2008 Chicago Architecture Center

The project presents a number of design challenges, concerning mixed-use program, constricted site, density, and sustainability, as well as the problem of creating an identity for an architectural institution within the context of Chicago’s iconographic skyline. Of particular concern was the challenge posed by the extraordinarily small site footprint on a highly mixed program that includes mixed functions (cultural, commercial, retail, etc.) and mixed user groups (public and private). All students were given a project brief which detailed the building program and site constraints. Click here to download the project brief / report on the studio's findings. The following nine designs focused on the sectional development of the tower, seeking to create vertically linked spaces that address issues of spatial quality and visual connectivity, while solving aspects of separation.

		Chicago Architecture Center Cory Baitz The City of Chicago is an architectural museum in itself. The design for the New Chicago Architectural Center provides a framework for viewing both significant architectural drawings and models, and the rich and diverse surrounding cityscape.


		Chicago Architecture Center Edward Eichten Located in the birthplace of the skyscraper, the Chicago Architecture Center should embody the history and spirit of innovation when looking toward the future. The structural system’s aesthetic and functionality is found through the voronoi mathematical principle and is a series of precast concrete panels that would be assembled on site.


		Chicago Architecture Center Steven Henry This project adds a residential element to the program, creating a single environment in which the users Live, Work, and Learn architecture. In addition to the research and office space for the museum, the program includes leasable office space intended for other architectural organizations.


		Chicago Architecture Center Babita Joy This design proposal sews the essence of the city of Chicago within the building fabric. The design stands for what it should represent plainly - architecture to showcase the city and vice-versa - city to showcase world architecture. With the core pushed to the rear, closer to the Doral, a larger gallery space has been created.


		Chicago Architecture Center Alfredo Lin This project stretches the program, with the addition of a significant quantity of leasable office space, to create the tallest design solution of the group. Public space is interspersed throughout various levels of the tower, with the skyscraper museum on the upper most floors, and a public sky-garden at the tower’s pinnacle.


		Chicago Architecture Center Brian Romanelli The design consists of several vertically arranged programmatic nodes or destinations that users of the space will progress through. The 'Interaction Node' at the lower portion of the building is the primary level of communication between the building and its surrounding environment.


		Chicago Architecture Center Mary Shim This building attempts to make a visual connection to and from the City of Chicago. This is done through locating the museum section of the building toward the top, allowing even those far from the site to visually locate the building. To further emphasize the museum, some programmatic elements are protruding out of the building.


		Chicago Architecture Center Patti Thurmond The building was modeled with the idea of transference in mind, referring to the use of a catalyst to break through ideas and values and to produce something new. The building program represents a complete transference of ideas and appreciation from ground to top. The ground level features a public forum and a city model space occupies the first two floors.


		Chicago Architecture Center Nathan Woods The design of this scheme seeks to maximize the potential for wind energy harvesting in a high rise building. The scheme developed as a pair of aerofoil-shaped towers, oriented towards the predominant wind direction, so as to capture and accelerate the wind between them and onto a series of horizontal axis wind turbines.