CHICAGO

CONTENTS5TH YEAR URBAN STUDIO 2013

WOLF POINT

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TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT

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CONCEPT

The site is located in the near north neighborhood of Chicago. We looked to the surrounding neighborhood to see what is needed. The needs that were the most important were creating affordable housing, a grocery store, and integrating bike amenities. Additionally we noted that environments are safest when there are people around. Therefore we wanted to have businesses that accommodated people all hours of the day, a comedy club and restaurants for the late hours and a cafe for the early hours.

DEVELOPING A PROGRAMI looked to what was important to Chicago, what it was known for, what set Chicago apart from other cities to infl uence the concept of the project. Everyone knows Chicago as “The Windy City” and the thought of wind lead to the thought of a leaf, a leaf is the concept. The organic nature of the veins of the leaf is refl ected in the organic nature of the track cover. Just like a leaf is connected to a steam, a branch, a tree. This site is connected to the Near North Neighborhood, the EL, Chicago and Chicagoland.

CONCEPT EMERGING

This project was a team a three. We all equally contributed to the project. I emerged as the main leader on the team and the brains behind the concept. After the concept development, I focused on the unit layouts and the presentation of project.

MY ROLE

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In fi guring out how big our program could be for the site we took in zoning and FAR codes into consideration. Our site fell with in two different zones (represented in blue + yellow). On the left iyou can see the height restriction we have if we used the whole

site. On the right if we used the max height we were able to expand to the area shown on the diagram

DESIGN CONSIDERATION

We wanted to break the monotony of moving strictly around the site and bring people through the site. The main way we did this was to move the EL platform from the block below to our site. With integrating the platform, it created opportunities of how to

interact with the vertical circulation of people. The main retail is on the second level to grab those going up to the platform and simplifi ed circulation. The second level created an outdoor plaza and space for the residence and commuters to enjoy.

Studying the circulation patterns of the pedestrian in the development, translated to the design for the track cover. The organic nature of the cover refl ects the organic nature of pedestrian circulation.

DETAILS

First Level Second Level

Three-Five Level Five Level

Comedy LoungeRoof Terrace

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TRANSIT STOP

WOLF POINT

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Wolf Point is the site of great controversy. It is seen as the last “Green Space” in Chicago. Additionally, it is an iconic site, it is where the two rivers merge. Making the debate even louder, are the residence whose views down the river would be impeded if anything on the site was built. The site currently is a parking lot and the building directly north, The Chicago Sun Times, both have the same owner.

At our initial site visit it was immediately decided that we would incorporate The Chicago Sun Times into our program. Additionally, we wanted to keep most of the site as open public space and create an iconic sky scraper for an iconic site.

CONCEPTThrough initial concept exploration, two driving factors emerged and became the cornerstone to the fi nal design. First, outside balconies take advantage of the unique views down the river. The second cornerstone is framing Chicago. Instead of meekly turning aside the angular shift frame and celebrate Chicago. These two became the foundation of the design.

Through the development of the design we all agreed that the following factors were key: create an iconic skyscraper for an iconic site, maximize green + public space, continue the river walk, beautify Chicago Sun Times, and improve the pedestrian circulation.

INITIAL EXPLORATION

The two cornerstones came together in a design featuring two towers. The outdoor balconies became the elements that out lined the frame providing community space on every level. Multiple studies were created to understand how the two

towers interact with each other. The stout building is the public tower and the slim multi angle building is the private tower. The sky bridge breaks down of the scale of the frame in pedestrian view.

REFINING DESIGN

13Having the same owner, the Chicago Sun Times was added to the scope of the project. It was re purposed but kept the original structure in tact. The hotel on the top half of the building was relocated to the upper levels of the public tower. Those fl oors in the Chicago Sun Times became vertical gardens, giving additional green space back to the community.

