutionizing and pushing the boundaries of
design to greater heights physically and aesthetically.
We feel
the publicizing of a list of ten masterpieces of modern
design in the city of Chicago is a good thing. It
fosters recognition, conversation and debate in the public
arena about issues and structures which may not have brought
to the attention of many. As for most of the list, we are on
common ground although we are in greater agreement with the
alternate list of ten garnered from a survey of AIA members.
They included Skybridge, 111 South Wacker, the Peggy Norbert
Nature Museum and the Hyatt Center. The only one we were
surprised to see there was the soul-less concrete bunker
that is the Museum of Contemporary Art. Overall, as
these recent buildings are taken together in evaluation, it
bodes well for the future of 21st Century architectural
innovation finding an enduring home in Chicago.
Millennium Park: Fun
Follows Function
By Darrell Jones
August 12, 2007
A hot
summer day in Millennium Park finds your typical
"Bean-gawkers" and Crown Fountain "splashers," but wait,
what's taking place over there in Wrigley Square? Looks like
a wedding! Yes, indeed a wedding, but not the type of
high-society affair one would tend to expect in
commandeering a space such as this-but a small, simple
common matrimonial celebration shared with the hundreds who
stopped in wonder at the sight of this venue's unusual
spectacle, and to see the bride of course. When the over
$400 million symbol of the millennium celebration was
finally completed about 4 years after the event for which it
was named, not a few people consigned the park as a Daley
pet project for the well-heeled and tourists. Although the
park has been inaccessible to the public on a couple of
occasions for private functions to schmooze its corporate
donors, the wildly popular space is growing increasingly
ulitarian in its function.
This past
weekend saw the 2nd annual Great Performers of Illinois
invade the every vestige of the park as sounds of from
different musicians could be heard within a few hundred feet
of wherever you might have been. In addition to the
showcasing of local bands, midway performers, dancers,
poetry readers, storytellers could also be found throughout
the area. Even the little-used Wrigley Square came alive
with the sounds from various alternative and rock bands
vying for a chance at "making it." Utilizing all areas of
Chicago's new front yard to showcase local talent brought
this venue to life in a way the park planners may not have
ever envisioned. Here's hoping that this kind of free and
full-use coverage would not only continue, but in fact grow
in diversity and frequency, which would make Millennium Park
worth more than its weight in time and money giving us a
consistent model in teaching us how fun can follow function.
Edgy Design May Be Cut
Short
By Darrell Jones
July 30, 2007
When
Lucien LaGrange laid out the plans for the construction of
his unconventional X/O Condominiums, one of his least
concerns had to be any future challenges to the height,
especially in the city which boast several of the world's
tallest buildings. Yet, that is exactly what he and Kargil
Development are facing in the Prairie District of Chicago's
South Loop. As reported by the
Chicago Journal, Prairie Avenue District residents and
their new alderman-Bob Fioretti are raising objections to
the radical contemporary design and the height of the two
towers. Their concern is that the building conflicts
with the dominate architectural style of the area and would
awkwardly tower above its neighbors. According to the
Journal, Tina Feldstein board president of the Prairie
District Neighborhood Alliance-a community organization
formed to fight the X/O development-stated, "We're not
against the design or developer. It's not in keeping with
the character and scale of the neighborhood. It just doesn't
make sense." Currently, an ordinance has been introduced to
re-zone the area for a height ceiling of 225 feet. The
490-unit condominiums to be developed at 1712 S. Prairie,
will have two towers-one at 310 feet and the other to be 450
feet tall. The X/O complex would be situated across from the
historic Glessner House, a landmark. Kargil principal Keith
Giles stated in the Journal that "being a historic district
doesn't mean you have to duplicate historic buildings; we
are building a unique, architecturally significant
building." Along with Jeanne Gang's Aqua Tower,
Calatrava's Spire, and the emerging new Spertus facade on
the south Michigan Ave. street wall, X/O looks to be another
bold step toward forward-thinking architecture in a city
whose recent skyscraper designs have either been wandering
in the past or just plain lackluster too often with too few
exceptions. Lets hope a solution is found that is workable
and profitable for the community and the city to move this
project along.
Green Spaces Are Needed
Spaces
By Darrell Jones
July 16, 2007
On
the weekend of June 22-24, the so-named "Pritzker Park" at
the northwest corner of State and Van Buren Streets was all
abuzz with some unusual activity. No. not a police raid,
which might not be all that unusual considering its daily
patrons. Hosted by
Close Up 2-a local jazz club in the midst of
the Financial District-sounds of their first Smooth Jazz
Festival filled the corridors of the South Loop. Passer-bys
paused to take in the take in rhythmic tunes with a look of
discovery and amazement that said. "Whoa, what's a concert
doing here!" While its true that typically concerts on this
order are held in Grant Park or Millennium Park, public
utilization of dormant but prime open space such as this and
the proliferation of such can only significantly enhance our
enjoyment of downtown Chicago. Of course in an urban
concrete jungle, spaces like these are rare and when they're
found they are routinely embraced. Yes, our lakefront parks
are amazing; and yes, our system of expansive park district
areas are community gems, but whenever there is an
opportunity to carve out "green spaces" in isolated corners
of overbuilt areas like the Loop, we should capitalize on
it. Thankfully, to this end, the
City of Chicago has established its Chicago
Central Area Plan, which sets as a goal open spaces within a
five minute walk of everyone living and working within the
Central Area. One such current application of this plan is
the park planned for the intersection at Franklin and
Randolph Streets as a result from the agreement to construct
the 48-story office building being developed by
John Buck at Randolph and Wacker Drive. But
like the long notoriously delayed "Block
37" now finally under construction, Pritzker
Park has languished over the past few years as a home for
the indigent while being handed back and forth between civic
institutions. Once under the ownership of theChicago Public Library
immediately south of the park, it was taken over by the
Chicago Park District under one project
director who was involved with its imminent development, but
upon leaving, the park project was passed to the next
director. According to Laura Jones, an Associate Director of
the
Chicago Loop Alliance, "with the permit
process and everything that has to happen before a final
decision is made on a project of this nature, we're probably
looking at being a year away from re-development."
"Certainly with all the students populating the Loop now, we
could see Pritzker park as a great place to hang out."
A well-thought-out green space within a stone's throw from
many of those new student residences would a convincing step
toward making the Loop the 24-hour "livable" district many
are envisioning it to be.
Grand/State Subway's Time
Has Come
July 16, 2007
So
the Grand/State station's turn has finally arrived in "grand
style" so-to-speak. The city of Chicago has announced its
intentions to begin a $67.2 million renovation of one of the
Loop's busiest commuter facilities to begin in September and
conclude two years later. After numerous delays (since
1982), the subway portal serving the River North and
Streeterville sections of the city, is ready to step up next
in line for long overdue attention after the recent
completion of the Blue Line's Jackson station $33.8 million
project. Although this is arguably not the worst of the
transit terminals in need of rehabilitation, it certainly
ranks high on the list. The walls, floors and ceilings all
reveal the signs of years of wear and neglect fating back
from its opening in 1943. The project awarded to Walsh
Construction will keep the station open as it expands the
mezzanine by 2000 square feet and adds granite floors,
glazed tile walls and vaulted ceilings which will feature a
representation of the Chicago skyline. Also included in what
looks to be a space-age contemporary-styled re-design from
released concept renderings are improved lighting, wider
stairwells, street-level escalators, additional turnstiles,
security cameras, video information screens and a more
user-friendly vending areas.
36-Year Old Vacant
Riverfront Site Targeted for Development
June 25, 2007
Crain's Chicago Business is reporting a proposed $1.6
billion residential development on the western edge of the
south loop along the Chicago River. Developers Rokas
International Inc. and Frankel & Giles have secured a parcel
of land once the site of Grand Central Station but which has
since been vacant since its 1971 demolition. The
property is bounded by Harrison St. to the north, Polk St.
to the south, Wells St. to the east and the river on its
west side. Designed by the firm of Adrian Smith &
Gordon Gill Architecture, the project is to include over
3000 residential units consisting of a combination of
condos, apartments and senior housing. A 500-room hotel is
also apart of the picture, but the distant south loop
location makes that aspect more of a question in terms of
its attractiveness and viability. The retail portion of what
is referred to as Franklin Point is planned for about
125,000-square feet of this space. The entirety of the
project would encompass 3.5-million-square-feet and feature
a building at least 80 stories high. Previous
proposals have been floated for this stretch of land often
called another "Block 37" but never made it off the drawing
board. This project's developers are hoping to gain the
approval and re-zoning authorizations from the city and the
nearby community to go forward.
Forward Progress on
Chicago's Security Barriers?
By Darrell Jones
June 18, 2007
At In case
you haven't notice, several locations around the loop have
seen the unveiling of new concrete planters in front of
buildings no-doubt deemed to be security concerns. Of
course since the Morrow Federal building truck bombing in
Oklahoma and 9/11, building security has become a legitimate
point of focus. Many of the make-shift barriers thrown
up adjacent to potential target buildings around the country
have been great on function but leave much to be desired on
form. Washington D.C. with all its major governmental
structures which are also some of the nation's most popular
tourist sites is a case in point. Chicago unfortunately has
not been an exception in the "uglying up" of some of our
public spaces because to the need to restrict access for our
safety. But it is heartening to observe that evidence
of some aesthetic thought is beginning to shape around the
loop in the form of these new barrier/planters popping up
here and there. This is so obviously in step with Mayor
Daley's continuing crusade in "greening" the city and its
hard to argue against powerful visual impact trees, shrubs
and flowers have on any environment, especially one as stark
and hard-edged as an major urban landscape. Another positive
observation is that it appears that they all aren't "cookie
cutter" products, but designs are being fitted to some
degree with the building or streetscape itself. The city
would do well to follow the lead of such bold and innovative
efforts as that which was produced by PWP Landscape
Architecture for
the UBS Tower at One North Wacker Drive.
Of course, the city's efforts don't quite approach the level
of the previous example, but at least it seems to be moving
in the right direction.
Sweet Home-of the
Gospel & the Blues-Chicago?
By Darrell Jones
June 6, 2007
At this
juncture, wedged between Chicago's recently concluded 23rd
annual Gospel Fest held in Millennium Park this year and the
upcoming Chicago Blues Fest to take place in Grant Park, I
can't help but reflect on the opportunity being squandered
by the city of Chicago by not memorializing these local
traditions with each having a facility designated as its own
"Hall of Fame." Regardless of plans which call for
such a facility to be built to honor gospel music in Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida by Dr. Bobby Jones, Chicago is
acknowledged to be the birthplace of gospel music as it was
once home to such greats as Mahalia Jackson, Thomas A.
Dorsey, and the Rev. James Cleveland to name a few.
Many in our community would agree its high time to unthaw
this slow-moving glacier of resolve and bring the nation to
Chicago for yet another historically significant experience.
What
better place for this to happen than the recently burned-out
Louis Sullivan masterpiece- Pilgrim Baptist Church at 33red
and Indiana? Although the state of Illinois through governor
Blagojevich has promised to kick in a million, and money has
come in from other donors, it will require millions more and
a total community effort to not only restore this structure
but re-adapt it to be partially available to the public as
"the New Home of Gospel Music." Another possibility is to
negotiate space in the soon-to-be-developed old Main Post
Office over the Kennedy Expressway. Considering the current
difficulties of even bringing the Museum of Broadcast
Communications new digs to completion after financial
challenges which has the project starting and stopping, this
may appear to be a daunting task. Chicago is known as the
birthplace of many renown areas such as the skyscraper, but
lets hope we are proactive enough to secure the desire, the
will, the funding and of course the appropriate venues to
truly make this "Sweet Home, Chicago," when it comes to
honoring our rich blues heritage and our unparalled
tradition in gospel music.
Finding Its Place: State
Street
By Darrell Jones
May 27, 2007
Like a
once popular rock band trying to re-invent itself to gain
contemporary relevancy in its genre, State Street is finding
itself in a similar predicament. Know as "State Street, that
Great Street," in times past-with State and Madison claiming
the title as the busiest intersection in the world-it has in
recent years had to acknowledge the comeuppance of its
younger sister "The Magnificent Mile" as the place to be.
This past Saturday saw the conclusion of another colorful
Memorial Day
Parade down this fabled thoroughfare. Although many of the
city's most celebrated parades have marched down this
historic location, including the St. Patrick's Day and the
Christmas season parades, State Street has no exclusive
claims to these as part of its major identity as several
other ethnic routes are conducted on Columbus Drive and in
other various ethnic enclaves around the city.
So what
is State poised to become in the next 20 years? With the
disintegration of its dinosaur department stores and the
hodgepodge mix of low-end and mid-level merchandising, a
"must-do" shopping destination doesn't appear to be in its
immediate future. Besides, the Mag Mile has snagged that
prize, with Lincoln Park catering to the trendy boutique
crowd and Wabash Street corralling the bargain hunters.
Certainly, State Street's renown architectural masterpieces
and the city's efforts to accent and compliment those
structures with its period signage, street-level lighting,
transit coverings and so forth have carved out what could be
its greatest place of standing among other competing
streetscapes. But even here, State must do more to command
the public's attention in declaring some exclusivity in this
area of Chicago's world class reputation.
Upon
the completion of "block 37's" state-of-the-art
transportation hub, mixed-use facility and the new WBBM TV
news studios, maybe this will contribute to a re-direction
of how the area is viewed and utilized. It is arguable that
the greatest transformative factor for State Street at this
time is the recent infusion of student academic and
residential spaces. Perhaps as the developers, commercial
and civic powers that be recognize the unique and valuable
asset it has in this specific population, maybe an
innovative plan can be developed to not make it "college
street" but a venue which uniquely accommodates and
celebrates the the energy, style and edginess of its new
urban neighbors. The recent all-night fest of
Looptopia was a step in the right direction. Its time to
see more of that along with convenience venues, later retail
hours, entertainment facilities, et al to once again make
State Street a great place to be.
Working
Hard at Fun at GameWorks
Second in a Series on Chicago's Gaming Venues
By Ryan Ornberg
May 14, 2007
Located
at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, GameWorks is the perfect
place to drop off the kids and let them enjoy a day of
video-gaming. The games available are directed towards any
age group but more so to younger kids and teenagers. While
the kids are playing though, you can hang out in the sports
bar on the main floor and watch the game with a drink and a
great meal. The second floor also has a bar with many pool
tables, but if you want to go shopping or eat at a fancy
restaurant, there are plenty near by. Focusing on the main
feature, GameWorks offers 2 full floors of video gaming
entertainment. From the classics of Pacman to the
latest shooter games, anything you are looking for is here.
The first floor is devoted to racing, with plenty of
stations for different games experiences. An added bonus is
that there is always at least two of the same game so you
can go head to head against your friends in a heated race.
For one racing game, you are in a seat that rotates on its
sides to give the affects of being in a real car. However,
the favorite feature of these games is the Indy 500.
Six F1 cars are lined up and ready for the 4 minute race
that is broadcasted on a big screen for the people in line.
An announcer lets you know what place you are in and how
many laps are left; these races get very intense so get in
line early.
For the
younger kids, there is a section of ticket winning games so
they can eventually cash it all in for a prize. Other games
include virtual and simulator games. The second floor is
home to the action games. Every version of the popular
Time Crisis is available along with many other shooting
games. A DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) competition is usually
happening in this area along with Guitar Hero. A bowling
simulator is displayed on a big screen as if you were there
in person. The classics from the birth of video games are
also upstairs and are a fun taste of the past, but once you
beat Pacman, move on to House of Dead 4 and
kill some zombies in the latest release of this game.
GameWorks is also the ideal place to hold a child’s birthday
party; they have a private room available for rent along
with game packages.
So if
you’re looking for a fun filled evening away from the city,
try out GameWorks and enjoy some competitive racing or
shooting games with your friends, or relax at the bar and
let your kids go wild.
