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Block 37 Proposal, Chicago, Illinois, Perspective

A presentation perspective drawing for city block construction featuring two skyscraper towers and a connecting central atrium.
© Helmut Jahn, Murphy/Jahn Architects, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

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  • A presentation perspective drawing for city block construction featuring two skyscraper towers and a connecting central atrium.

Date:

1985

Artist:

Murphy/Jahn Architects (American, founded 1981)
Delineated by Michael Budilovsky (American, born Ukraine, 1938)

About this artwork

Block 37, the parcel of land in the heart of Chicago’s Loop bordered by State, Randolph, Dearborn, and Washington Streets has stood idle for years in spite of numerous ideas for the construction of new buildings. The redevelopment of the block was originally conceived by Mayor Richard J. Daley in the 1970s to transform the site of old, inferior, low-rise buildings into new and larger buildings with more intensive uses in keeping with the downtown area. The site has been the object of several unsuccessful attempts at development over the years. Architect Helmut Jahn, working for the joint venture development company FJV, prepared several schemes for the site between 1983 and 1987. All of these plans envisioned a giant atrium that would permit continuous movement of pedestrians throughout the block. The developers’ failure to secure a anchor tenant for the development—along with delays by the City and the worsening economic situation—cast doom on the project.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Architecture and Design

Artist

Murphy/Jahn Architects (Architect)

Title

Block 37 Proposal, Chicago, Illinois, Perspective

Place

Block 37 (Building address)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1985

Medium

Colored ink on printed paper

Dimensions

94 × 68.6 cm (37 × 27 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Helmut Jahn, Murphy/Jahn Architects

Reference Number

2001.560.1

Copyright

© Helmut Jahn, Murphy/Jahn Architects, and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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