Horizon Lines 2050: Building Chicago’s Future

Horizon Lines: Visions for Chicago 2050 invited Chicagoans to imagine big ideas for our future. This event asks the essential next question: What would it take to make the finalists' ideas real?

Nearly 200 submissions came in to the organizers of the Horizon Lines competition. In early June the field was narrowed to six finalists. The teams’ concepts are ambitious by design, as they propose new uses for alleys, highways, boulevards, vacant land, parks and reclaimed materials.

At this program, each team will deliver a brief pitch. And then our panel of get-it-done experts — Erin Aleman, Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Eleanor Esser Gorski, CEO & President of the Chicago Architecture Center — will question the teams about the practical paths forward.

What Would It Take?

Which ideas could begin moving forward now? Which would require changes in policy, funding, infrastructure or public support? Who would need to be involved, and what might the first meaningful steps look like?

Continue the Conversation

The program will conclude with reflections from Gorski and Aleman on the proposals, the barriers and opportunities they see, and what Chicago must do to turn ambitious civic visions into implementable change.

Final presentation boards will be on display for attendees to browse.

Drinks and light snacks will be served.