As
most Chicagoans anticipate a non-too-hasty escape from cabin
fever with the onset of spring, ESPN Zone seeks to make it
difficult to leave the great indoors entirely behind. If you
enjoy simulated sports, this gaming Mecca on East Ohio
Street is beckoning all faithful followers to make their
pilgrimages there. Typically sports are the exact opposite
of video games, but at ESPN Zone, that’s what they’re all
about. The 35,000-square foot facility is dedicated to
entertaining you with all types of sports, be it through
over 100 video games or the countless TV’s. Upon entering,
you are greeted by an employee who will point you towards
the action you’re looking for. The main floor features an
ESPN sports shop and Studio Grill-a sports-themed restaurant
serving American grill food. Making your way up the
staircase you pass a great display of televisions which
opens into the frenetic activity of the Sports Arena. All of
the latest video games are located here in every genre. The
difference between these games and those of an arcade are
that each is a simulation of a sport and is increasingly
offers the latest craze of hands-on play. Newly added is the
Madden NFL Football game which is displayed on a 15’ screen
in the middle of the arena. The hands-on games take you away
from the buttons and joy sticks, they include: golf,
baseball, basketball, bowling, skeet shooting, football,
fishing, skiing, boxing, hockey, and racing. These games use
motion-capture technology which senses you swinging a club
or making a punch and presents the action onto screen. It is
the perfect way to test out your skills in any area of
interest.
The second floor is also where the serious
sports fans gather. The Screening Room broadcasts almost
every sporting event on a dozen 36” televisions surrounding
the 16’ big screen which shows the most popular game of each
day. There are plenty of tables and lounge chairs to relax
and enjoy your favorite sports. This area is also contains
one of three available bars. Chicago’s ESPN Zone is perfect
for any outing day or night. It is the ideal place for kids
to play the games while their parents dine to the site of
their favorite teams in action. Private events can also be
hosted on the second floor and is often the venue for many
large public events put on by ESPN. Overall, the atmosphere
is upbeat and the people are kind, combine this with the
awesome video games and an amazing amount of TVs, and you
have one great night.
Once
again after the tally of a popular vote, Wrigley Field
stands alone in representing Chicago as our greatest places
of note. In march balloting conducted by the Illinois Bureau
of Tourism, the beloved baseball shrine was chosen as one of
the Seven Wonders of Illinois. A structure which seems to be
gaining more and more notoriety-and deservedly so-the Baha'i
Temple in the northern suburb of Wilmette was also selected
to the list. Rounding out the rest of the Seven are as
follows: Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Allerton Park and
Retreat Center in Monticello, Rock Island, Rend Lake in
Benton and Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway in
Alton.
"The Seven Wonders of
Illinois program was not only an exciting contest for our
communities to rally
around their favorite destinations, but it's going to
continue spreading the word about all our unique offerings
across the state. These innovative
tourism programs
are bringing visitors from near and far, expanding our
economy and helping create more good jobs," Gov. Blagojevich
said. More information can be accessed at
www.enjoyillinois.com
Old Main Post Office
Targeted for Re-development
By
Darrell Jones
April 30, 2007
Now that
all the excitement of the filming of Batman: The Dark Knight
and the non-related fire in the old main post office has
died down, we can get on to some real business. The
Chicago Plan Commission has recently approved the
redevelopment of the 2.5-million-square-foot structure at
401 W Van Buren by Chicago developer Walton Street Capital
LLC. The property which has remained vacant for over a
decade is to be converted into a multi-use facility
consisting of a 340-room hotel, 300 residential units and
nearly 500,000-squsre feet of office space. To make this
happen, approximately 800,000 square feet would have to be
demolished. But don't look for any construction to be
visibly identifiable any time soon. Interior work such as
asbestos removal must precede any significant construction.
Also, the cost of financing the project has yet to be
determined by the developer who is currently seeking
tax-increment financing (TIF) money for this project. Walton
Street is reported to be in talks with banks for
construction financing and presently has a letter of
commitment from one of those banks.
The
massive 1921 Art Deco building (expanded in 1933) has been
considered for a host of uses during its dormancy including
a water park, an auto mall, a casino and even a mausoleum.
With the current glut of downtown office and residential
space, some question the viability of the use of this
structure as planned. In many ways the facility seems an
ideal space for a Smithsonian-type museum-making the West
Loop another tourist-centered destination in the city. That
may well yet be an option someday as time determines the
success of this current proposal.
"Chicago Spire"
Advances Past Another Hurdle
By
Darrell Jones
April 20, 2007
Okay.
that was the easy part. Now comes the real test. The Chicago
Plan Commission in a unanimous vote approved the zoning for
the so-called "Chicago Spire" designed by Santiago Calatrava
and promoted by Dublin-based developer Garrett Kelleher. The
150 story and 1,200-unit condominium structure would not
only be the tallest building in Chicago, but in the United
States as well. While the city's zoning approval was
expected to be a foregone conclusion, most analysts seem to
agree that the main issue in the realization of the
construction of this project will be the financial viability
of what could approach a $2 billion price tag.
Finally! Metra Announces Extreme Makeover for Eyesore Stop
By
Darrell Jones
April 27, 2007
Can
it be? Is this embarrassment of a major public transit
location about to receive a long overdue facelift? The Daily
Southtown is reporting that an extensive renovation has been
approved for the Metra Line's Roosevelt Station by the
Chicago Department of Transportation. The work is set
to begin upon the issuance of the necessary building permit.
Statements from the CDOT indicate that the work could
commence within the next few weeks. The projected completion
date is summer 2008. The station currently consists of
rickety wooden stairs, rusted structural members and an
antiquated passenger shelter facility. The irony has been
that this stop stands in negative contrast to the recent
development of the South Loop and the redesign of the Museum
Campus with its elegance and ease of access to Soldier
Field. According to the Southtown, plans call for
tearing down the old facility, rebuilding the platform and
stairs, adding two new station houses with elevators,
canopies and warming areas. The project awarded to
Blinderman Construction Co. is estimated to cost $10
million.
Architecture Week in
Chicago
PRNewswire/ -- As the birthplace of modern
architecture, Chicago is a city where buildings matter.
Perhaps more than
residents of any other American city, Chicagoans know their
architecture.
Home to masterpieces by such visionaries as Frank Lloyd
Wright, Louis
Sullivan, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Chicago is a place
where
architecture is talked about, admired and appreciated.
And what better time to celebrate Chicago's stunning
architecture than
during the first-ever "Architecture Week," which kicks off
today? The
Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects
offers up the
following five ideas for Chicagoans looking for a way to
honor their city's
incredible tradition of architectural excellence:
-- By attending internationally recognized architect Edward
Mazria's
lecture on how buildings are more to blame
for global warming than are
cars ("Resuscitating a Dying World," a
public lecture on Wednesday,
April 11 at the Art Institute)
-- By visiting
http://www.illinoisgreatplaces.com , a newly launched
website that showcases "150 Illinois Great
Places" as selected by
Illinois architects, historians, and
preservationists
-- By registering for a free "Working With an Architect"
seminar to learn
more about how homeowners can work with
residential architects to
achieve the house of their dreams
-- By picking up a one-of-a-kind treasure at the Chicago
Modernism Show
and Gala, which runs April 13-15
-- By stopping for a moment to enjoy the breathtaking
architecture that
helps define our city.
Architecture Week in Chicago begins Monday, April 9 and is
part of a
nationwide celebration of 150 years of the American
Institute of
Architects. For 150 years, members of the American Institute
of Architects
have worked with each other and their communities to create
more valuable,
healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes.
For more
information about Architecture Week events in Chicago this
week, visit
http://www.aiachicago.org
Latest (and Final?)
Twist in Spire Design
by
Darrell Jones
March 28, 2007
Haven't
we been here before?. So now we have version 4 of the
perpetually spiraling designs of Santiago Calatrava's and
developer Garrett Kellerher's Chicago Spire. Although this
promises to be the final major re-design, I was hoping for a
few more to make a complete set to trade or sell at a future
date. I don't know about you, but the latest look recently
unveiled to the public this week doesn't quite have that
"Yo" factor as Randy Jackson of American Idol would put it.
The iconic 2000-ft twisting tower has lost a few pounds from
its previous big-boned frame for sure. It also has recovered
some of its "verve" now that the rotation has been brought
back to 360 degrees from the uninspired, scaled down 270
degrees offered up as a previous sacrifice. Yet, this
current shape which tapers toward the top in a conical
fashion fails to elicit the anticipation of pride which the
first design scheme engendered. In some ways, the building's
finishing apex as is (and of course there's sure to be deign
tweaks and alterations done the road, if this venture comes
off) kind of mimics a few of the more recent Asian
skyscrapers erected. That in itself is not really a problem.
As with every design concept floated thus far, the public
and critics assign the name of the first descriptive thought
that comes to mind-drill bit, candle, tree trunk-well, you
get the idea. So, the question now is "what image does our
latest version conjure up? Many of our nations monuments and
skyscrapers of like fashion are often accused of phallic
subtleties-some arguably stretched to fit that
implication-but in this case, it doesn't appear to be a
stretch. Anyway, Calatrava rightly implies that this
skyscraper will re-define Chicago for decades to come. With
a building sure to become a signature edifice of this city,
I for one wouldn't mind just one more re-design. Chicago
deserves no less and I still hoping to put together that
trading card set.
State AIA Lists Its
150 Illinois Great Places
by
Darrell Jones
March 23, 2007
Now
this is more like it. Having recently had foisted upon us
the national AIA's interpretation of what was supposedly the
nation's favorite architecture (with a Chicago structure not
breaking the top twenty), its refreshing to see the deserved
prominence given to many of our beloved buildings and
spaces. This is an excellent way to launch the celebration
of the Illinois AIA 150 Year anniversary. Quoting from their
website, "these places are recognized for how they enrich
our quality of life. We celebrate the great variety of
places that make up the fabric of the Illinois community."
Not only are your typical landmarks structures present in
this listing but such diversity of treatments as our state's
college quadrangles, the lakefront, housing styles i.e. the
Chicago bungalow, and significant intersections such as
State and Madison. You can view and read a brief description
of each selection and why it was chosen at
www.illinoisgreatplaces.com One of the obvious
benefits of an exercise of this nature is that it fosters
discussions about our built environment and directs our
attention to magnificent places and spaces we may otherwise
have not been previously cognitive of. Absent from the list
are some of the more recently completed projects by a number
of Chicagoland's up and coming design innovators like John
Ronan's Gary Comer Youth Center on the Southside, Skybridge,
and Douglas Garofalo's Hyde Park Youth Center. Submissions
were taken from the public around the state with the
finalists being chosen by AIA members in consultation with
various local officials.
Farwell Building's
Faux-Fate
I'm
sure not a few people are wondering or perhaps don't even
know or care what all the fuss is over the now certain to be
re-constitution of the landmarked Farwell building on
Michigan Avenue. The Commission on
Chicago
Landmarks recently approved Prism Development Co.'s plan to
gut the
crumbling
interior
of this
structure while preserving its limestone facade. This was
done over the objections of Landmark organizations,
architectural bloggers, et al. The
move
appears to be an unprecedented one. Although one can
understand the practicality of the economics of the
situation-the enormous cost it take to save this dilapidated
building in its entirety, a slippery slope has been
obviously been opened. As with the Supreme Court's
decision on eminent domain, the citing of a municipality's
or developer's greater economic good in reference to
circumventing the intended protections instituted by a
landmark designation may become a grievous loophole to
persevering our city's historically significant structures.
When this type of situation arises again in the near future
undoubtedly, let's hope that we'll have engaged in more
purposeful and thoughtful dialogue to find better solutions
in order to protect some of our most valued resources
without sacrificing economically progressive proposals.
by
Darrell Jones
Carson's Ready
For Reincarnation
I
have to admit walking down State Street and peering into the
window of a trashed Carson Pirie Scott was a bit of a jolt.
This was like going to see your sophisticated aunt and
finding a once prim and proper lady all disheveled and
somewhat threadbare. Fortunately, that disorientation didn't
last as I considered that this was just a temporary
re-staging, a re-arranging of props so-to-speak, leaving the
venue itself intact. This kind of reassurance is one of the
major benefits which come with knowing that the famed Louis
Sullivan structure in transition is designated a National
Historic Landmark. Sure, when this beloved space takes on a
brand new function and interior look, its going to be a bit
startling initially, especially when the talk is that new
building owners Joseph Freed and Associates are thinking of
anchoring a grocery store there. But rare is the space
that's been around as long as this structure has which
doesn't change names, function, and even form several times
over the course of its public life. Certainly with the
thousands of new residents in the loop (students & condo
owners), a grocery store would be a welcome sight. Let's
hope that whatever it is or however its done, it's done in a
manner worthy of this sophisticated lady.
by
Darrell Jones
Wrigley Field-
Chicago's Best Architecture?
Its
early February, the Bears are history, and Chicago is doing
its best imitation as a freeze pop. You see Wrigley Field in
the news and you think ahh..baseball..pitchers and catchers
must be reporting.. Well, if that was your first reaction,
you undoubtedly discovered by now that's not quite the crux
of this story. In a nicely crafted marketing move
this past week, the American Institute of Architects and
Harris Interactive released the results of its poll on the
nation's 150 best works of architecture. Survey respondents
were asked to select their favorites from a portfolio of 248
structures nominated by AIA members. The results
seemed to be skewed decidedly East Coast and
Classical-revival. The Empire State Building led the list
with the White House second (along with many other
Washington-area structures), and the National Cathedral
third. Overall, New York garnered 32 of the 150 spots of
this poll making one wonder if the respondents were
primarily East Coasters.
But
Chicago, which many consider an architecture Mecca managed
to achieve its first mention at the 31st slot. That 31st
place is held down by none other than the masterpiece of
renown architect Zachary Taylor Davis-Wrigley Field!. Now
admittedly, the nation's second oldest ballpark- a national
landmark, is a classic among sports venues even with the
various additions and renovations through the years. But
Wrigley Field before the John Hancock (which didn't make it
at all)? or Wright's Robie House? And not one of Mies van
der Rohe's buildings wad to be found. Hardly. Following
Wrigley, the Tribune Tower, the Sears Tower, and the Field
Museum come in at 38, 42, and 53 respectively.
So what
conclusions can be drawn from these selections? Well, first,
that these choices were made with limited architectural
understanding at best. Second, that most were probably made
fro a tourist's mentality as picks such as the Bellagio
Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and the Sears Tower would
indicate. Nevertheless, the poll makes for interesting
analysis and discussion. At least one of our most
favored made it-333 Wacker Drive-at #62.
By
Darrell Jones
Bears Get A Different Look in Miami
Its now Miami or bust for our Monsters of the
Midway-Chicago Bears. In some ways South Beach has undergone
a bit of a renaissance over the past decade or so,
especially since Hurricane Andrew's devastating impact
leveled much of the area back in 1992. New construction has
and continues to spring up around Miami and its nearby
suburbs. Nevertheless, Miami is still expressly Miami. If
any Bears are engaging the South Beach environs for the
first time they'll find it quite distinct in its appearance
from say, on I don't know...Chicago maybe?
Probably the first thing that strikes you upon approach to
the Magic City (besides the weather and the palm trees) is
the proliferation of color generously found in much of the
architecture throughout. Containing the largest
concentrations of 1920's and 1930's resort architecture in
the world, these periods with their defining Art Deco,
Moderne, Post War Modern, and Mediterranean styles make for
a truly identifiable regional locale. When you are arrive,
there's no mistaking where you are generally speaking which
is in fact, a good thing.
What is easily in agreement as one of the worst mantra's
heard in media-speak in reference to players coming to South
Beach is that "somehow they must overcome the distractions
and play well." For sure, this area can have all the feel of
an adult amusement park-especially to first-timers-but I'm
sure the professionalism of the players and paternal
oversight of each teams coaches will be on top of that
issue. Hopefully, observant and appreciative Bears will take
note of the vibrant and rich culture and architecture of
Miami-worthy
of a vacation mentality- as a fresh change from the norm and then focus on the
business at hand-handing the Colts their heads in the Super
Bowl.
By
Darrell Jones
2016 Olympic Facilities
Unveiled
On
Tuesday, the city of Chicago and its Olympic Planning
Committee unveiled their designs for what would be a
temporary Olympic stadium in Washington Park and Olympic
village near McCormick Place should it receive the bid to
represent the U.S. and ultimately gain the bid
internationally.
Although,
the concepts for the Olympic village aren't widely
publicized yet, the stadium in plan view and perspective
have been released. The stadium's principal design team
included architect Ben Wood of Shanghai-who by the way had a
hand in the design of the renovated Soldier Field and
Goettsch Partners of Chicago.
