NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD FOR CHICAGO

Plants for a new major development, to be called The 78, have been unveiled by architecture and design firm SOM. Dubbed Chicago’s “next great neighbourhood, the masterplanned development will feature a range of ventures contributed by a host of other architecture firms, including 3XN, Hollwich Kushneer and AS+GG.

The 78 will be developed by real estate development firm Related Midwest and will serve as an extension of the Chicago Loop. With the aim to provide year-round programs, SOM’s masterplan features residential, commercial, institutional, cultural, and recreational programming. A ½ mile (805m) stretch of waterfront land will also be developed, expanding the city’s new public Riverwalk scheme.

The new space will connect to the downtown core of the city via the Wells-Wentworth Connector – a large-scale multi-phase road development implemented to improve safety and traffic flow through the city – as well as to the wider city via bike-friendly streets and major public transit hubs.

Early this year, plans were presented for an interdisciplinary public-private research facility that will form part of the development. Known as the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI), the venue is the first step in the development of the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), which will connect businesses, public sector partners and research universities to focus on the study of computing and big data, food and agriculture, and health and wellness.

“Leveraging Related’s extensive experience in international placemaking, The 78 will be a transformative downtown neighbourhood designed to respond to the rapidly changing demands of future generations, making it the ideal location for a dynamic institute like DPI,” explains Curt Bailey, President of Related Midwest.  Images courtesy of ICON