Last week, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) unveiled three short-listed proposals for a performing arts center. Two of the finalist designs, by OMA and Johnston Marklee, take strong cues from Walter Netsch’s arch-Brutalist UIC campus—one of Chicago’s least understood bits of architectural history. The third, by Thom Mayne’s Morphosis, staunchly stands apart from Netsch’s legacy.
Located at the campus’s northeastern corner adjacent to a freeway and a Blue Line El stop, the arts center will be a gateway to the school, adding a 500-seat concert hall and 270-seat theater. This new home for the university’s School of Theater and Music comes with an estimated budget of $94.5 million. Each proposal (crafted by a major national or international firm partnered with a local architect of record) is designed to be phased in gradually, offering flexibility for a project that is still raising the money needed.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.