Instead of
seating to hold 95,000, the facility has been scaled back to
seat a smaller 80,000. Additionally, the amphitheater that
will remain once the majority of the stadium is removed had
been taken from 10,000 seats to 5,000 as to minimize its
obtrusiveness to the open vistas of the historic landmark
park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Regardless of these
changes, some area residents and civic groups remain opposed
to what they see as "marring" this landscape architect's
masterwork in any way.
The
stadium will sport an asymmetrical design with a visual play
on the letter "C" (possibly for Chicago?) as the defining
form when viewed from above. Despite being temporary, there
will be skyboxes and priority seating areas. Some of those
areas will be covered by the roof extending over them in an
otherwise open-air structure. The roof and exterior walls
would be constructed of a fabric or vinyl skin obviously
intended to save on costs which were announced at an
economical $316 million. The outer walls would have
massive-sized images of Olympians past & present either
projected or printed onto them. An opening in the front
would serve as the athlete entrance.
To
alleviate the vast amount of space needed for a typical
concourse in large public facilities such as this, the
design team made a decision to place all the restrooms and
restaurant areas outside-modeling it after the Rose Bowl in
Pasadena. This alone could be an area of concern for members
of the USOC and IOC in consideration of pedestrian
convenience.
Both the
stadium and the Olympic village-coming in a $1.1 Billion,
are subject to approval by the Chicago Park District which
is seen as a formality in this process.
So now
we've been shown the third attempt at getting right what's
certain to become Chicago's signature structure and the
country's tallest building this past week. I don't know
about you but I'm still a bit unsettled about this latest
revision of architect Santiago Calatrava's so-called
"Chicago Spire," a definite improvement over the bloated,
twizzler-like" second re-design. That notwithstanding, in my
mind, it doesn't quite rise to level of the first design-
when the priority was not to "super-size" it in order to jam
as many condo units into it as possible.
Even
though there is a definite possibility that this proposal
from developer Garrett Kelleher of Dublin, Ireland may not
be able to secure the necessary financing to be built, its
not a stretch to envision its presence among the icons of
this city's fabled skyline. The concern here is that I've
yet to get a sense of that "wow-factor" that this will be a
skyscraper Chicagoans will be proud of- a commanding
presence all-the-while exuding an unmatched gracefulness. I
recall holding similar misgivings toward the up and coming
Sears Tower, recognizing that it would probably not set a
pace for avant-guard design to lead Chicago through the
non-descript 70's and 80's. Surveying the landscape of
current Asian and Middle Eastern skyscrapers by industry
giants such as SOM, Murphy-Jahn, and Teng Associates, it's
evident that they have carte-blanche to push the edge of
contemporary expression. Thankfully though, in recent years,
Chicago-the birth place of modern architecture-has seen
greater movement toward fresh, ground-breaking statements
from Skybridge to the Hyatt Center to the UBS building.
Contextually, Calatrava's "birthday candle" arguably
qualifies for out-of-the-box architecture with its 360
degree twisting torso. Now, here's hoping the promised
additional revisions and touches throughout the final design
process will elevate the level of positive architectural
conversation throughout the city and throughout the world to
heights worthy of our reputation.
By Darrell Jones
A Solution in Michigan
Avenue's Best Interest?
One of the
topics of concern appearing in the editorial section of the
Chicago Tribune this past week was entitled "Facadism on
Michigan Ave". At first glance, one would assume they were
about to embark on a scathing rebuke pertaining to the
dangers of walking too near the precipice of "facadism" as
it relates to one of the great streets of the world-Michigan
Ave.
Yet upon further perusal of this opinion piece revealed an
entirely different mindset.
The
editorial begins in praise of the grandeur of Michigan Ave.
This leads into the crux of the conversation at hand and
that is the Prism Development Company's planned dismantling
and re-construction of the 80-year old landmark Farwell
building designed by Phillip Maher at the corner of Erie St
and Michigan Ave.
Under the
proposed project submitted to the Commission on Chicago
Landmarks a couple of weeks ago, the Farwell would be taken
down leaving only it's facade which would become a part of a
new 40-story Ritz-Carlton. This would purportedly give us
the "best of both worlds"-a viable representation of a
crumbling historic landmark structure affixed to a new
luxury complex of offices and retail space. The Chicago
Tribune-seemingly a perennial proponent of this city's
architectural prodigy-then makes sure we understand that the
proposal worked out by the city and Prism was not
haphazardly arrived at, but was forged after a year of much
thought and is currently the best practical solution. Their
support of this plan seems to be founded on the
extraordinary deterioration of the building and the lack of
a" better plan."
While the
affirmation of this proposal is obviously rooted in the
pragmatism of economics, it appears to completely ignore the
slippery slope such a precedent would inevitably put future
landmark structures on in the face of practical economic
measures. This situation obviously presents a
challenge to all parties involved, nevertheless, something
better than what we've been given must be found if we are to
avoid the slow erosion and Disney-izing of that which has
become a major tourist destination and source of pride for
Chicagoans. Looks like this might be a unique
opportunity for the Trib's Pulitzer Prize-winning
architecture critic to set the record straight for his
paper.
Chicago's
hope for hosting the 2016 Olympic games became a bit more
realistic Tuesday as the U.S. Olympic committee decided to
put forth a city. The next step step in this process will be
to best it's only competition-Los Angeles- as the USOC's
choice sometime in April. Chicago also helped its cause by
announcing it had raised $25 million in private donations
required for the bid. The city's Olympic committee made
public several venue revisions for some athletic activities
although the majority of them will still be retained close
to the loop and lakefront. Beach volleyball moves form North
Ave Beach to Northerly Island while some soccer venues could
be located as far as Minneapolis, Minnesota. Field hockey
will shift to Jackson Park from Washington Park and
equestrian events are planned to move from Palos Hills to
Lake County.
The
Chicago Tribune reports Mayor Daley's demeanor as being
"heartened by the committee's decision," quoting him, "I am
very pleased the USOC has decided to support a bid," he
said. "They could have said they were not going to go
forward. … It gives us excitement because it is LA and us in
regards to bidding. "What we see is great opportunities to
rebuild communities, schools, infrastructure, mass transit
in preparation for the Olympics, as well as it gives you a
global identification," Daley said. "From my viewpoint,
there are so many pluses here for us."
Whichever
U.S. city is chosen will then be pitted against what is
expected to be a tough international field of competing
venues likely consisting of Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo,
Qatar and Doha.
Helmut Jahn's Homeless
Facility Scheduled for 2007 Unveiling
The
96-unit homeless facility dubbed Near North SRO is under
construction at the intersection of Clybourn Ave and
Division St near the famed Cabrini Green housing project. The
forward-thinking design by Helmut Jahn seeks to help
establish a much more positive attitude and discourse on the
problem of providing more than adequate care for the city's
homeless population. "If you want to talk about a city with
a comprehensive approach to housing and ending homelessness,
Chicago kind of sets the pace right now," according former
housing secretary Henry Cisneros in an article by Robert
Sharoff. The facility will not just house the homeless, but
provide services such as counseling, employment, skills
training, and case management. The building will be apart of
a larger plan to create a mixed-income community with
affordable rental units, single-family homes and commercial
space.
The
building looks to challenge tradition in the way a
municipality approaches such a complex. Typically, a city
would seek to expend minimal capital and prime property area
to resolve the placement of the indigent.
Jahn's $18 million design will sport his customary
contemporary flair even calling to mind his recently
completed, similarly-shaped stainless steel-clad student
dormitory at IIT. "I always looked at the
IIT building as kind of a prototype for low-rise urban
housing," Jahn said in a recent New York Times interview.
The average-sized unit will be 300 sq ft and have a private
kitchen, bath, central air and heat. The building is
expected to incorporate the latest innovations of "green
design" and sustainable elements to meet LEED's
certification. Additionally, Near North SRO residents will
enjoy great views of downtown Chicago which condo dwellers
typically pay thousands of dollars to have.
Oak Park Seeks to Make a
Mark
in Contemporary
Architecture as Well
Holiday
lights shine bright on Volvo of Oak Park's newest
architectural landmark, visible from the Eisenhower
Expressway. Spotlights lit up Chicago's first-ever tower of
cars, a vertical showcase displaying seven Volvos in glass
cases stacked on top of one another. The view from the glass
tower will change and stay fresh as new Volvo models are
displayed and lighting reflects the changes in the season.
Last week,
Chicago VIPs gathered at Volvo of Oak Park for a dazzling
celebration to introduce the area's newest architectural
landmark, visible from the Eisenhower Expressway. Spotlights
lit up Chicago's first-ever tower of cars, a vertical
showcase displaying seven Volvos in glass cases stacked on
top of one another. One year ago, when faced with a growing
business and shrinking amount of car display space, Volvo of
Oak Park needed an innovative parking solution. Out of this
challenge came Volvo's first-ever glass tower of cars.
Inspiration for the innovative architectural landmark came
from collaboration between Van Stokes, Sr. of Shanghai,
China, who created a similar structure in Berlin, Germany
and Errol Jay Kirsch's architecture firm in Oak Park.
"Not only does our new tower serve a functional,
space-saving role for our dealership, it also brings a
visually unique element to the Chicago suburbs," said
Antonio Scalzo, Volvo of Oak Park president. "This tower
solidifies Volvo of Oak Park as a cutting edge, standout car
dealership in the area."
"The tower is a first in the nation, adding another level of
differentiation from Volvo of Oak Park's innovative
organization and enhancing the dealership's premier
qualities," said Jeff Pugliese, vice president of Volvo's
Midwestern region.
The view from the glass tower will change and stay fresh as
new Volvo models are displayed and lighting reflects the
changes in the season.
Source: Volvo Cars of North America
Major Re-design submitted
for the Chicago Spire
So
we've swapped the "drill bit" for a birthday candle. The developer for what easily will be Chicago's most
significant addition to its storied skyline submitted a
re-design to city hall of their 2000 ft, now less-twisting
tower. In an effort to address financial concerns with the
project, Garrett Kelleher (developer based in Dublin), and
architect Santiago Calatrava have eliminated the hotel
portion of the building and converted 3 million sq ft. to
1,300 condominium units exclusively, adding 35 more floors,
bringing the overall total to 150 floors. Instead of the 400
ft. broadcast antenna, the now flatter top is accentuated by
fin-like protrusions at roof level resulting from the
structure's spiraling design . Additionally, the 6-story
parking garage has been scrapped for underground parking
consisting of 7-levels. The base has an increased
rotation with none at the top according to a quote from
Calatrava in the Chicago Tribune. The "twist" is now 270
degrees instead of the original 360. According to news
outlets, Calatrava expressed a desire to "learn from
Chicago" as he referenced Sears Tower and Hancock Center as
to how his building recalls the "simple silhouettes" of
these two icons. To date the project has been
estimated at around $1.2 billion and is scheduled to break
ground mid-2007pending political approval and market
conditions.
Millennium Station at
Randolph Street
Comes to Life with the
Color of Retail Shops
So
the cavalry has finally arrived! After a few years of
waiting for the arrival of retailers to fill the
sheet-covered store space in the sleekly modernized
Millennium Station, Starbucks is one of the first to break
the ice (or glacier). Even though Starbucks is becoming more
common around the loop than newsstands, they are a welcome
sight to the newly renovated transit hub. The
floor-to-ceiling glass walls which dramatically curve around
the passenger terminal now reflect the domestic ambiance of
Starbucks "homey" interior adding all the sights, sounds,
and yes, smells that go with it. Along with a
just-opened flower shop (Cityscents), much needed color has
brought this chrome-challenged space to life. Metra
patrons have already begun to settle in to the coffee shops
comfy environs to take the edge off their commute wait.
Even though this station is much smaller than its
counterparts in the loop, Millennium Station at Randolph
Street with its thematic-design, brighter concourse and
visual panache created by the large window-wall decor could
turn out to be an important first step toward making a good
first impression to travelers and tourists alike entering
the city through this emerging gateway.
Major Mixed-Use Development
Planned for South Loop
Centrum
Properties is set to initiate a 12-acre, $1-billion project
near Roosevelt road and 9th street beginning early 2007
adding to the surge of recent development in the South Loop. The
community named The Roosevelt Collection is to include a
40-story condominium high-rise and a 45-story condominium
high-rise on its northern end with 1,800-car parking garage,
a 2.5 acre park and 400,000 square feet of retail space. The
retail space is to be comprised of restaurants, a health
club and a 20-screen theater. The condominiums will range
from $290,000 to $600,000 in price.
Hoffman Estates Enters
the Entertainment Venue Arena
This
week the new Sears Centre will open in Hoffman Estates with
the Thursday night performance of Duran Duran, Bob Dylan the
following night and Lionel Ritchie with Chaka Khan Sunday
Oct 29th. The $62 million dollar 11,000 seat
multi-purpose facility will not only vie for a piece of the
Chicago area concert pie, but will be the home of the AA
hockey franchise Chicago Hounds, the Major Indoor Soccer
League's Chicago Storm as well as the Chicago Shamrox of the
National Lacrosse League. Although the entertainment
complex replaces the once Popular Creek outdoor concert
venue, Jam Productions has announced its intentions to
construct an 8,900-seat outdoor facility next to the Sears
Centre called Prairie Creek Amphitheater with a scheduled
opening of May 2007.
Historical Society Gets
an Extreme Makeover
The
Chicago Historical Society has undergone what it hopes is
seen as an extreme makeover. Now known as the Chicago
History Museum, this 150 year old institution hopes to raise
its profile as well as its foot traffic for the next hundred
years to come. The 27.5 million renovation includes
16,000 sq. ft. of new exhibition and gallery space, the
focal point of which is the spacious atrium area where you
will immediately
encounter a vintage "low-rider" illustrating a cultural
expression of Chicago's many Hispanic communities.
This is just one of several new permanent exhibits
accompanied also by all of the old favorites in revamped
spaces. The Chicago History Museum is located at 1600
N Clark on the edge of the Lincoln Park Neighborhood.
Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students
with free admission on Mondays. For more visit
www.chicagohs.org
Olympic-sized Opportunity
Certainly, over the past couple of years, Mayor Richard M. Daley has brought Chicago onto
the national spotlight with increasing frequency-for better or worse. From his “green initiatives” to his now renowned Millennium Park and from recent corruption probes to the announcement of the city’s intentions to
make a serious bid toward hosting the 2016 Olympic Games, Chicago has gotten its fair share of national attention.
Of course few things would command the measure of world-wide focus than that of hosting an
Olympic competition. Make no bones about it, Chicago is presently a world class city; yet, if we would be honest with ourselves, there is still a civic self-consciousness about our status on the world stage-especially
when compared to New York City (which few if any would ever admit). We yearn to “strut our stuff” whenever the occasion permits to those out there still ignorant of all we have achieved and are achieving culturally,
innovatively, and even athletically.
Consequently, there are those who feel we have nothing to prove and nothing to gain from
inviting “the world” here to experience Chicago for a couple of weeks. Yet, others see an Olympic-sized opportunity to not only showcase our growth and progress to the world but also a unique moment in time to perhaps
move two steps forward with bold, fresh and inventive plans to improve transportation, infra-structure and the architectural cityscape. Whichever side you fall in this argument, take the time to voice your opinions in
whatever arenas you can-work, school, social venues and through our message board, featured friends and web poll. Chicagoland will be best served as we hash out our differences as a “family.” We look forward to hearing
your responses
DALLAS, TX|
OCT 18 , 2009--Upon completion of his acclaimed
Modern Wing of the Art Institute in Chicago.
Dutch-architect Rem Koolhaas is not resting on his laurels.
His jointly-designed theater is part of a $354 million
performing arts center in Dallas, Texas. And Koolhaas isn't
the only name of note involved with this project. Architect
Norman Foster collaborated in the design of the Margot and
Bill Winspear Opera House which according to Entertainment
Daily is a 2,200-seat venue for opera, ballet and Broadway
touring productions. The facility features a red drum-like
core which protrudes from the glass building surrounding it.
The
performances in the 575-seat Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre
are visible to the public due to the transparent glass.
Additionally, the 12-story structure according the article
features a "stacked design as opposed to the typical theater
design where support spaces surround the stage. Additional
outdoor phases are planned for the performing arts complex
to be completed in 2011. For more information, visit the
AT&T Performing Arts Center site at
www.attpac.org.
