The River Edge Ideas Lab Exhibition designed and curated by Ross Barney Architects, opened earlier today with a ribbon cutting ceremony and press conference, as a part of the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial.
CHICAGO, IL–The River Edge Ideas Lab Exhibition showcases the conceptual thinking of nine architecture firms, and was designed and curated by Ross Barney Architects in collaboration with the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development and the Metropolitan Planning Council.
The River Edge Ideas Lab presented the nine firms with a unique challenge and exciting opportunity to design public spaces along the Chicago riverfront at three iconic sites, including the Civic Opera Edge, Congress Parkway Edge, and Air Line Bridge Edge. These designs will serve as inspiration for the future of our riverfronts as the City considers how to provide inviting and active public spaces along Chicago’s rivers, the city’s second coast.
The participating firms, with experience designing award-winning riverfronts, parks, and public spaces, including the River Edge Ideas Lab, are Ross Barney Architects, Adjaye Associates, James Corner Field Operations, Perkins+Will, Sasaki, Site, SOM, Studio Gang, and SWA.
The exhibition designed by Ross Barney Architects will run in conjunction with the Chicago Architecture Biennial, September 16, 2017 – January 7, 2018. A traveling exhibit will also be displayed at locations throughout the city in addition to a digital catalog at chiriverlab.com.
The Ideas Lab is a continuation of celebrated river-centric works by Ross Barney Architects, including the Chicago Riverwalk, Our Great Rivers; a vision for 156 miles of Chicago’s riverfront, and Ass(et) Creek; a design proposal exhibited at 50 Designers, 50 Ideas, 50 Wards.
Carol Ross Barney, Founder and President of Ross Barney Architects, is available for interviews during the event and the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial. Ross Barney will receive the Chicago AIA Lifetime Achievement Award on October 13 at Designight 2017, the premier awards night celebrating Chicago’s architectural community.
About the River Edge Ideas Lab
Chicago’s River Edge Ideas Lab is an initiative of the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development and Metropolitan Planning Council, and has been generously funded by the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Comcast, the 601W Companies, and Related Midwest.
Participating firms include Adjaye Associates, James Corner Field Operations, Perkins+Will, Ross Barney Architects, Sasaki, Site, SOM, Studio Gang, and SWA.
About Ross Barney Architects:
Ross Barney Architects (www.r-barc.com) is a Chicago-based architecture and urban design studio. Established by Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, the studio occupies a unique place within the panorama of contemporary practice that is characterized by a reputation for work in the public realm.
The studio’s ideas and projects have been recognized, published, and exhibited around the world, receiving more than 100 major awards.
