Richard Rogers Partnership
Design Architect: Richard Rogers Partnership, London Design Engineer: Arup, London Lead Consultant, Engineer of Record, and Architect of Record: Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Chicago
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•FINALIST• 35th STREET |
NORTH AVENUE |
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Evaluation Committee comments
Well thought-out structurally.
Emphasizes connection of bridge to downtown view...ties in memorial
park to bridge, and gives impression of openness.
An arch a la St. Louis with cables...gentle curve.
Architect's Statement
PROJECT APPROACH
In general, our aim is to create a gateway between the community and its waterfront address. We wish to re-establish a relationship severed by railroad and automobile and consequently, we hope to reinvigorate this neighborhood of Chicago. This gateway will prioritize the pedestrian and cyclist, not the automobiles and trains that pass beneath.
Specific features of the design include the following:
The abutments of a bridge are of the utmost importance as they ensure the seamless transition between ground and crossing. Along the shoreline park, the bridge abutment will create a marker and vantage point, which, along with its siblings, will make a visual connection with downtown Chicago.
The abutment is pulled away from road edge to allow for a landscaped promontory to rise gently at 1:20 to meet the bridge deck. This promontory is a viewing point to Downtown and a focus for activity at this section of the lakeshore.
At 35th Street, an enlargement of the sidewalk from the entrance to the memorial park and the gentle sloping of the bridge abutment at 1:20 acknowledge both the park and the priority for pedestrians at this point.
The bridge will link back to the community through surface treatment and lighting along 35th Street such that its presence is felt on Cottage Grove Avenue.
The bridge deck is separated into two with regular passage between the halves. This allows for the safe independent passage of bicycles and pedestrians.
The hyperbolic arch supporting the bridge span is a visual gateway between community and lakeshore. The orientation of the bridge ensures that this is visible along 35th Street.
Shelter from wind is provided by steel grill "wind hedges" along the spine of the deck. There is an opportunity here for artwork and seating to be integrated into the design.
The bridge deck, with its thin, planted edge and gentle 1:20 slopes, makes for a slender and elegant aspect to the railroad and highway.
The bridge is a closed structural system created from simple elements with a consequent light touch on the ground.
The geometry of the new bridge allows the existing bridge to be retained while it is built.
The support structure is steel with a concrete deck surface and planted parapet.
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Architect's Statement
PROJECT APPROACH
Our project approach calls for preservation of the existing bridge near North Avenue in conjunction with constructing a new bridge to the north, crossing the lagoon and Lake Shore Drive near the entrance to the Lincoln Park Zoo. The design team believes that the existing bridge is worth preserving, while the new bridge will provide much more convenient access to the zoo, parking, and the lakefront. The existing bridge was stabilized in the early 1990s. Soil anchors were installed to keep the abutments from spreading and cross bracing was added to prevent buckling due to unbalanced loading. As part of the new bridge project, we intend to further upgrade the existing bridge. In particular, we will develop retrofits to mitigate vibration and recommend a more durable paint system.
The new bridge to the north will mitigate the divisive effect of the highway and create a new gateway between the zoo and its waterfront address. This will bolster connections to the water's edge and, if the existing bridge is retained, will together create a pedestrian circuit that builds on the public attraction of the zoo and encourages people to take a stroll along the waterfront. Specific features of the new bridge include the following:
The abutments of a bridge are of the utmost importance as they ensure the seamless transition between ground and crossing. Along the shoreline, the bridge abutment will create a promontory and vantage point which, enhanced by a café and deck, will create a shoreline destination proximate to the activity of the zoo.
The abutment runs parallel to the road edge to allow for a ramp to rise gently at 1:20 to meet the café and then the bridge deck. The ramp shields the café deck from the highway, projecting it towards the lake.
At the zoo end the gentle sloping of the bridge abutment, at 1:20, acknowledges both the park and the waterway, giving priority for pedestrians at this point.
The bridge deck is separated into two, with regular passage between the halves. This allows for the safe independent passage of bicycles and pedestrians.
The hyperbolic arch supporting the bridge span is a visual gateway between the zoo and the lakeshore. The arch is reflected in the waterway, enhancing its presence from the zoo.
Shelter from wind is provided by steel grill "wind hedges" along the spine of the deck. There is an opportunity here for artwork and seating to be integrated into the design.
The bridge deck, with its thin, planted edge and gentle 1:20 slopes, makes for a slender and elegant aspect to the highway.
The bridge is a closed structural system created from simple elements with a consequent light touch on ground.
The location of the new bridge allows the existing bridge to be retained.
The support structure is steel with a concrete deck surface and planted parapet.
