section perspective
CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE CENTER
Competition | 2015
Winning Proposal for the Chidesign Competition
This project is a forum, an agora, an amphitheater—a vertical city within the city, uniquely concentrated with knowledge and opportunity. The design emphasizes openness, interconnection, and the maximization of interaction between the three main programs.
As in every city, everything revolves around the main street. Here, that street takes the form of an atrium, physically and visually activating the programs. The circulation—conceived as a vertical street—encourages local horizontal movement within the main program areas and flows into open squares, fostering informal encounters and knowledge exchange. Shared amenities such as the gym, dining, and exhibition spaces are strategically placed between the three programs for seamless accessibility.
The center’s form draws inspiration from Chicago’s iconic skyscrapers, integrating seamlessly into the urban fabric while reinterpreting the principles of form follows function. The facade explores openness, transparency, and a human scale, reinforcing the project’s role as a dynamic hub for interaction and innovation.
program
Lobby
Auditorium
Atrium
Atrium
skyscraper exhibition
