CHICAGO | The 78 Site

[bhawk66]

Just came here to say that. It has to be kept in mind what is ACROSS the river. Besides a bunch of tack lines, also low line warehouse/industrial buildings.

Not sure a flashy type stadium would work here. I it's possible, I suppose, but I think that steel trussed roof (Lakeside comp) fits in well with the tracks. If they could add more brick detail like the examples Randomguy34 just posted in the General thread, that really could turn it up a notch or three.

[VKChaz]

Originally Posted by Jstange059

Something they were mentioning quite a bit in the meeting was how they wanted the stadium to be “timeless” and still look good decades in the future, so it sounds like they are intending to make it last 50+ years.

Unfortunately, in their attempt for making it timeless, they may have instead of ended up creating something generic, which is why I think they could really improve the stadium with creating something that really gives the stadium identity. And with them mentioning a warehouse inspiration, there are so many small things they could implement that could give it an really good identity

If I was looking to draw inspiration for this location, I would consider the mostly demolished rail terminals moreso than warehouses

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

If I was looking to draw inspiration for this location, I would consider the mostly demolished rail terminals moreso than warehouses

I love that idea. Perhaps take the old LaSalle St train shed as inspiration. With a punched roof, of course.


[IMG][/IMG]

[aaron38]

Yes

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by VKChaz

If I was looking to draw inspiration for this location, I would consider the mostly demolished rail terminals moreso than warehouses

Would love something inspired by the old PRR freight house, which was a very early form of Art Deco and an utterly massive building:
https://industrialscenery.blogspot.c...ht-houses.html

[Randomguy34]

While we're talking about neighborhood icons, Ricketts could have taken inspiration from the Chicago Coliseum formerly at 15th & Wabash. The Blackhawks used to play there and also had a 20k attendee capacity.

Literally there's so much Near South Side history they could of drawn from, but they chose generic-warehouse design


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Coliseum


https://www.loc.gov/item/2014690569/

[homebucket]

I actually like the brick industrial aesthetic over some of the other more modern stadium examples being cited. The futuristic designs tend to look dated more quickly, whereas brick feels more natural and will stand the test of time. The futuristic ones may seem bold and dynamic to some, but could easily come across as cheesy and overdone to others.

Oracle Park, widely renown as one of the most beautiful ballparks in America, utilizes the same aesthetic.

[woodrow]

FYI, the Ricketts family isn't behind this, it is Joe Mansueto.

[Sprinklemoore]

Originally Posted by homebucket

I actually like the brick industrial aesthetic over some of the other more modern stadium examples being cited. The futuristic designs tend to look dated more quickly, whereas brick feels more natural and will stand the test of time. The futuristic ones may seem bold and dynamic to some, but could easily come across as cheesy and overdone to others.

Oracle Park, widely renown as one of the most beautiful ballparks in America, utilizes the same aesthetic.

This is empirically hideous. The only reason people love oracle park is the views, not the facade.

[cloudbod]

Unfortunately this debate has pretty much devolved into subjective taste preferences. I like this sort of postmodern faux-industrial, some people don't, and I don't see anybody changing their minds about it. Which is fine, honestly. The huge diversity of preferences, styles and textures is part of what makes Chi such an interesting city imo

One thing we can all agree on is that *something* needs to get built at the 78 cuz it's starting to get farcical lol

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by Sprinklemoore

This is empirically hideous. The only reason people love oracle park is the views, not the facade.

Yep. I was there a month ago and walked by it. There is little that is charming or redeeming about the outside of the Giants Park. It looks faux-historic, and it is faux-historic.

[homebucket]

Originally Posted by Sprinklemoore

This is empirically hideous.

That's your opinion. I disagree with it.

Originally Posted by Sprinklemoore

The only reason people love oracle park is the views, not the facade.

This is not true and therefore wrong.

Originally Posted by cloudbod

Unfortunately this debate has pretty much devolved into subjective taste preferences. I like this sort of postmodern faux-industrial, some people don't, and I don't see anybody changing their minds about it. Which is fine, honestly.

Yup. My point was to illustrate this. Some people prefer faux industrial, some people prefer gaudy modern.

Nothing more, nothing less.

[munchymunch]

It’s almost like we’re all “self-titled connoisseurs” and it’s subjective option rather than a fact if a building looks good or not…

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Sprinklemoore

This is empirically hideous. The only reason people love oracle park is the views, not the facade.

