Tuesday / October 16, 2018 / 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Creating The 78: Chicago’s Next Great Neighborhood
SOM, 224 South Michigan Avenue, 9th Floor, Chicago
The 78 is Chicago’s next great neighborhood - it is modern placemaking in action and will transform the largest parcel of undeveloped land in downtown Chicago into the city's 78th community area. Spanning 62 acres of current brownfield space immediately south of downtown, this massive extension of the Loop establishes a dynamic new residential, commercial, academic, civic, cultural, and recreational mixed-use neighborhood for all Chicagoans. Located at the convergence of many of Chicago’s most vibrant, diverse communities—the South Loop, Chinatown, Pilsen, Little Italy, and Bronzeville, to name a few—the 78 is a neighborhood imbued with Chicago’s culture and history, blending seamlessly with the communities it borders.
An extension of Chicago’s central business district, this transit-oriented development emphasizes connectivity. Highly accessible from streets and waterways, the development features new water taxi stops, new bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets, with proximity to local and regional rail lines, including a proposed CTA Red Line stop that would establish new connections to the city and both O’Hare and Midway International Airports. Incorporating seven acres of public park and five acres of unimpeded riverfront space along the south branch of the Chicago River, The 78’s Riverwalk will engage one of the city’s greatest natural assets with unparalleled access, year-round recreation, and an abundance of cultural and hospitality amenities for visitors and residents alike.
Speakers: Thomas Hussey, AIA, a Director in SOM’s Urban Design and Planning Studio, is an accomplished architect and urban designer focused on the design of cities, districts, and large, complex architectural projects. Leading multi-disciplinary design teams, Hussey creatively addresses challenges and opportunities emerging from established and developing cities worldwide. Trained in architecture and urban planning, Hussey brings together the design skills and ambitions of both disciplines to develop holistic plans for urban centers and communities. He directs high-visibility, forward-facing projects that strategically define important places, positioning them for enduring growth and prosperity. With an award-winning portfolio of projects ranging from Beijing to Panama City, Hussey delivers innovative solutions to unique challenges facing our cities and collective issues facing our planet
Mike Pfeffer, AIA, joined Related Midwest in 2016 as Vice President of Architecture and Design after 15 years at the Chicago office of SOM, where he served as Managing Director overseeing many projects throughout Asia and Chicago. At Related Midwest his primary responsibility is to serve as the design development lead for the “78” and “400 LSD” (formerly the Spire site). He is a 2014 national AIA Young Architect Award winner and a 2016 Crain’s 40 under 40 recipient. He has also served over five years on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Chicago and on the AIA Chicago Board of Directors.
Other SOM team members will join for Q&A. Thanks to SOM for beverages and light snacks.