RAFAEL VINOLY COMPLETES CCNY
ARCHITECTURE FACILITY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
| SEPT 27 , 2009--When
establishing their new home at 58 Prospect Ave., Princeton
University's Fields Center and Community House staff decided
to make it a beacon for multicultural education and social
opportunities within the University campus and local
community.
While
physically located just across the street from their old
building at 86 Olden St., the new facility is miles away
in offering larger, more visible and dynamic space for
the work supported by the two organizations. The new
building was designed to enhance and expand the Fields
Center and Community House and to help make their
programs more accessible.
After
more than a year of construction and renovation work,
the opening of the facility was marked Thursday, Sept.
17, at a public celebration
Designed by Ann Beha Architects of Boston, the
18,800-square-foot facility pairs the restored Elm Club
building with a contemporary 5,000-square-foot addition.
The architectural integration of old and new, coupled
with new amenities and the pulse of activities inside
the building, will bring vitality to the historic corner
of Prospect Avenue and Olden Street, according to
University leaders.
"The
goal is to have a vibrant, inclusive space that is
hospitable and welcoming to all," Dickerson said. "The
elegant architecture of the building will be a
distinctive and inviting addition to Prospect Avenue. I
expect that students will be drawn in, both to
investigate the interior spaces and also to participate
in the programming offered by the Fields Center and
Community House."
Updated seminar rooms, intimate social spaces,
additional dedicated student organization offices and
areas wired for new media are some of the building's new
amenities.
Excerpts from an article by Emily Aronson, Princeton.edu
CORNELL'S NEW FACILITY PUTS
ARCHITECTURE FIRST
ITHACA, NEW YORK |
AUG 31, 2009--Construction
is currently underway for Paul Milstein Hall, the newest
addition to Cornell University’s Architecture School.
Designed by Rem Koolhaas and the Office for Metropolitan
Architecture (OMA), this 46,000 square foot
building couldn’t come sooner. The National Architecture
Accreditation Board has warned Cornell for over a decade
that new facilities were needed in order for their
Architecture program to stay accredited. If these concerns
are not addressed, the school will lose their Bachelors of
Architecture and Masters of Architecture 1 programs, two
losses which would be catastrophic to the university.
Milstein hall will be the first building for the college of
Art, Architecture and Urban Planning in 90 years, and will
physically unite the three departments. This expansion of
the AAP facilities was initially funded in 2000 by a gift
from the family of real estate developer Paul Milstein.
Milstein Hall will provide 22,000 square feet of
open studio space, a 275 person lecture hall and 6,900
square feet for critique space, and in the words of Dean
Kent Kleinman, “will make it possible to radically
reconfigure the way design is taught.” However, despite
these accommodations, the project has drawn strong
opposition primarily from non-architectural faculty members,
citing the building’s disjointed style from its traditional
neighbors, high budget (52 million dollars) and standard
LEED rating instead of LEED Gold rating.
The design
includes an elevated second floor that cantilevers in the
north side and southeast corner. This leaves space
underneath for a pedestrian plaza and outdoor exhibition
space protected from Ithaca’s harsh natural elements. A
concrete dome in the center allows for auditorium seating,
and the studio and circulation spaces are very open.
Milstein Hall’s materials and finishes are economic and
honest and help express its form. The upper level is mainly
exposed steel and floor-to-ceiling glass facades, while the
first floor is made of exposed concrete. Construction is
expected to be completed in 2011.
A FRESH FACE AWAITS TO
GREET NEW IMMIGRANTS
IRVING, TEXAS|
AUG 9, 2009--
The new US Citizenship and Immigration Services building
opened earlier this year in Irving Texas. Designed by the
Chicago-based 4240 Architecture, the new facility is a
part of the USCIS' initiative to "Build an Immigration
Service for the 21st Century." The initiative is built
around a foundation of three pillars designed to enhance and
sustain a secure and efficient immigration system. These
pillars include: "Improving Service Delivery," "Enhancing
the Security and Integrity of the Immigration System," and
"Modernizing Business Infrastructure." The design is
striving for LEED silver certification. According to
Las Colinas Online,
the design team paid particular attention to providing
protection from the hot Texas sun with roof overhangs, a
brise soleil, and protective glass.
DALLAS COWBOYS' NEW STADIUM
ARLINGTON, Texas | Jun 8,
2009--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--The Dallas Cowboys Stadium officially opens on June 6
as George Strait takes the stage at the venue’s first public
event. The new sports and entertainment venue in Arlington,
Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth, is the home of the
Dallas Cowboys, the country’s most-watched NFL team.
Designed by the HKS Sports & Entertainment Group, the venue
enhances the international Cowboys brand with its modern,
progressive architecture while incorporating elements of
Texas Stadium’s heritage such as the shape of the roof’s
opening and the Ring of Honor.
The 3
million-square-foot stadium has an approximate capacity of
80,000 fans. As the largest NFL venue ever built, the new
stadium boasts the most spectacular column-free room in the
world, stretching a quarter-mile in length. “In recognition
of the time-honored traditions and timeless dynamic nature
of the Dallas Cowboys, we chose a modern palette of simple
forms and materials that creates a fittingly progressive
architectural expression for the new stadium,” said Bryan
Trubey, AIA, principal designer, HKS Sports & Entertainment
Group.
Designed to be open
or closed, depending on weather conditions, the
expansive retractable roof is the largest of its kind in
the world and measures approximately 660,800 square
feet.
The stadium features
two monumental arches, soaring 292 feet above the
playing field, which support a retractable roof.
The stadium features
the largest retractable end zone doors in the world.
One of the most
compelling architectural features of the stadium design
is the canted glass exterior wall.
Within the seating
bowl, Cowboys fans will be provided with a one-of-a-kind
feature, a center-hung video board.
ATLANTA TOWER "BULKS UP"
DEVELOPMENT
ATLANTA, GA
| MAY 24, 2009
|
Prudential Real Estate Investors along with Cousins
Properties, Inc. has partnered to develop one of the Atlanta
area's largest building projects. Terminus 200 or the
Buckhead Tower at 565.000 square-feet will be a 25-story
office building in Atlanta's Buckhead submarket. Terminus
200 is the latest phase of the 10-acre Terminus development
which presently contains a residential tower called Terminus
Place and the 656,000 square-foot Terminus 100 office
building.
CITI FIELD: PASSAGE TO THE
FUTURE
NEW YORK, NY
|
APR 19, 2009
|The New York Times Jay
Schreiber highlights the new home of the New York Mets, Citi
Field, while tracing the historical connection of the new
stadium’s inspiration - Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn
Dodgers almost 50 years ago. The rotunda is the most notable
architectural feature modeled after Ebbets Field. This new
facility is far from the sterile, impersonal Shea Stadium of
yesteryear, which means it’s already a winner.
BREAKING ARCHITECTURAL GRIDLOCK IN DC
WASHINGTON D.C.| FEB 15, 2009
|
The designers of Millennium Park's Crown Fountain and the
contemporary addition to the historic Michigan Avenue
Streetwall with is prism-like Spertus Institute is putting
its signature stamp on the nation's capital. Chicago-based
Krueck + Sexton, is the impetus behind one of two
12-story, glass office buildings under construction in the
North of Massachusetts neighborhood. According to
Architectural Record, "the building will feature a
diagonal refracted crease in its north-facing glass curtain
wall." In addition, "the entrances to both buildings are
pulled back under a slight cantilever, giving visitors the
experience of the overhanging glass wall." The first tower
is due for completion in 2009. Murphy/Jahn also is
currently constructing a contemporary office building in
D.C.
FLOATING HOUSES...WAVE OF
THE FUTURE?
ONTARIO, CANADA |
JAN 5, 2009
|
Architects Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample are the
architects behind the design of a floating house near an
island on Lake Huron. According to
archdaily.com"The location on the
Great Lakes imposed complexities to the house’s fabrication
and construction, as well as its relationship to site.
Annual cyclical change related to the change of seasons,
compounded with escalating global environmental trends,
cause Lake Huron’s water levels to vary drastically from
month-to-month, year-to-year. To adapt to this constant,
dynamic change, the house floats atop a structure of steel
pontoons, allowing it to fluctuate along with the lake." The
complete details along with more photography is available at
archdaily.com.
DOES THE PENTAGON MEMORIAL SUCCEED?
WASHINGTON D.C. | OCT 5, 2008
| MICHAEL PAULSON - BOSTON GLOBEIt was
disorienting to visit the memorial before any particular
public rituals have emerged, like making a pencil rubbing of
a name at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, following the
chronological utterances etched into the stones at the FDR
Memorial, or leaving notes or a picture at Ground Zero. We
felt uncertain how to interact with the park. On some
benches, there were flowers, perhaps left over from the
dedication. In the dirt around a seedling, someone had stuck
a tiny American flag. But in the dimness, the experience was
almost entirely sensory. It was hard to make out the paths
or read the victims' names, so we wandered along the gravel,
stones crunching underfoot. We crouched at the benches,
letting our fingers feel the engraved names, listening to
the flowing water. In the air hung a faint scent from the
baby paperbark maples planted to provide shade for grieving
families, destined to ... To continue article, follow the
link to site -
The best time to take in the new Pentagon Memorial? 1 am
PORTLAND ARCHITECT IMPRESSES MAD-LY IN NYC
NEW YORK,
NY, SEPT 23, 2008-This
past Thursday, Portland-based Allied Works and principal
Brad Cloepfil gave New Yorkers their first look at their
re-interpretation of one of the city's most well-worn
landmarks. The new home of the Museum of Arts and Design at
2 Columbus Circle which was originally designed by Edward
Durrell Stone has a distinctively contemporary edge.
According to
oregonlive.com, the skin of the building is comprised of
22,000 handcrafted terra cotta tiles which feature an
iridescent glaze which took two years to perfect.
Additionally, depending on the time of day or year, the
tiles react to the light in different ways. In a recent
press conference with national journalists, Cloepfil talked
about respecting the building's initial design by preserving
its original size, shape and color. He also referenced his
efforts to infuse the interior with more natural light by
slicing "ribbons of concrete" from its exterior walls and
filling those carved out voids with glass. Brad Cloepfil has
also done an addition to the Seattle Art Museum, an
expansion to the University of Michigan Museum of Art and
the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver.
Approval
Being Sought for 1,500-ft Tower in Philly
PHILADELPHIA,
PA, JULY 22, 2008-Walnut
Street Capital partnered with Washington-based
Multi-Employer Property Trust are in the initial stages of
developing what will be-at least for a little while-the
tallest building in the U.S. The so-named American Commerce
Center will rise 525 feet higher than Philadelphia's tallest
building-Robert Stern's Comcast Center just completed
this year. The American Commerce Center planned for the
intersection of 18th and Arch Streets was designed by New
York-based architects Kohn Petersen Fox and is
estimated at costing nearly $1 billion. The mixed-use
building will have a 1,200-ft base and a 300-ft tall spire
and facilitate offices, hotel and retail space.
Architect Dream Team
Assembled for New Resort Casino
ARIA Resort & Casino, Las
Vegas
LAS VEGAS,
NV, JUNE 17, 2008-CityCenter
has revealed that its stunning resort casino, scheduled to
open in late 2009, will be named ARIA. With an unprecedented
combination of striking architecture, sustainable design,
high-end service and spectacular amenities, ARIA Resort &
Casino will immediately become the focal point not only of
the Las Vegas skyline but of the hospitality industry.
Designed by the world-renowned firm Pelli Clarke Pelli,
ARIA’s architectural expression will reveal itself at every
turn, from its two breathtaking curvilinear glass towers to
the clean use of natural elements including lush foliage,
wood and stone. Soaring open spaces, ranging from ARIA’s
three-story lobby and casino to its guest rooms, will fill
with natural light and evoke breadth and freedom. Art and
interior design will envelop guests in warm, comforting
surroundings and provide a sense of human scale.
The contemporary architecture of the ARIA tower will be
complemented by the resort’s lavish accommodations. ARIA’s
4,004 guest rooms, including 568 suites, will incorporate
integrated technologies never before used in the hospitality
industry. Guest room corridors streaming with natural light
will open to areas of enclosed glass, delivering spectacular
city or mountain views. Guests also can enjoy these
breathtaking panoramas from the privacy of their rooms; all
will feature expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. ARIA’s
modern tower is uniquely designed to deliver corner-window
views from every guest room.
The
project began with a master plan developed by New York’s
Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut and Kuhn Architects (EEK) for a
high-density destination with interesting places and
experiences, smooth public circulation and regard for its
surroundings.
To realize this plan, MGM MIRAGE executives traveled
the world and met with numerous architects to review their
work and understand their approach. When the search
concluded, MGM MIRAGE had assembled a dream team of the
world’s foremost architects and two of the country’s
foremost builders, Perini Building Company and
Tishman Construction, to begin the ambitious 20-month
design phase.
Gensler, the world’s largest architectural firm, was
chosen to lead the design process, managing seven “star-chitects,”
90 interior designers and hundreds of consultants to take
CityCenter from merely an idea, to a reality.
For Veer Towers, Chicago-based architect Helmut Jahn
was a natural choice: an artist whose buildings were certain
to look unlike any other. Jahn’s signature projects include
the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels, Munich’s
Kempinski Hotel and Sony Center Berlin.
Helmut Jahn’s design for the two residential high rises
known as Veer Towers will be a masterful translation of
energy and excitement into physical form; its two 37-story
glass towers will shimmer day and night. With approximately
337 modern condominium residences in each tower, Veer will
soar above the city and put residents close to The Crystals,
CityCenter’s retail and entertainment district. Inclined at
five-degree angles – a feature celebrated by the
development’s name – the towers will seem to dance with each
other. Lobbies and public spaces will be developed by
notable designer Francisco Gonzalez-Pulido1 to showcase
impressive works of glass and metal with plenty of natural
light. In the residences, the renowned team of Dianna Wong
Architecture & Interior Design, Inc.2 will create modern
spaces that impart a sense of openness. Atop each striking
tower, residents will enjoy an amenities floor featuring an
unequaled view of Las Vegas complemented by an infinity edge
pool, cabanas, hot tubs, a sun deck and a patio for outdoor
entertaining. Within, Veer will feature recreation rooms for
special events or casual celebrations, private media rooms
with panoramic windows, a fitness center with men’s and
women’s steam rooms, and business centers. Upscale dining,
lavish shopping and electric nightlife – with entertainment
as only Las Vegas can offer – will be only steps away.
For Vdara Condo Hotel, MGM MIRAGE felt RV Architecture, LLC,
led by principal Rafael Viñoly, was ideally suited to
design a building that would complement the nearby resort
casino properties. Viñoly also designed the Cleveland Museum
of Art, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Carrasco
International Airport in Montevideo, Uruguay.
In creating this soaring 57-story condo hotel deep within
CityCenter, RV Architecture used a disciplined design
approach to remarkable effect. Vdara’s distinctive crescent
shape and unique skin of patterned glass will create one of
the most provocative design statements in Las Vegas. Located
between two of the world’s finest casinos, Bellagio and
CityCenter’s gaming resort, Vdara’s approximately 1,495
residences will feature open floor plans and horizontal
windows delivering expansive views of the city and
mountains. Acclaimed designers BBG-BBGM3 will create
stylish, contemporary environments infused with comfort. At
Vdara, residents and guests will enjoy amenities
commensurate with the world’s most elite resorts. From early
morning to late evening, its full-service wellness spa will
soothe, relax and rejuvenate. Vdara’s luxurious pool will
feature fully appointed retreat and spa cabanas with
semi-private plunge pools, and a high-energy bar and lounge
open day and evening. Martin Heierling, the internationally
acclaimed innovator behind Bellagio’s AAA Four Diamond
restaurant Sensi, will serve as executive chef for Vdara
Condo Hotel. Vdara’s destination restaurant will transform
as the day evolves, from fresh, vibrant and energetic at
daybreak; to hip, intimate and sexy at nightfall. Additional
amenities will include an advanced fitness facility, 24-hour
concierge service, state-of-the-art conference and meeting
facilities for groups of 10 to 400, in-room dining, a
gourmet grocery, housekeeping and valet parking. When a unit
isn’t in use, owners will have the option to rent out their
units on a nightly basis.
For The Harmon Hotel, Spa & Residences, MGM MIRAGE selected
London’s Foster + Partners, a firm noted for the
thought-provoking modernity of its work and its beautifully
engineered, intelligent and efficient structures. Foster +
Partners’ strikingly wide range of work includes the Beijing
Airport and Hearst Tower in New York.