I wouldn't call it hideous, but Oracle is just one in a whole sea of generic, red-brick MLB parks aping Camden Yards or, indirectly, Wrigley and Fenway. Seriously, about 15 MLB parks have been built with this style of architecture and Oracle was somewhere in the middle of the pack. These are way better than the multi-purpose stadiums they replaced from the 60s and 70s, but none of them really stand out individually except the ones that tried to go a bit more contemporary like Petco or Target Field, or the ones that got lucky with utterly spectacular sites like PNC.

For Oracle, you are correct that the views make it special, not the architecture. The Fire stadium won't have that saving grace, not only because it's a closed stadium with no views out but because the surroundings aren't especially pretty (Roosevelt Collection and Dearborn Park etc)

[2PRUROCKS!]

Originally Posted by ardecila

For Oracle, you are correct that the views make it special, not the architecture. The Fire stadium won't have that saving grace, not only because it's a closed stadium with no views out but because the surroundings aren't especially pretty (Roosevelt Collection and Dearborn Park etc)

I disagree with this part. The location at the 78 offers great views of the skyline and the river especially as the riverfront is improved in the future. Unfortunately the current design doesn't take full advantage of this. The White Sox proposal did a better job of taking advantage of the surrounding views.

[cloudbod]

Originally Posted by 2PRUROCKS!

The location at the 78 offers great views of the skyline and the river especially as the riverfront is improved in the future. Unfortunately the current design doesn't take full advantage of this.

Right?? Like, as much as I dig the aesthetic, I really dislike how it obscures the skyline to the north. I probably misunderstand some fundamental factor in soccer stadium design, but this:



is a little bewildering. An open view north would be gorgeous and extremely popular.


EDIT: here's what it looks like from a bit further south. I'm biased but I'm pretty sure this would get butts in seats

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by cloudbod

Right?? Like, as much as I dig the aesthetic, I really dislike how it obscures the skyline to the north. I probably misunderstand some fundamental factor in soccer stadium design, but this:

It will sound disparaging, but I find it likely true, so.....

North American soccer fans are often insecure and desperate to conform to established soccer culture elsewhere.

For them, this means a wrap-around stadium and a sizable roof. Also, a handful of the MLS stadiums (including Toyota Park) tried to integrate goalkeeper sides that would readily double for concert setups. Without fail, this looked awkward and amateurish.

I think the owner and designers are letting previous examples frighten them into a missed opportunity. It shouldn't be hard to make a design that leaves much of the north end open for vistas while maintaining the integrity and aesthetics of the stadium.

[r18tdi]

Valid points regarding the design not optimizing views. That said, if the rest of the 78 (and Riverline) is built as envisioned, the panoramic skyline vistas to the north will eventually be obscured by much closer mid- and high-rise buildings.

Part of me wishes the stadium design gave better sightlines to the river, but then I remember how hideous the opposite bank looks.

[left of center]

Originally Posted by r18tdi

Part of me wishes the stadium design gave better sightlines to the river, but then I remember how hideous the opposite bank looks.

That's definitely one of the biggest problem with any development at the 78. The westward views are awful, which is a shame since the river would (and should) be a natural focal point for any development there. Those Amtrak/BNSF yards are vital to operations at Union Station, and thus aren't going anywhere. Only option to "beautify" that side of the river would be to build over them, but that would be both insanely expensive and also practically impossible since I don't see any scenario in which Amtrak or BNSF would give away those air rights.

Maybe Mansueto can pay them to build a wall along the river bank?

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by left of center

Only option to "beautify" that side of the river would be to build over them, but that would be both insanely expensive and also practically impossible since I don't see any scenario in which Amtrak or BNSF would give away those air rights.

Maybe Mansueto can pay them to build a wall along the river bank?

I think that Amtrak and BNSF would sell those air rights on the cheap as long as they didn't interfere with operations. If the Loop had expanded to the size of Midtown, the demand probably would have called for the tracks to be covered by now, similar to north of the OPO.

Before the Fire Stadium was announced, I thought it could make sense to at least put a large parking structure over the tracks to make room for parking of a casino or stadium complex. Truth be told, there may be enough parking nearby off Roosevelt as it is to not require much additional parking.