Millennium Park, Chicago - Texas A&M Universitypeople.tamu.edu/~sshafer/Millennium Park, Chicago newer.pdf · Characteristics of Interest The park site was a surface parking lot for

AN EXAMPLE OF AN “ICON” URBAN PARK ITS PLANNING AND DESIGN

Millennium Park, Chicago

Location

Birdseye view of development as it would have occurred in the Burnham Plan.

A park was envisioned for the Chicago Lakefront as a part of the “Burnham Plan.”

Burnham envisioned a “frontyard” for the city.

Approximate location of Millennium Park

A portion of modern day Grant Park

Grant Park Millennium Park

Current Park Map

The park is a “green roof”

Train Train

Characteristics of Interest

The park site was a surface parking lot for 900 cars in 1997

Park was completed in 2004 24 acres in size; approximately 12 acres of hard surface

and 12 of green Base cost: approx. $500 million - $220 million raised by

private donors; $270 from city Research indicated that it was the #1 urban tourist

attraction in the US in 2006 (higher than the Las Vegas Strip and Central Park) and remains in top 5

Estimate $2.6 billion annually in tourist spending related to the park

Over 1000 FTEs created by the park (e.g., visitor service)

Characteristics of Interest (continued)

Ten new condo projects in last 5 years (over 3,600 units) adjacent to the park

Property values around the park have risen 40% more than those just a few blocks away

Revenue from garages and a TIF are being used to pay off the debt (bonds)

The park is not part of the local park district but is managed by Millennium Park Inc. (501-C3) and Dept. of Cultural Affairs

The park is “owned” by the City of Chicago Revenue from bus stop advertising across the entire city

is used to maintain the park

A Tour of the Park

In the parking garage

Starting from underneath

Harris Theater for Music and Dance

The theater is underground and below the water table

A “left over space” turned event site.

The park is like a house with rooms… Harris Theater Roof

Rent bikes to tourists and store bikes for commuters

McDonald’s Cycle Center

Designed by Frank Gehry

Pritzker Pavilion

- Blue Grass Turf

- Is fenced off periodically

The Great Lawn (living room)

Choice of Seating

Free concerts every Friday during summer

Programming is also a vital part of this park’s success. This is an international music festival summer 2009 – free concerts every day of the week

Overhead Structure

Designed to create roof effect and to support sound system

Unexpected bonus: Canadian Geese won’t fly through

Canadian Geese have become pests…

They set up shop

They are often unfriendly

They defecate all over the place

Beautiful sculpture but “gate” is not accurate

AT&T Plaza & Cloud Gate “The Bean”

Made of 168 stainless steel plates welded and buffed

$70, 000 spent to clean finger prints annually

Cloud Gate (The Bean)

Reflects people and the city

Roost for gulls

The Bean

Dining in summer

Ice skating in winter

McCormick Tribune Plaza

Burnham Pavilions

Chase Promenade South

These spaces (rooms) offers flexibility for rotating exhibits and hallway connectivity for flow of users

How visitors behave in parks

Water to touch

Native plants, prairie look

Lurie Garden

In the Lurie Garden designers used the garden hedge as a wall

The steel form is an artistic frame for the hedge

This “room” is well defined by the hedge and pathway around edge

Also a Gehry design, serpentine form reflects the pavilion

Turned out to be a good sound barrier

BP Bridge (pedestrian only)

Very touchable water

People playing becomes a show for others

Crown Fountain (play room)

Filmed faces of "regular" Chicago residents are rotated

Yet another room in the park – another experience

Crown Fountain

Formal, reflects Roman columns found around the city

Quieter “room” not as much activity

Wrigley Square

Take Home Points

Elevation differences, vegetation and some structures create “room” like experiences throughout the park.

Good design incorporates thought about what visitors will do:

Touch

Sit, Lay

Climb

Roll, Slide

Splash

Watch

How does wildlife figure in?

Birds will roost and poop

People are interested in wildlife

Can become dependent pests (not good for them or visitors)

Take Home Points

The park was planned, designed and constructed through political will (Mayor Daley) and a public private partnership

The park is one of many in US at the heart of major urban revitalization projects – most are also partnerships (e.g., The High Line in NYC; Discovery Green in Houston)

Major implications for local jobs and revenue through tourism the park generates

People are moving into this downtown area because of the park