Millennium Park, Chicago

Millennium Park, Chicago
AN EXAMPLE OF AN “ICON” URBAN
PARK ITS PLANNING AND DESIGN
Location
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
Birdseye view of development as it
would have occurred in the
Burnham Plan.
Millennium Park
Grant 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
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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)
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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
Starting from underneath
In the parking garage
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
The theater is underground
and below the water table
The park is like a house with rooms…
Harris Theater Roof
A “left over space” turned
event site.
McDonald’s Cycle Center
Rent bikes to tourists and
store bikes for commuters
Pritzker Pavilion
Designed by Frank Gehry
The Great Lawn (living room)
- Blue Grass Turf
- Is fenced off periodically
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
AT&T Plaza & Cloud Gate
“The Bean”
Beautiful sculpture but
“gate” is not accurate
Cloud Gate (The Bean)
Made of 168 stainless steel
plates welded and buffed
$70, 000 spent to clean
finger prints annually
The Bean
Reflects people and the
city
Roost for gulls
McCormick Tribune Plaza
Dining in summer
Ice skating in winter
Chase Promenade South
Burnham Pavilions
These spaces (rooms) offers flexibility
for rotating exhibits and hallway
connectivity for flow of users
How visitors behave in parks
Lurie Garden
Water to touch
Native plants, prairie look
This “room” is well defined by the hedge and
pathway around edge
In the Lurie Garden designers
used the garden hedge as a wall
The steel form is an artistic
frame for the hedge
BP Bridge (pedestrian only)
Also a Gehry design, serpentine form
reflects the pavilion
Turned out to be a good sound barrier
Crown Fountain (play room)
Very touchable water
People playing becomes a show
for others
Crown Fountain
Filmed faces of "regular"
Chicago residents are rotated
Yet another room in the
park – another experience
Wrigley Square
Formal, reflects Roman
columns found around the
city
Quieter “room” not as
much activity
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