As part of an international competition, Danish architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and the business services firm AECOM have developed a Chicago Navy Pier renewal proposal that involves adding new public gathering areas as well as a vertical farm.
The competition for the Navy Pier renewal, which aims to revitalize Chicago's number one tourist attraction along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, has a budget of $85 million and five teams of designers from around the world have been revealing their proposals this week. BIG and AECOM's Navy Pier renewal project will involve recreating the pier's current areas such as Gateway Park, the elevated park that surrounds the Ferris wheel as well as the pedestrian promenade at Dock Street. One of the most interesting aspects of the team's proposal is turning the Crystal Gardens -- an indoor botanical garden with palm trees and fountains -- into a vertical farm that would produce food for the pier's restaurants.
What's Driving This Trend
- Vertical Farming
- BIG and AECOM's proposal to turn Crystal Gardens into a vertical farm presents opportunities for sustainable food production and a unique dining experience on the pier.
- Public Gathering Spaces
- BIG and AECOM's proposal to add new public gathering areas on the pier presents opportunities for community engagement and event hosting, potentially disrupting traditional event venues in the area.
- Waterfront Renewal
- The Navy Pier renewal competition presents opportunities for architecture and design firms to revitalize waterfront areas in cities around the world, potentially disrupting established tourism destinations.
Who This Affects Most
- Architecture
- The Navy Pier renewal competition presents opportunities for architecture firms to develop innovative and sustainable designs for waterfront areas, potentially disrupting traditional cityscapes.
- Tourism
- BIG and AECOM's proposed Navy Pier renewal project has the potential to disrupt the tourism industry in Chicago by creating a unique and innovative destination for visitors.
- Food Production
- The proposal to turn Crystal Gardens into a vertical farm presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the food production industry by exploring sustainable, urban farming methods.