Our concept to frame the city of Chicago created a frame around Chicago Sun Times in the reverse direction. Careful design consideration was taken to depict what was getting framed on the Chicago Sun Times and where. A new addition that was like a jewel added to the building became the focus of the reverse frame.

CHICAGO SUN TIMES

COMING TOGETHER

MODELCreating in the computer, often leads to losing the practical perspective that your building has to stand up. We knew the undertaking of an angular building was a gutsy task. Our teammates that were head of the structure design meet frequently with our structural consultant to make every effort possible to create a structure that would allow the towers to stand.

Nervous at fi rst, we started to build our biggest model at 1/20 scale that was approximately my height, 5’0”. Developing skills and learning along the way, models are an important tool that allow you to interact, get unique perspective and effective crits.

BUILDING

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We have had many team projects over the years, but a team of six was the biggest we have had so far. We all were involved in the initial days of concept development and as the project grew we began to have more distinct roles on the project. Overall, it was an enjoyable project and we all worked effectively to get accomplish a project we were all proud of.

In the group, I was able and willing to do whatever the group needed. My main contributions were researching topics we needed additional information to make design choices, developing the program for the building, helping design the site and site organization, part of the segment of the team that was the main model builders. Additionally, I was Sam’s second hand man on developing his vision for the Chicago Sun Times.

MY ROLETEAM WORK

ZONING

TOTAL SQUARE FEET: 1,495,000 CHICAGO SUN TIMES814,888 SF

TOWERS1,493,000 SF

RETAIL: 40,000 SF OFFICE: 149,000 SF HOTEL: 464,000 SF OBSERVATION: 21,600 SF

WELLNESS CTR: 46,700 SF

LIBRARY: 43,000 SF RESIDENCE: 623,250 SF SKY BRIDGE: 36,650 SF MECHANICAL: 66,900 SF

CHICAGO SUN TIMES: 292,603 SF

MECHANICAL: 81,443 SF ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF ART: 128,681 SF

VERTICAL GARDENS: 31,530 SF

MARKET: 29,050 SF

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GREEN SPACE

PASSIVE GREENS

GRAVITATIONAL PARKWAYS

KINETIC PLAZA

RIVER WALK

19PASSIVE GREENS

GRAVITATIONAL PARK WAYS

KINETIC PLAZA An interactive plaza. Moveable planters make the space customizable for all occasions. Line pulled of from the surrounding structures create a grid that the plaza is organized off of.

Diffusing from living to work. A stationary area composed of planters and benches is located near the public building. On the resident side, a more interactive atmosphere with water fountains is placed to create a space for the residents to play.

Green space is a rare occurrence in the city of Chicago. Wolf Point is the source of great debate because it is the last “green space”. We devoted half the site to a passive park. Located on the private half of the lot, its informal atmosphere matches the type of informal activity that will take place in the space.

RIVER WALKThe river is an iconic feature of Chicago. The City of Chicago is currently working on redeveloping the river walk. As a new development we wanted to make sure the river walk was continued. The path transitions to street level giving optimum views down both rivers and allowing easy access to all the public plazas.

Additionally, the river walk experience can be continued across the bridge to the other side of the river. The current inconvenient pedestrian circulation, having to go all the way around the site, lead to developing a pedestrian way. It includes a bridge to make the pedestrian experience more enjoyable and allow commuters a short cut on their way home.

River Walk

Bridge

PLANNING 21

STREET LEVEL

RESIDENTS + HOTEL SKY BRIDGE LEVEL

SKY BRIDGE

The Sky Bridge elevates public space off of the street plane. It allows for the public an opportunity to experience the views down the river. At this level, there are also the transfer levels for the elevators and the lobbies for the residence and the hotel. A voluminous restaurant connects the two spaces together. In the Sky Bridge, the patrons can interact with the space truss that makes the space structurally possible. The initiative to incorporate the most green space possible is continued on top of the bridge. Another great spot for views down the river and gives another area for hotel guests and residents a place for recreation.

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