Recently accepted as a distinguished member of The Leading
Hotels of the World, The Harmon Hotel, Spa & Residences is
designed for those who can appreciate the precise collision
of privacy and profile. Operated by The Light Group – one of
the nation’s leading hospitality, development and management
companies – The Harmon Residences will define hip, exclusive
living on The Strip and deliver luxurious services and
amenities to its A-list residents and guests. The tower’s
top 20 floors will be dedicated to its approximately 207
luxury residences, which will encapsulate The Harmon’s
highly distilled atmosphere and deliver phenomenal views of
the Las Vegas Strip. Munge Leung Design Associates2 will
craft living spaces adorned with comfort and stunning
modernity, with thoughtful layouts and beautiful color
schemes to create exotic, private retreats that reflect
privileged living. Residential suites will be finished with
patterned surfaces of granites, marbles and onyx stones that
bring color, movement and depth to the spaces. Walnut, oak
or maple hardwood floors will add rich texture and warmth.
Gourmet kitchens adorned with designer fixtures and
spa-inspired bathrooms will complete the sensuous luxury
residences. Residents will have full access to all hotel
amenities including the newest creation of international
cultural icon Michael Chow with his first and only MR CHOW
restaurant in Las Vegas, a hair salon by world-renowned hair
stylist Frédéric Fekkai, a private lobby lounge, other
dining offerings, the most elite retail offerings in Las
Vegas, a indulgent spa (with in-room services available),
valet parking and much more. The hotel’s pool deck will be
perched 100 feet above The Strip providing full views of the
world’s most dynamic street below.
For the design of Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, MGM MIRAGE
turned to Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. The New
York-based firm is recognized for the excellence and
innovation of its buildings in cities around the world.
The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas will set the
new standard of style with state-of-the-art suites,
amenities and architectural design, and become the most
esteemed address in Las Vegas. Situated above the bright
lights of the Boulevard on the highest floors of the
400-room boutique hotel, its approximately 227 residences
will be a true limited edition. Through the provision of
bespoke benefits, residents will be treated as permanent
guests of Mandarin Oriental and enjoy privileged access to
the exceptional services provided by the hotel.
This will include a spectacular elevated pool and
accompanying cabanas; top-of-the-line fitness center;
distinguished salon; internationally recognized spa;
destination dining and retail; owner’s private boardroom and
lounges; exclusive residential entrance, lobby, recreation
quarters and elevators; advanced conference facilities and
business center; and an array of concierge, doorman,
housekeeping and valet services. Residential interiors will
be crafted with studied, meticulous care by the
distinguished design and architecture firms of Kay Lang &
Associates and Page & Steele Interior Architects.
Living spaces will be characterized by an artful, eastern
approach, married with contemporary aesthetic splendor, in a
decadent selection of color palettes, materials and
finishes.
New York’s Studio Daniel Libeskind is the exterior
architect of The Crystals, a faceted-roof retail and
entertainment district at the heart of CityCenter. The
Crystals will be an international gathering place and
premier shopping destination combining art, design and
experience. Libeskind became a household name in 2003 when
he won the World Trade Center competition and was named
master plan architect for the site. Other celebrated works
include the Jewish Museum Berlin and the Denver Art Museum’s
Hamilton Building.
For The Crystals interior architecture, New York’s
Rockwell Group will introduce a series of striking
environments designed to invite and engage, intrigue and
relax. Noted for designs of cultural, hospitality and retail
projects, Rockwell’s celebrated work includes the Elinor
Bunin Film Center at Lincoln Center, the Kodak Theatre, sets
for Broadway’s Hairspray and the W New York.
Soaring to 61 stories, ARIA was designed by the New Haven,
Connecticut firm of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. Pelli
Clarke Pelli has created four of the world’s largest private
developments: World Financial Center, New York; Kuala Lumpur
City Centre, Malaysia; Canary Wharf, London; International
Finance Center, Hong Kong.
Landmark Modernist Kahn House Not Moving
Margaret Esherick House,
Chestnut Hill Pennsylvania.
CHESTNUT HILL,
PA, MAY 26, 2008-The
Chicago-based auction house Wright which specializes in
modern art and architecture hoped to make a significant sale
from the landmarked Louis Kahn-designed Esherick House near
Philadelphia. Alas, it was not to be as last week the
2,500-square-foot 1961 home did not move for the $2-3
million price tag the auction house and homeowners expected
to see. According to Architectural Record,
The
one-bedroom dwelling is a monumental composition of two
rectilinear volumes finished in beige concrete and Apitong,
a Malaysian hardwood. Exterior features include a chimney
offset from the facade, asymmetrically placed keyhole
windows along the front elevation, and a rear double-height
wall of wood and glass.
Appropriately, the living room is lined with built-in
bookcases that nearly reach the ceiling. The interior also
features a fireplace in a bathroom, and a custom kitchen
designed by Esherick’s uncle, Philadelphia-based sculptor
Wharton Esherick. In 1992, the house received a Landmark
Building Award from the Philadelphia chapter of the American
Institute of Architects.
Recently,
a Richard Neutra house in Palm Springs, California sold at
auction by Christies for $16.8 million.
New Baseball Facility in
D.C. a Big Hit
Nationals Park, Washington
D.C.
WASHINGTON,
DC.APRIL 13, 2008-By
all accounts, the sports facility experts HOK Sport of
Kansas City and Devrouax & Purnell Architects-Planners of
Washington have possibly laid the groundwork for a change of
direction for new baseball stadium construction.
Instead of continuing with the dominant theme of
retro-facilities, the D.C. Sports Commission has led the
development of a state-pf-the-art concrete and steel
structure clad in brick and limestone which has a distinctly
contemporary look and feel about it. The over $610 million
dollar stadium has a 41,888-seat capacity and is positioned
for an enviable view of the U.S. Capital building in the
foreground. Nationals Park is also aiming to be the first
major league ballpark in the country to be certified by the
U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Green Building Rating
System. In an excerpt from
Ballparks.com, The ballpark promises to play the major
role in the Anacostia River waterfront entertainment
district. In addition to government plans for the area,
major development is anticipated from investors who have
bought up property near the ballpark. Nationals Park
replaces the former RFK Stadium which formerly housed the
professional sports teams from the D.C. area.
Iconic California Home to
be Saved by the Highest Bidder
1946 Kaufmann House designed
by Richard Neutra Palm Springs, CA
PALM SPRINGS,
CA.March 10, 2008-A
seminal structure of American architecture is poised to take
on new life as a piece of very expensive iconic art.
Christie's International is hoping a house designed for
Edgar J. Kaufmann in 1946 by architect Richard Neutra which
became symbolic of the California lifestyle will fetch
upwards of $25 million at auction. The 3,200 square foot
ranch was renown for its strong multi-directional horizontal
planes, unusually thin steel supports, and deft use of
plaster, glass, concrete and wood in a theme which unified
the indoors with the outdoors. The house had fallen into
disrepair for years and was threatened with becoming a
teardown. But the house and property were purchased by Brent
and Beth Harris and restored by the architectural firm of
Marmol Radziner & Associates over a five year period to its
original condition as closely as possible.
Light Rail System Project an AIA Winner for UA
FAYETTEVILLE,
Ark.Jan 21, 2008-An
award-winning regional-planning project offers Northwest
Arkansas a mass transit model that supports economic
development and environmental sustainability.
The University of Arkansas Community Design Center with
Washington University in St. Louis has won an American
Institute of Architects Education Honor Award for taking on
a thorny regional planning issue: light rail. Studios at
both universities explored how light rail and associated
transit-oriented development could ease traffic gridlock,
spur downtown revitalization and check sprawl in Northwest
Arkansas.
The
project launched last spring with three UA studios involving
40 School of Architecture students and four professors:
Luoni, Aaron Gabriel, Gregory Herman and Tahar Messadi.
Visiting professors Eric Kahn, a Los Angeles architect with
expertise in scenario planning, and William Conway, a
Minneapolis-based architect and urban planner, partnered on
the project, as well. The UA students did not design the
light rail system per se. Instead, they focused on regional
development and transit-oriented district schemes that would
support light rail.
Work
continued last fall with an urban design studio at
Washington University in St. Louis, where Stephen Luoni was
the Ruth and Norman Moore Visiting Professor. Nine graduate
students built on the theoretical foundation erected by UA
students, developing transit-oriented neighborhoods anchored
by mixed-use train stations at three key sites in
Fayetteville: Drake Field, Dickson Street and the Northwest
Arkansas Mall.
This
marks the third year in a row that the community design
center, an outreach of the UA School of Architecture, has
won education honors from the AIA. Award jurors noted that
"this is an effective use of scenario planning with legible,
impactful graphics that can be shown to the community."
Historical
Context with a Local Flavor for New Mosque
BOSTON,
MASS. December 31, 2008-One of the largest Mosques to be constructed since
September 11, 2001 is near completion in historic Boston,
Mass. The new Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center
designed by the Boston firm of Steffian Bradley and Saudi
Arabian architect Sami Angawi will be 60,000 square foot and
accommodate 1600 worshipers when completed. The facility
will include prayer rooms, an Islamic school for children,
an Islamic library, a morgue with burial preparation
facilities, administrative offices, a media center, store, a
women's gymnasium, a kitchen, a hall for events, and an
underground parking garage. The design of this unique
religious edifice stays true to traditional Middle Eastern
Islamic-style architecture with its street-level row of
pointed peak arches and its 140-foot tall minaret. Yet, the
$15 million building gives a nod to its New England location
in that its exterior is clad in indigenous red brick.
The project, adjoined to the campus of Roxbury Community
College, has been subject to a couple of lawsuits
challenging the source of its funding but has settled both
to continue construction.
Innovative Retail
Collaboration between CBS & N E Patriots
BOSTON, MASS.Dec
10, 2007-Aiming
to be a distinctive centerpiece of the on-going $350 million
Patriot Place retail complex under development in
Foxborough, Mass., New England Patriot's owner Robert Kraft
and CBS chief executive Les Moonves have teamed up to locate
their new themed-restaurant concept near the entrance to
Gillette stadium. Slated to open fall 2008, CBS Scene
designed by architect Cambridge Seven Associates will be a
15,000 sq. ft. studio-themed eatery offering an upscale menu
and will also include meeting space, a retail store, a
second-floor dining area and a bar on the top floor. Among
the highlights are lighting grids and 130 High-Definition
televisions with state-of-the-art monitors, many of which
will be table-side allowing patrons to view 20-minutes
segments of past and current CBS programming. The restaurant
also will feature satellites and broadcasts of live radio
and television events promoting celebrities, CBS-sponsored
sporting, music, and reality shows. According to the
Boston Globe, other major facilities planned for the
Patriot Place complex are a Patriots museum, a sports
medicine and healthcare clinic, a 500-seat jazz club, and a
high-end movie theater.
New
Downtown Kansas City Has the "Wright" Stuff
Dec 3, 2007
Kansas
City, MO (PRWEB) What does Frank Lloyd Wright and a
Bahamas-inspired penthouse pool have in common:
The Metropolitan, a new luxury high-rise condominium
located in downtown Kansas City.
It's no
mistake that one of the most luxurious urban condos in
Kansas City emulates the famous architectural design of
Frank Lloyd Wright. His trademark horizontal lines and use
of indigenous Midwest materials such as slate and limestone
are reflected in the lobby and residences of the building.
The building's warm palette of colors capture guests with an
inviting coziness. The Metropolitan's style has the level of
sophistication of a New York City or Chicago high-rise -
tasteful and timeless - but it is also unique in its
context. You can only get this particular blend of style
here in Kansas City.
Phillip
Gesue, director of acquisitions and development of Time
Equities, the company that developed the Metropolitan, was
actively involved in the interior design process. "The
building's modernist lines attracted us to it and its
location in a great Midwest city made us think of Frank
Lloyd Wright. Wright was famous for his use of local
materials and horizontal lines. A lot of the color, shapes,
rooflines and window lines really reflect what Wright would
have done if he were alive today," Gesue said.
D.C. District is Slated for a Contemporary Upgrade
Nov
5, 2007
WASHINGTON,
D.C.–
Is our nation's capital ready for the architectural flash of
the internationally renown Helmut Jahn? Apparently
so. The firm of Murphy/Jahn is making its inaugural
entry onto the D.C. landscape. A 12-story high-end office
building is under construction on the corner of K and 20th
streets NW. The new building is to be the home for one of
the nation's largest law firms-Mayer Brown. In
addition, the building will also consolidate all its
satellite practices i.e. its Chicago office into its new
Washington-based headquarters. Jahn is noted for his
European Union Headquarters in Brussels, and several
works in the Chicago area including a new housing facilities
for the homeless and previously one completed for students
on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology.
In a
quote in the Washington Post, Martin Moeller, senior
vice president and curator of the National Building
Museum said the building reflects an overall shift in
the architecture on K Street, long associated with law firms
and lobbyists. "The buildings are reflecting broader trends
in architecture. The initial K Street buildings tended to be
sedate and very similar in style. It will raise the bar [for
office design in Washington]. The building's design is
to feature a "minimalist see-through" facade which features
decorative glass engineered to be ultra-clear instead of the
more typical green hue found in most office building
projects. The nearly 250,000 square feet facility is
scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009.
Connecticut Library Expansion
Garners Athenaeum Award
Oct 22, 2007
WILTON, CT–
The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design
has awarded the recently completed Wilton library expansion
project by the local architectural firm of Tai Soo Kim
Partners. A press release regarding the award
said, “The awards identify the new cutting-edge design
direction, urban philosophy, design approach, style, and
intellectual substance in American architecture today.”
According to the Wilton Bulletin, The library’s
expansion project began in June 2004 and was completed in
June 2006. The project added approximately 33,000 square
feet of space to the existing 17,000-square-foot structure
which was designed by Eliot Noyes in the modernist
tradition. Among the new architectural elements are an
expanded courtyard and the Brubeck Room, which has been used
for community events. The design solution, according to the
firm's website, builds upon the original 1974 design by
Eliot Noyes, a colleague of Marcel Breuer and
Walter Gropius, by honoring the vocabulary of the simple
opaque planes of wall and transparent planes of glass that
frame both interior and exterior spaces.
Headquarters a Model For
Stability and Sustainability
CHICAGO,
Oct 1, 2007 – When the Washington office of architecture,
planning and interior design firm VOA Associates took on the
assignment of designing the build-out of the new
headquarters for the International Code Council (Code
Council), it was clear that the client’s expectations would
be high. After all, the staff directing the project and
occupying the new space would represent the building and
fire communities, and the Code Council wanted to ensure that
its new office would send a good message on using
sustainable practices, in addition to raising the
organization’s profile.
Michele Vernon, the lead project manager from VOA’s
Washington office, said the client relationship was a dream
come true. The new headquarters spans the sixth floor of the
500 New Jersey Avenue building, one of the first LEED
(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver
certified buildings in the nation’s capital. Part of VOA’s
assignment was to build out the space to maintain the
building’s rigorous certification.
The new headquarters helps elevate the Code Council’s
profile and enhance its relationships with the federal
government, as well as national and international
organizations. The space conveys that it is a solid
organization that represents safety and stability.
The lobby welcomes visitors with the very important vision,
mission and values of the safety organization featured in a
prominent display. Warm, inviting colors are used throughout
the space, and the tile and reception desk were selected to
reinforce the solid nature of the organization.
The space showcases a variety of environmentally friendly,
recycled content materials. Wood used for the doors and
millwork was sustainably harvested and certified by the
Forest Stewardship Council. VOA worked with the Code Council
to provide high efficiency lighting and recycled carpeting.
Having its offices in a “green” building reinforces the Code
Council’s commitment to respect the environment. “This move
fit in perfectly with the Code Council’s mission of
safeguarding the public, and it demonstrates its commitment
to good corporate citizenship,” Vernon said.
As the unusual building is shaped like a long, narrow boat,
the entire space features floor to ceiling glass windows.
Taking advantage of the daylight that saturates the space,
VOA designed a conference room that could serve multiple
purposes. The new conference room table seats 24 and can be
configured in various ways for classes and meetings.
