Architect and Critic Propose Rescue Plan for Chicago Landmark

Preservationists have been outspoken in arguing for the protection of Prentice Women’s Hospital. Rather than bemoan Northwestern University's intransigence in finding a way to reuse the hospital, two powerful figures have put forth a way to save it.

2 minute read

October 18, 2012, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Petitions have been signed, columns have been written, awareness has been raised, but up until know, efforts to explain the importance of protecting Bertrand Goldberg's Prentice Women's Hospital from demolition seem to have failed to sway the property owner, Northwestern University, or local officials in Chicago.

In a last ditch effort to convince the powers that be that protecting the building is possible, Michael Kimmelman, architecture critic for The New York Times, and Jeanne Gang, one of Chicago's most celebrated architects, have stepped forth with a bold proposal for saving the late-Modernist landmark by building a research tower on top of it. "Great buildings have often survived the wrecking ball by being added to,
incorporated into larger structures or updated for a new era - in Rome and Istanbul, New York and Chicago," says Kimmelman. "Adding on top of the old Prentice is intended as a thought exercise in
what might be called a third way that may not always get its due in
preservation battles."

With that approach in mind, Gang developed a concept for adding 600,000 square feet of new space in a 31-story tower atop the hospital's cloverleaf, "adding a shapely new landmark to the skyline." 

"The university says it wants to be a good neighbor," observes Kimmelman. "Diversifying the
neighborhood while incorporating Goldberg's building into some new
structure would allow the university to save lives, develop a healthier
urban plan and sustain a special work of local culture, which is also
what great universities do."

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 in The New York Times

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28 - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28 - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28 - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.