flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Waterline exhibition displays visions for re-thinking the Chicago River

Waterline exhibition displays visions for re-thinking the Chicago River

The designs of Waterline showcase why the Chicago River should once again be considered the city’s most important asset and sets the stage for increased awareness, education and reinvention of the River.


By Posted by Tim Gregorski, Senior Editor | June 7, 2012
Wolf Point , the beginning of the Chicago Rivers South Branch.
Wolf Point , the beginning of the Chicago Rivers South Branch.

A dozen graduate design students studying with Skidmore Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) Urban Design Partner Philip J. Enquist spent a semester investigating issues and opportunities for a stretch of the Chicago River’s South Branch from Wolf Point to Pilsen.

Waterline presents their proposals for this critical stretch of urban waterway in a summer-long exhibit at the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. 

The diverse group of students, representing concentrations in architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and urban planning developed a broad variety of solutions to ponder. Waterline proposals include using underutilized riverfront land to create a new micro-economy, re-visioning post-industrial properties as a riparian habitat that could leverage public and private investment into a new kind of development, reclaiming Pilsen’s vacant industrial corridor as a Chicago Water Institute and extending the existing River City development into a more naturally cohesive “Water City.”

The Chicago River was the city’s superhighway in the early decades of Chicago’s existence. Its initial development was neither pedestrian-friendly, civic in nature nor environmentally smart. The designs of Waterline showcase why the Chicago River should once again be considered the city’s most important asset and sets the stage for increased awareness, education and reinvention of the River.

Waterline opens to the public on June 22, 2012 and continues at the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum through August 31.

OPENING RECEPTION

Waterline opens with a reception from 5 to 7 PM on June 21, 2012 and will be on display at the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum through August 31. Previews and press availabilities will be provided by appointment starting June 11, 2012.

Please request appointments through Ed Keegan at (312) 360-4557 or Edward.keegan@som.com. If you are planning to attend the opening reception, please RSVP to beth.murin@som.com or by phone (312) 360-4179 and be sure to mention that you’re a member of the media.

PARTICIPANTS

Participating students in Waterline include Adriana Chavez, Aleksandr Nizhikhovskiy, Cameron Barradale, Catherine Tang, Evelyn Zwiebach, Nina Chase, Roger Weber, Sadatu Dennis, Stephanie Saltzman, Suemac Hatcher, and William Dibernardo. Instructor Philip Enquist was assisted by Teaching Assistant Conor O’Shea. +

Related Stories

GIANTS 19 PREMIUM | Dec 23, 2019

Top 90 Sports Facilities Architecture Firms for 2019

Populous, HKS, HOK, Gensler, and HNTB top the rankings of the nation's largest sports facilities sector architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2019 Giants 300 Report.

| Dec 18, 2019

Reconsidering construction robotics

After decades when experts predicted that robots would become more prevalent on construction sites, it would appear that the industry has finally reached that point where necessity, aspiration, and investment are colliding. 

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Window and Door Products for 2019

Pella’s Rolscreen retractable screen and NanaWall’s HSW single-track sliding glass wall are among the 16 window and door products to make Building Design+Construction’s 2019 101 Top Products report.

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Structural Products for 2019

Inpro’s Fireline 140 fire barrier and Owens Corning’s Foamglas cellular glass insulation are among the 10 structural products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report.

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

101 Top Products for 2019

Building Design+Construction readers and editors select their top building products for the past 12 months in the fourth-annual 101 Top Products report.

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Plumbing Products for 2019

Sloan's CX Flushometer and Zip Water's HydroTap are among the eight plumbing products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report. 

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Interior Building Products for 2019

Arktura's Delta Drop ceiling and CertainTeed's Decoustics Rondolo wood panels are among the 13 new interior products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report. 

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Glass and Glazing Products for 2019

SageGlass's Harmony dynamic glass and Vitro Architectural Glass's Acuity low-iron glass are among the nine new glass and glazing products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report.

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Flooring Products for 2019

Tarkett’s aviation-inspired flooring collection and J+J Flooring’s textile composite flooring are among the four new commercial flooring products to make Building Design+Construction’​s 2019 101 Top Products report. 

75 Top Building Products | Dec 16, 2019

Top Building Systems Products for 2019

FabricAir’s ceiling-hung fabric duct and Ellumi Lighting’s bacteria-killing lights are among the 13 new building systems products to make Building Design+Construction's 2019 101 Top Products report.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Warehouses

California bill would limit where distribution centers can be built

A bill that passed the California legislature would limit where distribution centers can be located and impose other rules aimed at reducing air pollution and traffic. Assembly Bill 98 would tighten building standards for new warehouses and ban heavy diesel truck traffic next to sensitive sites including homes, schools, parks and nursing homes.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021