Ideally situated near Capitol Hill and Union Station, the
building has an enviable view of the Capitol, making it
attractive to numerous government affairs operations. The
building, opened in 2004, is owned by the National
Association of Realtors, which recommended VOA to the Code
Council after VOA designed the association’s expansion space
and several other government affairs offices in the
building.
“This is a significant building, and it’s been exciting to
work with the Code Council on bringing its mission to life
in the space,” Vernon said. “We knew we’d have to be on our
toes as those overseeing the project have such an in-depth
understanding of construction issues, but we didn’t know
until we started working together how well we could
collaborate to develop a space that would engender such
pride among all of us involved.”
VOA Associates Incorporated, founded in 1969, is a leading
national architecture firm organized around
Areas-of-Excellence practice groups strategically located in
Chicago, Washington, DC, Orlando, Columbus, Highland, IN,
Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The firm
offers comprehensive services embracing the disciplines of
architecture, interior design, landscape and master
planning. VOA’s designs have received over 160 local,
national and international design excellence awards from
clients, peers and publications. For more information, visit
www.voa.com
About the International Code Council
The International Code Council, a membership association
dedicated to building safety and fire prevention, develops
the codes used to construct residential and commercial
buildings, including homes and schools. Most U.S. cities,
counties and states that adopt codes choose the
International Codes developed by the International Code
Council. The mission of the International Code Council is to
provide the highest quality codes, standards, products, and
services for all concerned with the safety and performance
of the built environment. For more information, visit
www.iccsafe.org
Iconic Contemporary Project
Begins in Roanoke
Sept. 23, 2207-Roanoke,
Virginia is poised to receive its first truly contemporary
building. Designed by Los Angeles architect Randall Stout,
the $40.5 million Art Museum of Western Virginia is several
months into a two-year completion schedule which will ready
it for opening to the public in the spring of 2008. Located
on a prominent northwest corner of Roanoke’s downtown, the
new Art Museum of Western Virginia creates a physical and
iconographic gateway into the city. As the city’s most
contemporary structure, it represents Roanoke’s metaphorical
gateway to the future for a city transforming its industrial
and manufacturing based economy to one driven by technology
information and services. The building’s forms and materials
interpret the renowned beauty and drama of the surrounding
Shenandoah Valley landscape framed by the Blue Ridge and
Appalachian Mountains.
Stratified over three levels, the building program occupies
82,000 square feet. Primary public spaces are located on the
ground level, including the museum lobby, large screen
theater, café, gift shop, auditorium and education spaces,
along with additional support areas associated with the
loading dock and art receiving activities. All permanent
collection galleries, as well as the temporary exhibit
galleries and art storage, are located on the second level.
The third and uppermost floor holds the boardroom,
director’s suite and all staff offices.
Light
defines the primary circulation, fracturing the building at
the second floor galleries to emerge into dynamic glass
volumes at each end. Representing the hub for the entire
facility, the volume of the lobby atrium connects the two
floors and rises to a peak of 75 feet. The top floor splits
again, causing the roofs to part for clerestory light as it,
along with the events terrace, projects outward and over the
street below.
The
lobby atrium’s translucent, layered polycarbonate roof fills
the space with softly diffused light. Undulating roofs and
curving walls for other building areas are clad in stainless
steel with a spectacular finish that allows the building
coloration to reflect the rich variety of color in the sky
and from the seasonally dramatic landscape. The many angular
exterior walls, which rise to support the stainless steel
roof, are surfaced in shingled cement fiber panels, while
interior walls at public spaces feature a local gray
dolomite limestone application. These forms and textures
emphasize the striations, clefts and eroded rock surfaces
found in the region’s famous caverns, cliffs and river
gorges.
The
Museum’s collection focuses on 18th and 19th Century
American Art, Contemporary Art, Southern Decorative Art,
Prints and Photographs and Non-Western Art. Through a
cooperative program with the neighboring Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech),
the facility will house advanced state-of-the-art technology
for distance learning to serve the entire region of western
Virginia. In addition, the museum will feature fiber optic
cable links with Network Virginia in order to enhance
secondary education access to the arts. The museum will also
link with Virginia Tech to provide artistic endeavors via
the University’s Computer Automated Virtual Environment
(CAVE).
Sustainable design components such as daylighting, passive
solar, thermal conserving envelope, and computerized
building management systems are incorporated into the
building design. The south-facing glass façade of the lobby
atrium contains light-shelves for control of sunlight and
solar heat gain. Along with the two major atria,
clerestories at the upper office level provide generous
daylighting throughout the building.
Phoenix Looks
Forward to First Office Tower in 8 Years
Sept 17, 2007
As
reported by the Arizona Republic.
Chicago-based financial services firm Mesirow Financial Real
Estate is planning to build the first high-rise in downtown
Phoenix in nearly eight years. The project-entitled One
Central Park East-will be a 26-wtory office tower at the
northwest corner of First and Van Buren streets and will
cost an estimated $175 million. In partnership with A&L
Investments and National Benefits Electrical Fund, the
so-named Central Park East Associates LLC is hoping to break
ground for construction about mid-October. The building
design is being created in conjunction with the
architectural firm SmithGroup Inc. According to Michael
Szkatulski, senior managing director of Mesirow Financial
Real Estate. their goal for this central business district
in Phoenix was to ascertain how they could use "the current
technology to deliver a building [in that environment]." In
an interview with the Arizona Republic, Szatulski said that
"we kind of challenged the Smith Group in how you look
forward in terms of tall buildings. The result is to do a
building that is floor-to-ceiling glass, using the
technology of glass and shading devices so that the building
really fits into the desert climate but affords the dramatic
views that you get with full height glass."
Completion is scheduled for November 2009.
25-Story Iconic
Tower Envisioned for Indy
Sept 10, 2007
Downtown
Indianapolis has undergone an indisputable renaissance in
recent years, but 24-year old developer Jaron Garrett had
visions of taking the city's progress to the next level.
According to the
Indianapolis Business Journal Garrett is proposing the
development of a 25-story iconic apartment tower to-be-named
The Marquis Tower.
Designed by WDI Architecture Inc, of Indianapolis,
the twisting glass and steel structure calls to mind similar
designs by renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. The
building would feature about 120 apartment units with rents
ranging from $800 to $ 2,500 with retail and restaurant
space. Targeted for the intersection of Pennsylvania and
Washington streets in downtown Indianapolis, Garrett's
re-development project would revitalize one of the few
remaining "blighted" areas left in the central core. Yet,
the linchpin in Garrett's ambitious plans looks to be the
garnering the financing necessary to get the project off the
ground. Estimated overall costs are currently placed near
$50 million. Garrett has indicated he has only $2 or
$3 million which he plans to invest in it but is presently
seeking out major investors and development companies.
Garrett is a 2005 graduate of Indiana State University.
Des
Moines Receives a Jewel of a Building
July 16, 2007
New
Haven, Conn. architect Jon Pickard of Pickard Chilton who
has on his resume the Petronas Towers in Malaysia, once the
world's tallest building has come home to flex his design
muscle. Wells Fargo Financial's North
new 9-story NorthStar
building in downtown Des Moines, Iowa is the architect's
latest completed project on the heels of 50 and 60-story
buildings in Atlanta and Chicago. The 360,000-square
foot steel-and-glass building at 801 Walnut Street was
envisioned as a "jewel box" that sparkles and showcases
modern workspace. To realize this, Pickard wrapped extensive
windows around three sides of the building "creating a more
open-air feeling. He then employed a light-emitting diode
lighting system with lights spaced a half-inch apart, making
the building glow at night, even when the interior lights
are off. Also according to the Des Moines Register,
Pickard made the columns less imposing moving them from the
outside on lower floors to inside and then back outside
again at the top, contributing to a feeling that everything
is exposed. But, according to this review, only the north
face of Pickard's building is enclosed in a white
fire-retardant skin. The NorthStar building also features a
30-foot atrium north if the center of the building with
flooring designed to resemble Iowa farm landscapes which the
architect saw while flying over the state.
Change
is in the Air for Memphis Skyline
July
9, 2007
The
intersection of historic Beale Street and Riverside Drive
has been approved for the location of what promises to be a
defining structure in the Memphis skyline. Carlisle
Corporation has announced its plans to construct a two-tower
project consisting of a 30-story luxury high-rise and a
240-room Hyatt Regency hotel. The $175 million project will
sit along the Mississippi River and offer views of it and
downtown Memphis. The building will also have 29,000 square
feet of office space and 500 on-site parking spaces. The $55
million Hyatt Regency will have amenities available to condo
residents such as a spa and treatment facility, fitness
facilities and a 10th floor swimming pool and sundeck. The
project is scheduled to break ground spring 2008 and be
completed 2010.
Carmel
Anticipates New Development as Eventual "Shopping Mecca"
July
1, 2007
Fast-growing
Carmel Indiana has entered the downtown renewal sweepstakes,
but with
not your typical start at the end of the line mentality.
The city has announced that Pedcor Cos. is planning an
ambitious $200 million 15-acre mixed-use project to
completely re-make their central district at the corner of
Range Line Road and City Center Drive. Referred to as
Carmel City Center, the city and the developers are
anticipating the construction of luxury condominiums,
apartments, office space, shopping and high-end dining which
will make Carmel, Indiana a "shopping mecca."
Renderings released by the project's artist reveal extensive
landscaping in the form of fountains, courtyards, sculpture
gardens, and an outdoor amphitheater laid out to resemble an
"old European village." According to the Indianapolis Star,
in addition to Pedcor's $200 million investment, the city
will spend at least $90 million to build a 1,600-seat
concert hall and 500-seat community theater on the site.The
project also entails the widening of the Monon
Greenway to provide additional bicycle lanes and greater
pedestrian leisure. The city of Carmel and Pedcor "hope the
completed project will draw national attention and praise"
by 2010.
Planned San Francisco
Towers to Alter Skyline
June 24, 2007
San
Francisco is constructing what will eventually become the
tallest all-residential tower in California. San Diego
developer Urban Bay Properties and the Chicago-based
architectural firm of Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz and
Associates have put forth a design consisting of two
"slender" concrete and steel towers: one, referred to as the
South Tower, will be 55 stories featuring 368 homes slated
for completion in 2008; the other-the North Tower-will be 45
stories in height and will consist of 327 condominiums and
completed in 2009. Located at the western end of the Bay
Bridge at the intersection of First and Harrison on top of
100-ft Rincon Hill, these buildings at 641 feet will rival
the 853-ft tall iconic Transamerica Pyramid redefining the
San Franciscan skyline. According to Urban Bay's website,
"engineers have assured the city that construction will be
two times stronger than required by the building code. The
interior of the building is built around a concrete and
reinforced steel core anchored in a foundation 12 feet
thick. This is the first building in the United States,
according to ubayp.com,
to have a liquid tuned mass damper designed to reduce sway
from earthquakes and powerful Pacific winds.
Southeast Michigan Plans Their Own Downtown Makeover
June 24, 2007
The
"downtown makeover" fever continues to hit southeast
Michigan. Plans have been announced for a
$300,000 million retail and residential development to
emerge out of the wastelands of the former 43-acre Kmart
Corp. headquarters off Big Beaver Road in Troy, Michigan.
Dubbed the Pavilions of Troy, the design principles
incorporated into this project will follow the contemporary
concept of so-called "New Urbanism." These principles
strive to create an urban environment towards a more "human
scale" where building height is restricted and opportunities
to live, work and play can all be had within a walkable
radius. The new core community would include a long central
courtyard serving as a "town square" where events such as
skating and concerts are held. The lead developer,
Richardson Development Group of Reston, Virginia
plans to construct the project in phases.
Of the
typical obstacles facing a project of this magnitude, the
harsh climate economically and meteorogically may prove
major challenges. In a quote form the Detroit Free Press, Oakland
County Executive L. Brooks Patterson expressed his outlook
on this. "I think this is great news for Troy, great news
for Oakland County and for that matte great news for
southeast Michigan." Also, developer Hunter Richardson
acknowledged that an outdoor-oriented development faces
challenges in Michigan, which typically experiences three or
four months a year of wintry weather. He said his team
believed that high winds and rain were bigger problems than
snow, and that his planners were taking that into account as
they designed the Pavilions. The anticipated date for
groundbreaking if approved is 2008 with completion of the
first phrase slated for 2010.
Chicago-inspired San Diego
High-rise Planned
June
17, 2007
A
34-story high-rise office building is being planned for
downtown San Diego. The 480-foot tower will not be the
tallest in the city because One America Plaza stands about
20 feet higher. The 650,000-foot structure named 700 West
Broadway is being developed by the Irvine Co. and designed
by Henry N. Cobb, co-founder of the renown New York firm Pei
Cobb Fred & Partners. The tower's architecture was inspired
by Chicago's 1893 Monadnock building in a statement by Cobb. “I
believe that 700 West Broadway will be elegant,
characterized by calm, timeless and classic architecture
that will be fresh and functional in 100 years,” he said.
“It will stand with quiet authority, and be a pause in the
visual landscape, a cornerstone.”
700 West Broadway, once approved by the city's redevelopment
agency, will stand at the corner of Broadway and Pacific
Highway on a 1 1/2-acre site and according to
signonsandiego.com
will include architectural features on the ground level that
seek to tie in with the Santa Fe Depot next door. In a
departure from the typical usage of steel or concrete,
Irvine Co. went with travertine stone in a building that
will be 50 percent glass and 50 percent stone. Although the
cost of the project has not been revealed as of yet, it is
being estimated at exceeding $300,000 million based on other
similar projects. Construction is scheduled to commence
mid-2008 and conclude 2 1/2 years later.
Los
Angeles Constructing Tallest Residential Building West of
Chicago
June
10, 2007
The
Los Angeles skyline is about to take a significant step
upward. Africa Israel and Namco Capital Group along with
Houk Development Company are leaving their mark on downtown
LA with their plans to construct a $1 billion luxury
high-rise due to break ground the first quarter of 2008
according to
buisnesswire.com. The project will consist of two
towers, the largest rising at 76 stories and the smaller one
at 43 stories which will be connected by a 15-story
residential bridge. Located at the corner of Fifth and Olive Streets,
Park Fifth will include 732 residential units ranging from
$400,000 to $3 billion. Several notable amenities include
two rooftop pools and gardens, an observation deck on the
76-story tower, 20-seat theater viewing rooms with music and
video libraries in each tower and a five-star hotel. The
project design was done by
architect
Eugene Kohn of the New York-based firm Kohn Pedersen and
Fox. The interior design has been assigned to the renown
international firm of Hirsch Bedner Associates.
New Art
Museum Debuts in Downtown Seattle
By Ryan Ornberg
May 21, 2007
Seattle,
which is no stepchild when it comes to "starchitects" making
statements in their city has decided to make a bold
statement of its own. Designed by Portland's own Brad
Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture, the Seattle Art
Museum (SAM) located at the the intersection of Union and
First Avenue is an expansion which will bring a contemporary
edge while adding an additional 118,000 of new space to its
previously "star-designed" museum. The building to which
this new project was joined was the
original five-story Robert Venturi/Denise Brown museum
building, completed in 1991.
According the museum's website, the structure features a
striking vertical design and continuous ribbon of space
which allows for the expression of natural light with
transparent public spaces to "engage the life of the city
with an immediacy that joins street and lobby, sidewalk and
gallery." The
building skin is a steel-and-glass curtain wall system
designed to capture and refract Seattle’s ever-changing
weather and daylight. It is conceived as four articulated
L-shaped “shells,” which rise uninterrupted from street
level to parapet, pin-wheel around the corners of the
building’s floor plates and bind the building together while
allowing continual visual connections to the surrounding
city of Seattle, Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Each
shell segment engages natural light in a different way.
The galleries have generally been reviewed as integrating
"seamlessly" with the old Venturi spaces while being a bit
non-descript which would serve the necessary focus of being
on the art alone well.
