Chicago Visitor Center
Associated Projects
RENOVATION OF A 45,000 SF EXISTING BUILDING TO CONTAIN A 7,500 SF VISITOR CENTER AND OFFICE SPACE FOR THE CITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM.
User needs drove the design of this competition-winning project. Visitor types were grouped into four possible profiles, each responding to different interests, expectations, and levels of knowledge about the city. The floor plan and activity flow is designed around these profiles, which include the “First Timer” who’s never been to Chicago, the “Transplant” who just moved here, the “Adventurer” who lives here but wants to know more, and the “Day Tripper” looking for something new to do. Four activity zones were created to gather, orient, immerse and relax, and are separated not by dividers, but by the functions they support. The resulting design accommodates the different learning styles of users in anticipation of a diverse set of visitor preferences, while the bold steel frame and glass exterior creates an ever changing canvas for promoting citywide events.
