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When Wacker Drive was originally constructed in 1926, the City of Chicago was turning its back on the Chicago River. During the recent reconstruction of a one-mile section of this historic arterial roadway, the design team sought to reintroduce users to the river and invite them to walk, sit and gather along Wacker. In addition to rebuilding the Wacker Drive structure, the City wanted to enhance the streetscape and create a premier pedestrian environment along the City’s most valuable and prime riverside real estate.
The Wacker Drive project was a substantial multi-year construction project involving an extensive team of professionals. As a critical member of the team, the landscape architect provided the key vision for one of Chicago’s most significant public works projects. The landscape architect, the architect-of-record and the architect collaborated to design unique streetscape elements that provide the visual highlights of the project.
The finished streetscape uses roadway and pedestrian lighting consistent with the Chicago Loop lighting plan. It also contains seasonably colorful planters, additional seating areas, and median plantings, all designed to achieve a celebratory tone. It offers dramatic views of the river and the northern edge of the Loop. A new plaza located between the roadway and the river is a major link between upper and lower Wacker Drive and will provide access to the Chicago River’s edge in the future.
The project team was challenged by several constraints, including respecting the history of the roadway and using designs that were compatible with the bridge structure. Despite these restrictions, the team successfully developed a linear “park” along upper Wacker Drive. They created a space that encourages Chicagoans and visitors alike to enjoy the Chicago River and the unique urban architecture in this special downtown location.
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