Pierscape

By Matthew Owens

2016 marks the 100 year anniversary of Chicago’s Navy Pier. Navy Pier is Illinois most visited tourist attraction with more than nine million visitors last year. Of course the Pier was part of the original Burnham plan, and was constructed in 1916. Its intended use was port for lake freight ships and a warehouse, as well as docking space for passenger liners. At one point in the Piers history it was home to the University of Illinois Chicago, which sure would have been an interesting experience for students, not so much in during the spring semester though I’m sure, too cold. This is where the University got its start and was there until it was relocated to its current location next to the circle in the 60’s. After the University of Illinois Chicago left the pier has been a public space for Chicago, and now a symbol of the city and its most visited attraction.


In honor of the 100 year anniversary of the Pier Chicago is proposing what they are calling the ‘Centennial Vision’ a redevelopment of sorts for the Pier. Navy Pier Inc., the newly formed non-for-profit group is in charge of conducting an international search for a design team to reimagine the Piers’ outdoor public spaces, or Pierscape as they are calling it. There are key spaces which are too be addressed with the overall goal to enhance the experience of Navy Pier. Ultimately submitted entries will be narrowed down to five select design teams that will present their scheme to the Navy Pier Inc. as well as advisors, and board members, which will be open to the public. It just so happens that the presentations are tonight and tomorrow night (as I write its January 31st) and will be held at the MCA, which I have heard is full, so if you decided to head up to Chicago to catch the presentations, I hope you have already rsvp’d. So if you are like me and will miss the presentations this week, it is not your only chance to view the design proposals, by the end of the week, February 2nd, the finalists will have all work displayed at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Not sure how long the work will be on display but it would sure be interesting to check out, maybe the work will get posted on line?

The estimated cost of the new Pierscape will be over $155 million and of course be completed before the Piers centennial celebration in 2016. The winner of the design competition will be announced next month sometime.