The 78, covering 62 acres, is one of the larges undeveloped parcels in the entire city.
Image courtesy of: Curbed Chicago, photographed by: Mark Segal
An aerial view of the master planing looking eastward.
Image courtesy of: 78 Chicago
“Crescent Park” rendering by SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill).
Image courtesy of: Curbed Chicago
Potentially, the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) will be housed at the 78. The DPI hopes to be the nation’s newest research institute and Interdisciplinary Innovation Center.
Image courtesy of: Curbed Chicago
The plans for the $1.2 billion research facility are ambitious. Meant to be operated by the University of Illinois, the DPI would serve as an important endpoint in statewide public-private research network, the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN). Hopefully, this network will be helpful in keeping young research stars and innovators in the state. In addition, the IIN hopes to connect academics to industry professionals.
A rendering of the 78’s Educational Hub and Riverwalk, as suggested by SOM.
Image courtesy of: Chicago Architecture
The 78 is proposed for the South Loop, in an area that has been described as a wasteland just south of Roosevelt Road and alongside the Chicago River. In addition to bringing innovations to the city, a half-mile long and 100 feet wide addition to the Chicago Riverwalk will be added. The project is still a dream… no funding, either public or private, has been suggested. Like we all know too well, that what must happen for the project to ultimately be given a given the “green light”.