Would Have Been Wednesday – Queen’s Landing Pedestrian Bridge

Todays trip through the Epstein archives for what Would Have Been takes us to Chicago, June 2001 for the unveiling of the ultimately doomed design of the proposed Queens Landing Pedestrian Bridge. For this project Epstein was the lead engineer, working with our consultant, the world renowned Architect Santiago Calatrava on the design and engineering of this pedestrian bridge. Our design was also produced with input and participation from the Chicago Department of Transportation, the Grant Park Advisory Steering Committee, the Landscape and Streetscape Committee, the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, and the Chicago Park District.

Our task was to perform an analysis and develop a design of a pedestrian bridge that would cross Chicagos Lakeshore Drive between Buckingham Fountain and Queens Landing. The project also looked into the reconstruction of Lake Shore Drive between Monroe and Balbo. The challenges of this project primarily center on its historic and highly visible location in downtown Chicago. In addition to reinforcing the classical symmetry of the Burnham Plan, the Twin Bridge scheme that was developed preserves the historic stairs and leaves the historic template untouched.

The twin pedestrian overpass design provided for two overpasses centered at Buckingham fountain. As viewed from the Lakefront, the entire composition frames the Fountain and preserves the open character of the Burnham axis. This axis extends to the horizon to the west and proceeds east throughout the Congress Plaza Statues, Buckingham Fountain, along the "water street" in Burnham Harbor, and out through the opening in the breakwater. By developing twin overpass centered on the Fountain, the strength of this axis is reinforced.

On an urban scale, the view corridors have been preserved. The off center placement of the Mast and cables maintains the primary north south axis and the view of the Field Museum. The position and scale of the Masts also provides a "marker" of the Burnham axis that can be seen from Navy Pier as well as the planetarium. The classical composition is completed by the placement of the bridges, which align perfectly, with the edges of the water street in Burnham Harbor and the breakwater opening in Lake Michigan. The twin bridge overpass successfully fulfills a functional need while at the same time providing a classically symmetrical solution complementing the intention of the 1909 Burnham Plaza.

Sadly, shortly after our scheme was developed the tragic events of 9/11 unfolded and the City was not prepared to greenlight this project and our design. In addition, there were multiple mega infrastructure projects in the works at the time that in the early 00s were not reflecting well on Chicago, ie the massive cost overruns at Millennium Park as well as the divisive architectural renovation of iconic Soldier Field. All of this meant that our project would die a quiet and private death.

In conclusion, we have to admit this Would Have Been post hurts a little bit more than others primarily because we truly believe that this project would have been a transformative one for Chicago, and for natives of Chicago, this type of public infrastructure solution is desperately needed at the Queens Landing and Lake Shore Drive intersection. Hopefully someday an elegant answer like the one proposed by Epstein and Calatrava will be provided for that mess of crossing!