A Vibrant Dialogue

North Pier w/ Booth Hansen Architects and The Austin Company, Chicago, IL

(Chicago, IL.)

As the first component in the Cityfront Center redevelopment plan, North Pier has helped to revitalize a vicinity of Chicago where the river and Lake Michigan meet. With three stories of retail space and a public boardwalk leading to the water's edge, a once derelict area is now a popular destination.

Both inside and out, the original brick and heavy-timber construction contrasts with new walls and structure defined by painted steel and glass. Meanwhile, nautical details give a nod to Lake Michigan and the warehouse's history as a cargo terminal. Thus, an ongoing dialogue between Chicago's architectural past and present infuses North Pier with a new, unique sense of identity.