Conservation via Architecture
By Ryan Ornberg
May 14, 2007
Architecture
is often the antithesis of nature and wildlife, but
FXFOWLE’s unveiling of their latest design for the Wildlife
Conservation Society suggests otherwise. The José E. Serrano
Center for Global Conservation will stand as the
organization’s world headquarters. With the current trends
in architecture, there is no way they would settle for any
ordinary building. WCS’s headquarters had to represent their
values and put them into practice. Designed to be a part of
nature, water management, solar energy, and use of recycled
or reused products are incorporated into the three-story
structure which will be at level with the tree tops. A green
roof makes the building appear as though the ground still
continues and cuts down on the “heat island” affect. The
headquarters is situated on the Bronx Zoo’s campus in New
York, and will give a face to the organization which is
currently scattered about the area’s zoo. The maximum
exploitation of daylight and incorporation of outside spaces
make this office appear to be an enjoyable place to carry
out WCS’s goals. The center will be open to the public to
display information on the organization, the wildlife, and
the architecture which provided an epicenter for this
movement. The project is LEED Gold certified due to its
global efforts in communicating conservation with the
public. The headquarters is integrated into the landscape to
plainly show the buildings caring relationship with the
environment.
Twins
Unveil New 42,000 Retractable-Roof Stadium
By Ryan Ornberg
May 9, 2007
Minnesota
state lawmakers gave final approval to a financing plan for
an open-air stadium for the Minnesota Twins. The $522
million ballpark is expected to be ready in time for the
2010 season.
The conceptual Twins ballpark design is a product of HOK
Sport + Venue + Event, the same group that designed Saint
Paul's Xcel Energy Center, Baltimore's Camden Yards and San
Francisco's SBC Park. Featuring just 40,000 seats on four
levels (Lower Deck, Suite Level, Club Level and Upper Deck),
Minnesota's new ballpark would be among the most intimate
facilities in all of Major League Baseball (MLB). Highlights
of the seating configuration include only 12,000 seats in
the Upper Deck, which would represent the fewest number of
upper-level seats in all of MLB. Minnesota's new ballpark
would also feature more than 17,000 seats between first and
third base; 60 private suites; 12 group party suites; 4,000
Club seats and disabled seating for more than 800.
In
addition to showcasing great baseball, Minnesota's new
ballpark is designed to be a family-oriented entertainment
destination. Inside the ballpark, fans would enjoy the
comfort of expansive, heated concourses providing open views
of the playing field on all seating levels. The new Twins
ballpark would also feature a Minnesota Baseball Hall of
Fame and Museum, a retail store, a baseball-themed Sports
Bar and Restaurant, an interactive area for kids.
The
exterior of the Twins new ballpark would reflect the natural
beauty of Minnesota. Wrapped in native Minnesotan
Mankota-Kasota limestone, it would echo the look of the
state's natural stone formations. The ballpark's exterior
would be complimented by Fenway green steel and seating.
Akron
Jumps into the "Museum as Groundbreaking Art" Trend
By Ryan Ornberg
April 24, 2007
Akron
Ohio’s existing 1899 art museum is getting a new addition
that appears to be straight out of the future. A unique and
unpredictable glass structure dominates the lot and for that
matter, Akron’s cityscape. The
addition looks anything but normal in context of the
existing structure. Viennese-based architecture firm
Coop
Himmelb(l)au’s approach to blending the new and old
structures is peculiar yet creative and is sure to make
people talk.
The world-renowned firm’s 20,000 square foot gallery will be
their first public building in the United States. After
three reviews of 125 other submissions for the design, the
firm was picked to sculpt this work of contemporary art
which is set to open this summer.
The original building that still stands was built as a post
office and fully rebuilt and renovated in 1980 and currently
contains 8,000 square feet of gallery space. The new
structure is 64,000 square feet and in addition to the
gallery, will have a grand lobby, dinning facilities,
classrooms, library, and an auditorium for lectures. It is
said to contain three parts: the crystal, the gallery box,
and the roof cloud. The first acts as the grand atrium and
is an adaptable space for any type of public gathering. The
gallery box is described as an “Urban Sculpture Park”, where
visitors can move above the space and enjoy art from an
elevated perspective. The roof cloud is the signature
covering of the building and creates a horizontal landmark
in the skyline. Akron’s Art Museum is certain to be defining
architecture especially on a region of the country not known
for forays into innovative architectural design. It is
another example of this present time in history when each
new museum tries to bend in unfathomable shapes, stick out
in skylines, and stir up controversial opinions. Time will
no doubt tell whether this one has the staying power to be
an endearing symbol of a city seeking to make its cultural
mark on the world.
SPECIAL
REPORT: PART 1 OF A 3-PART SERIES
The Big
"Difficult": Reflections on New Orleans' Reconstruction
by Irina Papuc
“It’s
overwhelming. I went and got my Kleenex to wipe my eyes,”
said Gwendolyn Guice, a resident of New Orleans’s Ninth
Ward, after finally receiving a home last month. For the
first time in over a year, these tears were of joy and not
sorrow, but the aftermath of Katrina is still bittersweet.
More then eighteen months since the tragedy struck, New
Orleans is still coping with painstakingly slow rebuilding,
a result of money problems, insurance issues, and
infrastructure setbacks, among other things. Guice’s new
home, a replica of typical New Orleans shotgun houses,
combines the old with new, replacing traditional cypress
walls with mold and termite-resistant siding. When Guice was
asked about the modern design of the house, she found it
“kind of strange” but all right. For a city renowned for its
rich historical architecture, the architect’s greatest
challenge will be revitalizing the spirit of New Orleans
with the perfect blend of the traditional and cutting edge.
The New
Orleans Flood, now widely considered the worst civil
engineering disaster in American history, was the result of
erosion of floodwalls called levees built by the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers at the turn of the century. Consequently,
eighty percent of the city flooded and over fifteen hundred
died. While tourism hotspots like the French Quarter and the
Garden District were mostly spared, the city’s poorer areas
such as the Lower Ninth Ward and many other residential
neighborhoods were hit hard. If the architect’s challenge is
bringing back New Orleans’ spirit, then the heart and soul
of the City, the people, must be brought back. As of late
summer 2006, the U.S. Census estimated that the current
population is roughly two hundred fifty thousand, about half
the original. More will probably return in the upcoming
years as financial difficulties are tackled. Meanwhile, many
residents still wait for monetary assistance from
institutions such as the “Road Home” Program. The lack of
proper funding has created great tension between the Federal
government and the people of New Orleans, resulting in the
City filing damage claims against the U.S. Army Corp of
Engineers last January totaling seventy-seven billion
dollars. After prolonged federal funding debates, Congress
recently demanded the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development formulate a solid plan for housing developments,
otherwise restoration will occur on a wider scale by August
2007.
If the process has been bittersweet, so has
the cultural revival. November 2006 saw the re-scheduling of
the Bayou Classic, a traditional football game between
Southern University and Grambling State, displaced to
Houston the previous year. Despite many streets still doing
without streetlights, the Essence Music Festival will be
held in New Orleans July 2007. The New Orleans Saints are
back this year, while Mardi Gras and the Jazz and Heritage
Festival never left the city. Even the National Association
of Realtors held their annual convention in New Orleans as
planned pre-Katrina.
In an effort to jumpstart cityscape growth,
major companies headquartered in New Orleans such as AT&T,
IBM, Popeye’s, and Zatarain’s have returned post-Katrina,
and over ninety-five percent of businesses with over
twenty-five million annual income have pledged to or have
returned. This economic move is crucial for a city teeter
tottering on destruction, where many streets still lay
littered with abandoned cars and piles of debris. One major
investor, Donald Trump, recently gave the go-ahead for
building the Trump Tower after the New Orleans City Council
officially approved the tower for construction on March 15th
8. Another venture, the seven hundred million dollar
“Downtown Revitalization Plan” assigned to Pritzker- winning
architect Thom Mayne, was unveiled June 2006, encompassing a
new Hyatt Hotel (the old one had over six hundred windows
shattered and had flooded), the National Jazz Center, new
City Hall, Civic Courthouse, amphitheater, and residential
buildings. After some of the plans were pulled, Mayne’s
redesigns are almost finished 9. “Before Katrina…this
project might have encountered a lot more resistance. We
have the opportunity to re-envision ourselves, and try to
create a catalytic project that will help move the city
forward,” stated Ray Manning, AIA, the lead local architect
in the district’s design 10.
Great
skyscrapers aside, however, the majority of construction in
New Orleans is on a more intimate level, focusing on
residential neighborhoods and schools, the buildings
necessary to bring the people back. Fear has sprung about
losing New Orleans’s unique leisure lifestyle. Because
families and not contractors built the majority of original
Gulf Coast homes, seldom addressing building codes in the
process, these homes were cheap to build and thus freed the
residents from debt11. It is this freedom from financial
burdens that allowed New Orleans to maintain its leisurely
culture, a spirit that draws most tourists. “Professionalism
eliminates self-building,” states Andrés Duany, Businessweek
writer, upon recently visiting New Orleans, “Somehow there
must be a process whereupon people can build simple,
functional houses by themselves, either by themselves or by
barter with professionals.”
Such a proposal is still a far cry from current conditions.
While thousands of homes have already been gutted or
demolished, thousands of residents are still living in upper
stories of damaged buildings with roof holes or in trailers.
Groups such as Habitat for Humanity, Catholic charities, and
the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans have
gathered hundreds of volunteers eager to repair damaged
homes and construct new ones.
SPECIAL
REPORT: PART 2 OF A 3-PART SERIES
The Big
"Difficult": Reflections on New Orleans' Reconstruction
The Search to Recover
"Cajun-style" Housing
By Irina Papuc
In
an effort to encourage collaboration in unique housing
solutions, Architectural Record Magazine, partnered with the
American Architectural Foundation, sponsored two idea
competitions, the “New Orleans Prototype House” competition
for architecture students and the “High Density on High
Ground” contest for practicing firms. For the Prototype
competition, universities across the country were asked to
submit ideas for a three-bedroom home that could withstand a
variety of environmental stresses. The High Density contest
sought ideas for how to house many people in a compact space
in the case that decisions are made to completely abandon
below sea level living housing. Emphasizing practical
solutions over visionary ideas, the combined five hundred
fort-four entries range from the traditional to the
downright bizarre.
Notable entries include the futuristic
“Bungalette” designed by a Columbia University architecture
student. Its bright orange metallic exterior, apart from
flashiness, also adds durability against future Katrina’s,
while the entire unit rests on a raised platform. Described
by its designer as possessing “forward-looking
individuality,” the Bungalette is to many a far cry from
reality and a complete abandonment of the traditional New
Orleans approach. James Russell of Bloomberg News stated
shortly after the disaster, “Its [New Orleans’] great spirit
and the architecture that enabled it, is what will lead to
revival.”
Due to critics such as Russell, many entries
took careful notice of historical building styles such as
Creole cottages, which are characterized by a single, ground
level story with a steep roof, or the shotgun house, a
one-story rectangular structure raised on brick or cement
blocks. Historical architecture, under heavy,
mid-eighteenth century Spanish influence, “harnessed, not
defied” nature, stated Russell. Contrary to the “fake
traditionals” currently on the market with purely ornamental
shutters, the original buildings made New Orleans unique by
“reconciling themselves to local conditions.” Students
from Lawrence Technological University created a home in the
same manner as the shotgun, thus adapting to the local
climate, with a predominately wooden exterior and the entire
structure lifted on cement piers. Shotgun homes, due to
their straight placement, allow for maximum ventilation and
shading since before air condition days. MIT’s Louisiana
Lift House project, based on traditional raised bayou
cottages, consists of a wooden “tree house” with the steep
roof typical of Creole cottages raised ten to twenty feet
above ground. Construction has begun last December,
utilizing the manpower of local volunteers who can easily
put together the structure because of the affordability of
the materials. "The less skilled the volunteers, the more
supervision they need. We have to come to grips with the
reality, learned in previous hurricanes like Andrew, that
the quality of construction matters: You have to use nails,
not staples, for example. You have to do what works, not
what seems to work," Reinhard Goethert, the endeavor’s
leader and MIT professor. The structures are built on the
ground and then hoisted up onto pilings. The versatile
design also allows for more expansion later.
The general trend seems to be lifting the home
on piers, as is the case with the Floating House, a Columbia
University entry. Building on a floating dock system that
can rise and fall with changing water levels, the house is
mainly rectangular and strengthened with an ornamental yet
sturdy outer metallic “web” that guards against storm
projectiles. More contemporary than the Lift House or House
Prototype, the Floating House is a balance between
technological and classic touches.
SPECIAL
REPORT: PART 2 OF A 3-PART SERIES
The Big
"Difficult": Reflections on New Orleans' Reconstruction
Environmental and
Engineering Initiatives for the Crescent City
By Irina Papuc
Despite
ambitious conceptual projects, there is still uncertainty as
to whether homes will be rebuilt in the areas below sea
level. To address ways to prevent rebuilding while providing
housing for many people in a small space, the “High Density
on High Ground” contest involved dozens of entries. Winners
include firm Eight, Inc. from San Francisco, whose building
includes one hundred sixty units, all with room for
customization due to less cost when units are pre-fabricated
22. The units, created in a shotgun style, jut out of the
building in varying lengths, depending on the space need of
the family. Multi-colored, the units transport one to the
nostalgic days of cheerful, brightly colored Creole
cottages, but without the old world charm that
pre-fabrication and density take away. The other winning
entries carried a common goal and design principle: a
large, rectangular building capable of housing many small
units for homes.
On the other end of the spectrum, there have
been many proposals for improving the livability of the
Ninth Ward by raising it. A University of Michigan proposal
consists of raising the entire plane using land berms with a
concrete modular system. The area below these shelves would
collect drainage from future weather. Future homes could be
built on twelve foot steel beams 23.
While many still ponder what direction to take
New Orleans construction, the issue of ecologically sound
architecture has been raised. “In a historic city like New
Orleans, where the majority of construction is decades or
even centuries old, there is an opportunity to rebuild many
of the city’s structures in a sustainable, efficient and
environmentally friendly way that is unprecedented in this
country,” stated Stephen Verderber, professor of
Architecture at Tulane University 24. Possibilities include
suggestions such as Columbia University’s “Ecological
Crossings” housing, a series of prefabricated homes with
green roofs and pathways adjoining them 25. More radical are
the ideas of biologist Janine Benyus, who in the immediate
aftermath of Katrina suggested architects look to nature for
solutions. “[After the hurricane] notice how many trees
stood among buildings that fell. When we go back to build,
we have to ask those trees: How are you still standing?” 26
As many students and architects continue to
brainstorm design solutions, organized efforts are starting
to take shape. An example is the “New Orleans Neighborhood
Rebuilding Plan,” (NOLANRP) informally known as the Lambert
Plan for Paul Lambert, the chief architect, originally
Miami-based. The Plan consists of several teams of
architects, each assigned to a specific district of
forty-six Orleans Parish neighborhoods that were heavily
flooded 27. Each team has sovereignty of design while
maintaining common goals of safety and building codes.
Unfortunately, the assignments of architects were not made
with public input and many of the district borders, while
official, do not coincide with unofficial cultural borders
that contain different architectural atmospheres 28.
However, according to Lambert, approximately seventy-five
hundred local volunteers have thus far helped in rebuilding.
In an effort to bring back residents, the
Lambert Plan also instituted the “Lot Next Door program”
which offers homeowners that are determined to remain in New
Orleans the option of purchasing a publicly owned lot next
to their property which they can then use to expand their
home or build another property that they can rent out for
other future residents 29. The Plan hopes this program will
provide a monetary incentive for those uncertain about
returning and also increase affordability for renting. Over
the next years, thousands of lots will be government-owned
to prevent building by inexperienced owners. While cons of
the program include the possibility of fewer homes as some
lots could remain unbuilt and management issues since so
much freedom is placed in the hands of local residents, this
method is truest to the spirit of New Orleans, echoing its
predecessors who built their simple homes by hand and
without government interference. Meanwhile, current building
codes are honored. The Lambert Plan has remained purposely
vague because there is still much confusion due to insurance
issues as to which homes will be demolished and which will
be renovated 30.
After months of bureaucratic and financial
hurdles, New Orleans is still not in the clear, but with
consistent architectural brainstorming and increased
collaboration with local and national groups, the Big Easy
may shine once more.
