Chicago Architects Envision 21st Century for Burnham Plan Centennial

The project submissions include a high-speed rail system, water transit service, ecologically-driven skyscrapers, and a municipal pier at Northerly Island.

Nicholas Tamarin -- Interior Design, 9/11/2009

In 1909, Daniel Burnham ignited a master plan for Chicago that would ultimately shape the entire metropolitan region throughout the 20th century.

One hundred years later, more than three dozen architects, planners and landscape architects take a stab at becoming the architect's heir apparent in "Big. Bold. Visionary: Chicago Considers the Next Century," an exhibit running through October 4 at the Chicago Tourism Center at 72 East Randolph Street.



Part of the Burnham Plan Centennial, the exhibition offers visions of the 21st century from local architects including Carol Ross Barney, Larry Booth, Dirk Denison, Sarah Dunn, Martin Felsen, Paul Florian, Gordon Gill, Ralph Johnson, Dirk Lohan, Brad Lynch, John Ronan, Linda Searl, Adrian Smith, Stanley Tigerman, Joe Valerio, Brian Vitale and David Woodhouse.

Taking Burnham's advice to "make no little plans," the group submitted renderings, models and digital animation that illustrate development proposals for the region over the next century, such as lakefronts, transportation, towers, public spaces, rivers and trails. Among the project submissions are a high-speed rail system, water transit service, ecologically-driven skyscrapers and municipal pier for Northerly Island.

"With this exhibition, we are honoring Chicago's many talented architects by presenting designs that encourage viewers to imagine the future of our city," says Lois Weisberg, commissioner of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs. "Proposals like these, created in the forward-thinking spirit of Daniel Burnham, reinforce Chicago's reputation throughout the world as an innovator in architecture and design."



More than 250 organizations have teamed with the Burnham Plan Centennial Committee and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs to present the year-long celebration and community organizing effort. To mark the occasion, architects Zaha Hadid and Ben van Berkel designed two temporary pavilions in Millennium Park, open now through October 31.

From top: Rendering from Valerio Dewalt Train; rendering from RTKL; rendering from Perkins + Will; rendering from Brinninstool + Lynch. Images courtesy of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs.