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-   -   CHICAGO | Navy Pier Redevelopment (https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=156131)

Zerton Nov 20, 2013 8:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila (Post 5629479)
Most of the people discussing Chicago are Chicagoans. We like having a relatively small number of threads to check, because that saves time when checking the forums and allows us to have open discussions with less fear of going off-topic.

I can speak for New Orleans, too... when we had a jumble of different threads, there were maybe three regular posters and I was the only person actually living in the city. After we centralized things into the City Compilations thread, we formed a robust community with 15-20 members who post regularly. Given the relative lack of highrise development, we usually feel free to discuss any and all forms of urban development including retail, parks, transportation, economics, etc all in the same thread.

It seems like New York by having a constellation of threads attracts a lot of people who are interested in updates but don't contribute to a larger discussion, either because they don't live in New York or because they are constrained by the narrow topic of each thread.

Agree completely.

markh9 Jan 20, 2016 4:20 AM

From DNAInfo:

Crews Begin Work on Navy Pier's New 1 Million-Pound Ferris Wheel
https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20160119/streeterville/crews-begin-work-on-navy-piers-new-1-million-pound-ferris-wheel-photos


https://assets.dnainfo.com/generated...extralarge.jpg

Officials are hoping the new Ferris wheel will be the centerpiece of a completely re-imagined Navy Pier, which could include a hotel, grand fountain and new dining and entertainment options.

https://assets.dnainfo.com/generated...extralarge.jpg

Officials hope the new wheel will be ready in time for the pier's 100th anniversary this summer.

Ryanrule Jan 22, 2016 4:33 AM

There needs to be a non bus transit connection.

spyguy Mar 2, 2016 3:33 PM

http://chicago.suntimes.com/entertai...xpansion-plan/

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER EMBARKS ON MAJOR EXPANSION PLAN
HEDY WEISS on March 2, 2016


The Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) has announced grand-scale plans to spread its wings on Navy Pier.

On Wednesday, the company’s artistic director, Barbara Gaines, and executive director Criss Henderson, announced a $35 million expansion project that will transfigure the theater’s “neighbor” – the easily identifiable white-tented, open-air Skyline Stage – into The Yard, a uniquely engineered, wholly enclosed, acoustically isolated, year-round performance space of exceptional flexibility. Conceived as an ingenious system of mobile “audience towers” that operate almost like a giant LEGO kit, it will be possible to reconfigure its interior into nine different formations to accommodate seating for from 150 to 850 people.

http://s21.postimg.org/4v4r742lz/01_...or_Night_1.jpg
http://s29.postimg.org/lftbghujr/03_...Aerial_Day.jpg
http://s22.postimg.org/8i9uoq569/04_...d_Interior.jpg

sentinel Mar 2, 2016 4:14 PM

^this I like.

ChiTownWonder Mar 3, 2016 1:29 AM

Im happy to see renovations like these to the cheesiest place in chicago

ardecila Mar 3, 2016 1:46 AM

Interesting idea, although I don't know why they're bothering to keep the Skyline Stage tent if it no longer suits their needs. I always thought it looked bloated and ugly anyway with none of the grace of Frei Otto.

A new building could probably suit the needs of Chicago Shakespeare with less brain surgery and maybe at a lower cost. The Trahan-designed addition was beautiful, looks like it's been scrapped.

Halsted & Villagio Mar 3, 2016 1:46 AM

Not bad. As long as it is not VE'd to death it could be a very nice addition to the city.

ChiTownWonder Mar 3, 2016 4:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardecila (Post 7356564)
Interesting idea, although I don't know why they're bothering to keep the Skyline Stage tent if it no longer suits their needs. I always thought it looked bloated and ugly anyway with none of the grace of Frei Otto.

A new building could probably suit the needs of Chicago Shakespeare with less brain surgery and maybe at a lower cost. The Trahan-designed addition was beautiful, looks like it's been scrapped.

Honestly id prefer the tent over the design you posted. the tent provides a good contrast to the glassy building just to the east. it adds more charterer then another addition of glass. plus it feels like it fits the theme of the area, surrounded by grassy areas and the wheel.

Skyguy_7 Apr 1, 2016 1:49 PM

The Ferris Wheel was lit up early this morning, with LEDs on the outside of each cab. Looks great. It's amazing how fast that thing went up.

XIII Apr 1, 2016 1:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyguy_7 (Post 7391094)
The Ferris Wheel was lit up early this morning, with LEDs on the outside of each cab. Looks great. It's amazing how fast that thing went up.

There is a large, circular LED screen hung in the middle of the wheel now, too.

Yesterday they had some kind of waving American Flag animation going on it.
Seems like a red Chicago Star would work really well on it.

i_am_hydrogen Apr 1, 2016 2:49 PM

This summer, Navy Pier could actually be...cool?
http://www.timeout.com/chicago/blog/...be-cool-031616

Via Chicago Apr 1, 2016 3:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen (Post 7391177)
This summer, Navy Pier could actually be...cool?

lol. no.

LouisVanDerWright Apr 1, 2016 5:50 PM

^^^ I don't know if it will be "cool" per se, but it certainly sounds like it would be a lot more interesting to me than it is now. Some of the concepts sound like they might make it a place worth visiting on occasion rather than it's current status of "avoid at all costs". The Chicago food experience could be amazing if they drew on the very talented array of local restaurants in the neighborhoods. Could you imagine guest appearances by everyone's favorite foodie joints? Maybe a Hot Dougs shows up again for a few months? Maybe Au Cheval is dishing out burgers?