Sacramento
Adopts High-Rise Living
by Ryan Ornberg
March 25, 2007
Sacramento,
California’s skyline is drastically changing as the new
Towers on Capitol Mall start to take shape. At 53 stories
high, the two towers will climb into history as being
Sacramento’s tallest structures. The overall building
consists of an 11 stories of retail space, gym, and spa;
tower one contains a 4-star luxury hotel along with 343
condominium units. Tower two also includes 467 condominium
units which range in price from $300,000 to $6 million. The
architecture firm MulvannyG2 created a building that
combines a classic stone façade with a modern steel
structure. The towers are similar in design but are both
oriented in different directions to provide maximum vantage
points for each unit. This clever idea makes for a unique
building as its stylish rooftops add to an extraordinary
design. Residents and guests will be able to enjoy this
stunning architecture while dining in the building’s gourmet
restaurants, swimming in the rooftop pools, or by shopping
in the designer boutiques. MulavannyG2 is a Seattle based
firm but holds designs from all over the world. They have
been recipients of many awards, including 5th
largest retail design firm, and in the top 20 for most
influential designers in China. Towers on Capitol Mall is
set for completion by 2008 and will redefine high class in
Sacramento, and high-rise living.
Hearst
Tower Wins “Best New Skyscraper of the Year”
by Ryan Ornberg
Atop
the 1928 6-story Hearst office building is their new 40
story tower, which has just received the award for the best
new skyscraper of 2006. Lord Norman Foster’s Hearst Tower
won due to its extraordinary method of combining the
existing building with the new. After completely gutting it
in 2004, nearly all the materials were recycled, comprised
of 90% recycled steel. The building was also awarded a Gold
LEED certification upon completion because it is one of the
most successful skyscrapers in energy conservation, a first
for New York City. The diamond structure incorporated
“low-e” glass designed to block heat radiation but permit
maximum sunlight.
The floor plan allows this sunlight to access the core of
the building which has light sensors to control the interior
lights. In addition to that, motion sensors were installed
in every office which shut down lights and electronics when
the person leaves. By far, the most spectacular feature of
Hearst Tower is “icefall”, a three story stair step
waterfall which is supplied with recycled rainwater. The
water is collected on the roof and stored in the basement;
it then goes to the waterfall and landscape irrigation
system. The waterfall, which is located in the buildings
grand atrium, works to humidify the lobby, reducing the need
for electrical appliances. Hearst Tower is being called the
“Pioneer of Environmental Sustainability” and has won great
praise in the design-build community. Hearst’s award was
given out by Emporis, and faced competition from 467 other
worldwide skyscrapers.
Home
Depot Avoids “Big Box” Design
by Ryan Ornberg
Residents
of Carbondale, Colorado are in a dispute with Home Depot
over their willingness to build a store in the small
mountain town which is just 30 miles from Aspen. They fear
that a big name store will crush local businesses and take
away from the small town atmosphere. Many mountain towns in
Colorado are notable for this type of stance, as it is rare
to find chain stores and fast food restaurants. However,
Home Depot is promising a unique store design that will
blend into its surroundings and even be LEED certified.
Ideas such as high pitched roofs, planters, and trellises
will make the building similar to the region’s architecture.
The
company has had trouble pushing into the Rocky Mountains
before when they tried a similar approach in the town of
Frisco, near Breckenridge. There, residents voted against
the store’s development, but Home Depot later won over Vail
and constructed there. Home Depot is beginning to think
outside of the box and develop attractive environmentally
sound stores; the company has also been making great strides
in improving the environment through providing energy
efficient supplies. Currently, two stores exist which blend
into their environment and another 11 are on the way, one
happens to be in Chicago. The multilevel Lincoln Park Home
Depot is LEED certified for its energy efficiency, and looks
appropriate in Chicago’s urban environment. The Residents of
Carbondale plan to meet with Home Depot next month to
discuss the store’s plans and vote on an action.
The Times They Are
A-Changin’
by Ryan Ornberg
March
3, 2007-A
new design is emerging in the heart of New York City; known
as 11 Times Square, it is a 40 story masterpiece of modern
American architecture which was designed by the New York
architecture firm, FXFOWLE. The 1 million-square-foot
building is sitting on one of the last available lots in
that area, which sold for $306 million. The building will
offer 3 stories of retail and the remaining as commercial
offices. Covered in nearly all glazed curtain walls, natural
light will easily permeate into offices; providing
spectacular city views and sustainable design awareness.
In classic
Times Square style, large electronic signs will decorate the
sides, emitting trendy advertisements and current news.
Visitors will also gain easy access to the building due to
the planed subway station underneath. Atop the retail floors
is the 5th story atrium where tourists can experience a
breathtaking view of one of New York’s top tourist areas,
and the site of the New Year’s Eve party.
11 Times
Square is a prime example of the direction that modern
architecture is taking. The old stone buildings of Times
Square have been replaced by sleek new steel towers coated
in glass and environmental consciousness. The angled and
corrugated structure is attractive to the eye, and is a
common type of design expected from FXFOWLE. The firm is a
leader in sustainable design in New York and has recently
designed many notable and inspiring structures, but 11 Times
Square is expected to become an icon in Manhattans
illustrious skyline.
LA's Memorial Coliseum
Olympic Makeover
So Los
Angeles is throwing down the gauntlet in this race for
representing the U.S. for host of the 2016 Olympics.
In a bid to remain relevant with its facilities and more
financially attractive to the United States Olympic
Committee, LA has unveiled a $112 million makeover to
its 84-year old Memorial Coliseum. Although the National
Historic Landmark can't be permanently altered, significant
additions have been designed to make it more
Olympic-friendly.
According to
the Associated Press, this new proposal "calls for for
erecting a latticed steel 'space frame' around the stadium.
The frame with its soaring pillars would be shrouded in
high-tech vinyl fabric printed with stylized athletes in
motion, Olympic wreaths and the games linked-rings logo. The
frame would also support huge fabric sunshades, cantilevered
over the stadium rim to shield about 70 rows of seats. A
temporary top level would hold 204 luxury boxes with room
for about 2,400 seats. In addition, the stadium floor would
be raised 10 feet to build a track around the field. All the
additions would be removed after the games."
Seattle's New Waterfront
Sculpture Park
The
Seattle Times has called their city's new and
honor-garnering Olympic Sculpture Park an "image-changing
landmark" on par with Chicago's Millennium Park.
Constructed at a portion of what Millennium Park cost
Chicago-85 million to be exact, this public project
also has enlisted the aid of a number of notable
contemporary artist to populate this new urban "green-space"
with conversational pieces. Also, like Chicago's green
transformation of unused and railway space, Seattle's park
takes blighted industrial land and makes it a public
playground, incorporating a new beach, paths, and gardens
situated or wedged between the city and the seaside.
The
park was the result of a design competition won by the New
York-based firm of Weiss/Manifredi
Architecture/Landscape/Urbanism from a pool of 32
applicants. Their conceptualization of the problem and
solution of converted this area into a multi-use space was
to design a Z-shaped configuration connecting three parcels
of land into a series of four distinct landscapes. As
reported by the Seattle Art Museum's website, "this design
afforded a wide range of environmental restoration
processes, including brownfield redevelopment, salmon
habitat restoration, native plantings, and sustainable
design strategies."
Dallas Cowboys Unveil Their
$1Billion 'Futuristic' Stadium
The
Dallas Morning News is reporting the planned construction of
a new 80,000-seat contemporary facility to be home to the
NFL Dallas Cowboys. On track to be the most expensive
stadium in the nation to date, it will boast a retractable
roof and playing surface, a 60-yard long video scoreboard, a
theater and soundstage. "It says technology, media, strength
and football," owner Jerry Jones told the press last week.
Designed by HKS Architects of Dallas, the exterior facade
will consists of "4 x 6 ft glass panels which become more
transparent as they rise toward the upper levels of the
structure. The side walls will curve 14 degrees in response
to the seating bowl, while at the two ends massive glass
doors open onto plazas for pre-game festivities." "The only
nostalgic touches will be some Texas limestone around the
base and a hole in the roof to evoke memories of Texas
Stadium in Irving. Otherwise, in its materials,
construction, transparency and structural expressiveness,
the new stadium is a rigorously modern building, with
considerably more architectural pop than its newest
competitors" according to David Dillion special contributor
to the Dallas Morning News. Certainly Soldier Field would
have done well to have taken a similar path to go either
wholly contemporary or fully nostalgic-not the schizophrenic
mess left behind as a legacy to non-sensical compromise.
On
Saturday, President Bush dedicated a new memorial to the
last unrepresented branch of the Armed Forces-the Air Force.
The 30 million dollar memorial has been over 15 years in the
making consists of 3 flaring 17,000-ton steel spires which
rise 270 feet skyward. The memorial is on a ridge near
Arlington Cemetery and overlooks the Pentagon. The memorial
was designed by architect James Ingo Freed who also designed
the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
Greed died in December of 2005.
New Denver Art Museum
Rises to the Occasion
On
Saturday, Denver unveiled to the public a defining and
singular work of architecture with its 90.5 million Denver
Art museum addition. This facility will mark the first
project to be completed here in the states by “starchitect”
Daniel Libeskind- initial designer and current planner of
ground zero and it’s Freedom Tower. The titanium-clad
Gehry-like building seeks to interplay with the Rocky
Mountain landscape with its sharp, jutting angles and
forms. Most likely, this radically contemporary,
deconstructionist example of “architecture as art” and as
the focal point of a “container of art” is sure to become
the focus of civic conversation in Denver for years to come.
9/11 Focuses Spotlight on Designs for Ground Zero
As the nation commemorated the events of September 11, 2001, national attention is once again drawn to ground zero-specifically the
buildings proposed for the re-development of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan. Enlisting the services of several “starchitects”- Lord Norman Foster, Fumihiko Maki, Lord Richard Rogers, Daniel Libeskind and
others, the design for towers 2, 3, and 4 have been released. Each being unique and striving to make a pointed statement in its own right. Also, construction of David Childs’ of SOM Freedom Tower has begun after 5
years of wrangling about the final design.
BEIJING, CHINA
| NOV 2, 2009 - The Council on Tall
Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has named Linked Hybrid
by Steven Holl Architects as the “Best Tall Building
Overall” for 2009.
With its rich pallet, appropriate scale and consistency in
architectural language, Linked Hybrid adds a level of high
quality architecture to the city of Beijing. Working well
above the level of purely sculptural architecture, the
project embodies, on an urbanistic scale, where the future
of tall buildings and urban cities is heading, creating
architecture that does not isolate, but rather connects both
on the ground level and in the sky. This creates both a
unique ground floor that acts as an oasis in the density of
Beijing, and a real multi-use zone of connected urbanism in
the sky.
The project incorporates numerous sustainable design
features, but really goes far beyond its geo-thermal and
water recycling, to take on the much broader issue of
social-urban sustainability itself. Its mix of residential
and retail, cinemas and kindergartens, hotels and art
galleries, swimming pools and parks—all within a single
complex—is remarkable. The idea to weave these facilities
into the complex not only at the ground level but throughout
the section of the building, is fantastic. As described by
CTBUH Executive Director and 2009 Jury panel member, Antony
Wood, “It is only in the intensification of our cities and
the inclusion of mixed urban-public facilities in the sky
that the true vibrant, dense cities of the future can be
realized. The Linked Hybrid building, perhaps more than any
other built project, really does point the way to that
future.”
Accepting the award on behalf of the Linked Hybrid project
team was design architect Steven Holl. Joining Mr. Holl on
stage was Li Hu, project manager in Beijing from Steven Holl
Architects, Congzhen Xiao, from structural engineer on the
project, China Academy of Building Research, and Stefan
Holst, from environmental consultants, Transsolar
ClimageEngineering.
The Council issues Best Tall Building Awards annually to
give recognition to projects that have made extraordinary
contributions to the advancement of tall buildings and the
urban environment, and that achieve sustainability at the
highest and broadest level. It issues four regional awards
each year (Americas, Asia & Australasia, Europe and Middle
East & Africa). In addition, from the four regional awards,
one project is awarded the honor of Best Tall Building
Overall.
The Council announced its four 2009 regional winners earlier
this year: Manitoba Hydro Place for Americas, Linked Hybrid
for Asia & Australasia, The Broadgate Tower for Europe, and
Tornado Tower for Middle East & Africa. Linked Hybrid was
chosen from these four regional winners and announced as the
Best Tall Building Overall for 2009.
The Award was bestowed at the 8th Annual Awards Dinner and
Ceremony held October 22nd at the Illinois Institute of
Technology campus in Chicago, USA. Following brief
presentations by each of the regional winners, the CTBUH
Awards Committee Chairman, Gordon Gill of Adrian Smith +
Gordon Gill Architecture, announced the overall winner to be
Linked Hybrid, describing the project as, “rich in thought,
both programmatically and architecturally, presenting an
advanced typology for dense urban living.”
Excerpt from CTBUH
Release
ROANOKE
MUSEUM GARNERS INT'L ACCLAIM
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
| OCT 18, 2009 - The Taubman Museum of
Art, designed by Los Angeles architect Randall Stout, has
been awarded the 2009 International Architecture Award.
The US museum competed with hundreds of submissions from
Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas, designed
as of January 1, 2006.
Co-presented by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of
Architecture and Design, Metropolitan Arts Press Ltd., and
The European Center for Architecture Art Design and Urban
Studies, the award, which recognizes the best built and
unbuilt architecture from around the world, was granted to
the museum.
"We are thrilled that the museum has once again been
recognized as an example of cutting-edge design and has been
awarded this incredibly prestigious international award,”
said president of the museum's Board of Trustees Dr. Paul T.
Frantz.
IRISH BUILDINGS EARN CHICAGO PRAISE
DUBLIN, IRELAND
| SEPT 27, 2009 - The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of
Architecture and Design have designated two contemporary
buildings in Ireland as recipients of the 2009 International
Architecture Awards. The Alto Vetro - a 16-story
residential tower - and the Elmpark - a mixed-use complex -
were included among "the most important barometer[s] for the
future direction of new architectural design and thinking
today." Seen above, the Alto Vetro was designed by Shay
Cleary Architects and the Elmpark was designed by Bucholz McEvoy
Architects.
CALATRAVA BRINGS HIS BRAND TO CALGARY
CALGARY, CANADA
| AUG 23, 2009 |
Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava is certainly one
designer who is as famous for his bridges as he is for his
buildings - if not more so. His latest offering is a $24.5
million enclosed tubular bridge which stretches 425-feet
across Calgary's Bow River. The Peace Bridge will be covered
for year-round use and will also be lit at night. Designed
for pedestrian and cyclists to access, it will lie west of
Prince's Island Park and connect Eau Claire to
Sunnyside. Its traffic use is projected to be about 5,000
people daily. Calatrava had received international acclaim
for the now stalled Chicago Spire which was in line to be
the tallest building in the U.S. Scheduled completion of the
bridge is late 2010.
A
MODERN APPROACH TO MOSQUE DESIGN
ISTANBUL, TURKEY
| AUG 9, 2009 |
The new contemporary-styled worship facility for the Muslims
of Istanbul, Turkey appears to have assimilated within this
uniquely historical culture quite nicely. Designed by
architectHüsrev Tayla, the Şakirin
Mosque is a bit of a departure from typical expectations of
buildings of this nature. The overall shape projects a
shell-like appearance with a series of low arches ringing
the the top of multiple entry points along the exterior.
Minarets which are a staple of mosques are "rocket-like" in
form. According to the a report in the
Christian Science Monitor, the interiordécor is
similarly radical. The mihrab, or niche to indicate the
direction of prayers, is not only bright turquoise, it's
shaped like a shell. The minbar, or stepped pulpit – instead
of the usual carved stone or wood – is acrylic. Most radical
is the fact that the interior design was created by a woman,
a first in mosque architecture.
WINNIPEG AWARDED BEST BUILDING IN AMERICAS
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA CANADA
| JUL 12, 2009 |
The Chicago-based
Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat named
Manitoba Hydro Place in Winnipeg, Canada the "Best Tall
Building in the Americas" for 2009. The CTBUH annually
recognizes outstanding tall building projects in the
Americas, Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia and the Middle
East. The 23-story skyscraper was designed by Kuwabara
Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects of Toronto and Smith
Carter Architects and Engineers Inc. of Winnipeg. According
to
cbcnews.ca, the building uses geothermal heating and
radiant cooling that makes it one of the most
energy-efficient office towers in the world.
According to its jury
award statement on cbcnews.ca, Manitoba Hydro Place "was
designed to be completely site specific. The design could
not be transplanted to another city and still work, thus
making it the perfect response to the seeming homogenization
of the world's skylines." The project will be formally
recognized at the October Global Conference of the CTBUH at
the Illinois Institute of Technology.