Millennium Park to Get Two Art Galleries

A $5 million gift will allow Chicago's Millennium Park to get two outdoor galleries for temporary art exhibitions.

Construction broke ground on the Boeing Galleries in mid-March, and the project is expected to be complete in June, said Karen Ryan, media relations specialist with Millennium Park. The project is named after Chicago-based Boeing Co. because the company made the donation that allows for the project, in addition to an endowment for its upkeep.

The project will result in about 33,600 sq. ft. of gallery space in two locations for special art exhibits like the "Family Album" display from the last summer.

No permanent art will be on display.

A 19,200-sq.-ft. gallery will be located in the 240-ft.-long, 80-ft.-wide South Terrace, which is between the Crown Fountain and Chase Promenade South, Ryan said. A 14,400-sq.-ft. gallery will be in the 180-ft.-long, 80-ft.-wide North Terrace between Wrigley Square and the Chase Promenade North.

Construction includes laying black granite - the same forming the base of the Crown Fountain - adding trees and additional seating. In addition, a new stairwell will be constructed between the fountain and south gallery.

Chicago-based James McHugh Construction Co. is the general contractor, Chicago-based HarleyEllis is the architect and Chicago-based Spectrum Strategies is the project manager, Ryan said.

Studio Gang Gets National Exposure

Chicago architecture firm Studio Gang Architects was one of seven American architects featured in "Restructure: New Forms in Architectural Mesh," an exhibition held at the 2005 American Institute of Architects National Convention in Las Vegas in May.

Restructure educated architects about architectural mesh and challenges notions of what can be created with these products. Studio Gang's installation exploits the flexible quality of the metal mesh material to create curvature for a new kind of seating.

Studio Gang's "Wrinkled Rug" draped over a series of forms to create a landscape of furniture for potential installation in hotels, bars, lobbies, cafes or outdoor gardens.

The exhibition debuted in New York in February. Future destinations include Chicago, Miami, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

North Avenue Bridge Winner Announced

Virginia-based PSA-Dewberry architects recently won a design competition to replace North Avenue Pedestrian Bridge in Chicago.

The bridge will serve as a gateway to the city for visitors approaching downtown along Lake Shore Drive from the north. The bridge will provide a link between Lincoln Park and the popular North Avenue Beach, transitioning as an integral park element from the expansive green space to the sandy shorefront.

The bridge is designed as a sculptural structure. The path of the bridge and its canopy are shaped to track the movement of the sun as it rises over Lake Michigan and sets below the western skyline of the city.

A trellis, composed of a series of reflective metal louvers and photovoltaic panels, will create a self-sustaining "sail" that will provide energy for the bridge's lighting, effectively becoming a beacon for this gateway into the city at night.

The span's superstructure will be constructed of precast concrete. Cast-in-place concrete, allowing for sculptural shaping, will be used at the lakeside base.

The design competition was sponsored by the Chicago Department of Transportation. The city anticipates that construction will begin later in this decade.

Chicago Dominates Green Roofs Nominations

Chicago dominated the Green Roofs Awards of Excellence with eight of 21 nominations.

The competition is part of the 3rd annual Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show held in May in Washington, D.C.

The Chicago-area nominees include the Apple Computer Flagship store, the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, the Bank One Center and Evanston's Church Street Station condominium.

Others include Downers Grove homeowner Lois Vitt Sale, Millennium Park, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum and the Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital in Chicago.

All nominated projects incorporate green roof technology in their design. A green roof is a roofing system designed to support green space on top of built structures.

The Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Cities Conference is co-hosted by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities and the District of Columbia.

Processing Day Barracks Started at Great Lakes

A $36.4 million design/build contract was recently awarded to construct a Processing Day Barrack at the Great Lakes Naval Station.

To be named the USS Pearl Harbor, the barrack will be tailored for the processing of new recruits.

The facility will be fully enclosed, and air-conditioned walkways will connect the building to others, allowing recruits to move more quickly during inclement weather. In addition, the barracks also will include its own galley and classrooms.

The expected completion date is December 2006. Clark/Blinderman/Knight received the contract

Vic Construction Under Way

Industrial Facility To Rise in Bedford Park

The Bedford Park Business Center will bring a 296,146-sq.-ft. industrial facility to the Southwest Side.

The project is being developed on a 12-acre in-fill site at 7123 W. 65th St. near Chicago's Midway Airport. A 50-year-old manufacturing facility previously on the site was demolished.

The project is expected to be complete in fall 2005. Rosemont-based McShane Construction Corp. will provide the design-build services.

Tollway Sues Mall Developer