I also think the alcohol thing being allowed now is a game changer. This could be one of the few parts of the city where you can wander around drinking outdoors as you wish. A permanent festival atmosphere and interesting local operators rather than chains would radically transform the experience. There's no reason the concept of a fun, outdoors, carnival can't be both touristy and appeal to locals. I think the fly over will also make it more interesting to locals as easing the tourist induced gridlock on the path will make the area less claustrophobic which is what I really think drives locals out. I always avoid Michigan Ave or Grant Park during Taste because it's so annoyingly crammed with gapers. I don't live in Chicago to be constantly rubbing against strangers, if I wanted that I'd be in New York.

ithakas Apr 1, 2016 6:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright (Post 7391462)
^^^ I don't know if it will be "cool" per se, but it certainly sounds like it would be a lot more interesting to me than it is now. Some of the concepts sound like they might make it a place worth visiting on occasion rather than it's current status of "avoid at all costs". The Chicago food experience could be amazing if they drew on the very talented array of local restaurants in the neighborhoods. Could you imagine guest appearances by everyone's favorite foodie joints? Maybe a Hot Dougs shows up again for a few months? Maybe Au Cheval is dishing out burgers?

The James Corner redesign of the outdoor pier and plazas have already made Navy Pier dramatically better. Just look toward the lake, rather than to the shops, and it's an almost pleasant place. Much more open and minimalist.

Via Chicago Apr 1, 2016 6:05 PM

I mean, I dont really see it appealing to people who it dosent already appeal to. The biggest thing Navy Pier offers is a sanitized way to experience Chicago that dosent require any effort or adventurousness. The sort of thing you suggest ("get a Cheval burger, but without actually needing to go to Logan or Fulton Market!") only perpetuates that.

Locals already have their own beaches, parks, restaurants, and bars that dont require descending into a tourist trap clusterf*ck. The only thing I could really see going out of the way for is the Shakespeare performances, which you cant readily get elsewhere. And thats nothing new.

ithakas Apr 1, 2016 6:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Via Chicago (Post 7391483)
I mean, I dont really see it appealing to people who it dosent already appeal to. The biggest thing Navy Pier offers is a sanitized way to experience Chicago that dosent require any effort or adventurousness.

Locals already have their own beaches, restaurants, and bars that dont require descending into a tourist trap clusterf*ck. The only thing I could really see going out of the way for is the Shakespeare performances.

They also hold Expo there, the biggest art fair in the Midwest. Very un-Navy Pier crowd attends that. WBEZ is also headquartered there.

I think Navy Pier has great bones to appeal to a much wider group locally. It's the shticky retail, circus-like maximalist design aesthetic that's existed since the early 90s that's repelled people. It will always belong to the tourists, but I think it certainly has the opportunity to be more palatable to locals.

Via Chicago Apr 1, 2016 6:15 PM

WBEZ's headquarters has zero bearing on whether I, as a non-employee of WBEZ, have any desire to spend time there.

Yes, the art Expo is interesting but that has no inherent relationship to NP itself. Could just as easily be at McCormick place.

maru2501 Apr 1, 2016 7:03 PM

I might walk around it with a beer on a nice night

LouisVanDerWright Apr 1, 2016 7:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Via Chicago (Post 7391483)
I mean, I dont really see it appealing to people who it dosent already appeal to. The biggest thing Navy Pier offers is a sanitized way to experience Chicago that dosent require any effort or adventurousness. The sort of thing you suggest ("get a Cheval burger, but without actually needing to go to Logan or Fulton Market!") only perpetuates that.

Locals already have their own beaches, parks, restaurants, and bars that dont require descending into a tourist trap clusterf*ck. The only thing I could really see going out of the way for is the Shakespeare performances, which you cant readily get elsewhere. And thats nothing new.

Is it a tourist trap clusterfuck if it provides an actual quality experience (summarizing a large geographic area that is difficult to thoroughly explore in less than a week) in a well designed, efficient, modern space? What is wrong with pop culture exactly? You remind me of my uncle from the East Coast who doesn't think Musicals are real culture. At some point you have to take American commercialism for what it is: American culture. If anything a cleaned up, modern, hipsterised Navy Pier would be an outrageous postmodern mockery of a true American tourist trap. An "ironic" version of the old Navy Pier like a hipster wearing a trucker cap. At some point you need to be pragmatic and realize this is popular, you might not find it "tasteful", but Americans love to travel and when they do they love to go to ridiculous caricatured outlets for "a taste of the local culture". We may as well make sure that the taste they are getting is actually representative of what we are. If we are funneling millions of people through Navy Pier every year and indoctrinating them as to what Chicago is, then we may as well switch the propaganda to something more pleasant.

But I digress, the point is not everyone is so repulsed by the idea of a touristy area that they wouldn't be caught dead there. I think most people avoid Navy Pier because there is nothing of value and a lot of annoyances in a relatively uncomfortably designed public space. If you made the space pleasant and provided quality content, then I can totally see locals using it. With the right design and content it just becomes at worst another nice place on the lakefront to locals.


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