From amongst an international field of distinguished competitors, a 17-memeber team led by James Corner Field Operations has been selected to revamp the Chicago landmark's public spaces, reports Blair Kamin.
According to the Pier's governing board, the famed landscape architecture firm led by James Corner, who co-designed New York's celebrated High Line, was selected because the board, "were impressed by his creative yet practical approach to the proposed revamp."
"In contrast to the grandiose visions of other teams, which called for such features as a towering, glacierlike structure popping out of Lake Michigan and sprawling boardwalks attached to the pier's south end, Corner's group accepted the pier's long, thin contours, but gave it several creative tweaks. Those tweaks include undulating steps that would join the pier's Dock Street promenade to the raised park around its Ferris wheel, plus a striking display of hanging gardens inside the pier's now-bland Crystal Gardens pavilion," writes Kamin.
Corner's winning entry will likely face a serious re-design as only $15 million are believed available for the first phases of the project, and the board suggests "possibly incorporating ideas from the other four design teams who competed for the commission."
FULL STORY: Team picked for Navy Pier redesign
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
New York’s Deadliest Neighborhoods for Pedestrians
Pedestrian deaths rose last year, but remain below pre-2020 levels.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.