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ChiDesign Sparks Inspiring Ideas

ChiDesign Sparks Inspiring Ideas

October 8, 2015

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The Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) sponsored an international competition seeking design ideas for a Center for Architecture, Design and Education (CADE). The CAF challenged competitors to propose a facility with a multifaceted purpose: headquarters for the CAF and the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat; home for a design and allied arts high school; and flexible learning spaces for youth programs. The challenge envisioned CADE as a learning campus, visitor welcome center, and hub for community engagement in architecture and sustainability issues. DMA teamed with VOA, a global architectural design firm, to pursue this challenge. Our collaborative solution reached outside the site initially suggested for CADE—a vertically oriented space surrounded by other Loop buildings. To best fulfill the facility’s goals, we designed CADE on the River—a horizontal, stepped form reminiscent of the river’s topography and situated at the nexus of Chicago’s commercial, cultural and tourist hubs, across the water from the Wrigley Building. The tiered form slides between the hard edge of the city and the soft edge of the river and allows more shared spaces to be carved out for CADE’s complex programming. Our design incorporated elements to ensure CADE’s environmental and financial sustainability, including spaces for restaurant, retail, hostel, and urban farming uses. We’re proud of our entry and pleased to congratulate the competition winners.

THANKS TO THE DMA/VOA TEAM:
Charles Porter (Leader), Samra Ansari, Meghan Brown, Jaimie Bulla, Robert Chorazy, Renato Gilberti, Devin Gora, Jess Libby, Grace Rappe, Elliot Vieceli

READ MORE DETAILS:
ChiDesign Competition Entries and Results