The most recent Block 37 design reflects
the current state of architecture in Chicago: developer- and
market-driven, with little room for innovation in design. The
days of Modernist glass boxes are long gone, but the ideas behind
their impetus need to be revisited, in this case the trade-off
of plaza space for a higher building (Daley Plaza is a perfect
example). SCB's scheme seems to be aware of this part of Chicago's
built history, as some of the usable open space lost by the retail
base is regained in the rooftop plaza. The success of this raised
urban garden, and the development that hinges upon its use, will
not be know for a long time, but it's chances of becoming a lively
city space can only be achieved if it is never forgotten, not
by the client nor the public. And hopefully the negative attention
that one open space has generated over the years will shift to
positive attention upon completion of this important development
and its open space.
