Construction Begins on Major Mixed Use Development in Chicago's Loop
Gensler Designing Retail, Entertainment, Transportation Destination, 108 North State Street
CHICAGO, IL, November 14, 2005. A groundbreaking ceremony held today marks the start of construction on 108 North State, a major mixed-use destination located in the heart of Chicago's Loop. Gensler is design architect of the 400,000 square-foot retail, entertainment, and transportation component of the project that also includes office space, a ground-level broadcast studio, a luxury hotel, and residential units. The Mills Corporation is owner and developer; Perkins + Will is architect of record for the office tower; and Rockwell Group is responsible for interior design and signage.
With the office tower and broadcasting studio expected to be completed by late 2007, and the retail, dining, and entertainment component estimated to be completed by Spring 2008, the complex will transform the parcel of land to a hub of activity. The state-of-the-art CTA transit station will provide service to O'Hare and Midway airports.
"Our goal was to embrace and enhance the vibrant street life of Chicago's Loop," said Gensler's design director, David Epstein. Stressing visual transparency, glass facades invite visitors and integrate the development with the streetscape. The project incorporates the concepts of reflection, observation, and sight, which have been pivotal in the success of Millennium Park, where sculptures by international artists have captured the public's attention by reflecting multiple images of the city's inhabitants.
A vertical art installation on the State Street facade by artist James Carpenter will feature projected video imagery of the city with Gensler-designed stainless-steel panels on either side, which will undulate in a basket-weave pattern that reflects the buildings and street life around them. "It's got all of the components to become a major city icon," said Grant Uhlir, Gensler's project director. "There's no doubt it will make downtown even more attractive to workers, residents, and visitors."
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