Three Finalists Chosen in Chicago's Burnham Memorial Design Competition

Three conceptual designs for a new memorial planned for Grant Park have advanced to the second and final phase of a competition launched to celebrate Daniel Burnham’s extraordinary impact on Chicago. The Burnham Memorial Competition Committee, composed of architects and community partners, has proposed to build a lasting memorial that will inspire, educate and honor the memory and importance of Burnham and his Plan of Chicago.

Twenty firms that have distinguished themselves in the fields of architecture, landscape architecture, and urban planning were invited to submit Phase One conceptual designs for the Memorial. The three finalists were selected last week by a national jury of distinguished professionals in architecture, the arts, landscape architecture, and planning. The finalists are David Woodhouse Architects of Chicago, Hoerr Schaudt of Chicago, and Boston-based Sasaki Associates. The three finalists have approximately 9 weeks to fine-tune their concepts. They are scheduled to present their plans for the Memorial before the jury in early June. The winning design, along with all of the conceptual designs submitted, will be unveiled later that month. Three other proposed concepts - by John Ronan Architects and Hammond Beeby Rupert Ainge, both of Chicago, and Peter Walker & Partners of Berkeley - were recognized by the jury with Honorable Mentions.

Jury member Anthony Jones, Chancellor of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and internationally renowned art and design historian, praised the Phase One designs: “There was a wide range of proposals with dramatically different approaches, all of which showed profound respect for Burnham’s legacy. Selecting the finalists was no easy task.”

The competition is part of the Burnham Plan Centennial Celebration honoring the legacy of Daniel Burnham and his and Edward Bennett’s Plan of Chicago, the first comprehensive planning document guiding the growth of an American city. Burnham, known as the father of Urban Planning, also prepared plans for major cities including San Francisco and Washington, DC. A highly visible site at the northern end of the Museum Campus in front of The Field Museum is the expected location for the Memorial.

The competition is endorsed by the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District, and is a joint effort of the Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust, The Field Museum and the AIA Chicago Foundation. The competition is being coordinated with the efforts of the Burnham Centennial Initiative, which is being administered by Metropolis 2020, and is being conducted with significant organizational and financial support from The Richard H. Driehaus Charitable Lead Trust. The construction of the Memorial will be funded through private donations and sponsorships. Details about the Burnham Memorial Design Competition can be found at www.aiachicago.org.

Images: AIA Chicago