Burnham 20/20
2020 Burnham Prize Competition by the Chicago Architectural Club
n lab g i s e d :A Chicago the future! s of for citie
The Chicago Architectural Club
COMPETITION INFORMATION Looking forward, in this competition, the Chicago Architectural Club encourages architects to engage issues of the future – climate change, movements of conflict, climate and economic refugees, pollution of the environment, depletion of resources – that can no longer be avoided. What actions should the architectural community take that will ensure that our grandchildren and their children see 2120?
INTRODUCTION: THE 1909 PLAN OF CHICAGO The 1909 Plan of Chicago, also referred to as the Burnham Plan, presented a progressive vision for the city of Chicago. Developed with the support of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the plan grew out of a need to improve the city’s infrastructure at a time when Chicago was experiencing rapid and unprecedented growth. In less than a century, Chicago grew from a small settlement of a few dozen people to a metropolis of over a million. The Burnham Plan aimed to provide a comprehensive and coherent strategy to address the city’s unregulated development creating conditions to improve commerce and reflecting on the way people live in a modern urban environment. The 1909 Plan of Chicago focused on six elements and proposed improved and integrated transportation, streets, and public space systems, and a civic and cultural center as the city’s focal element: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
“The improvement of the Lakefront” “The creation of a system of highways outside the city” “The improvement of railway terminals” “The acquisition of an outer park system, and of parkway circuits” “The systematic arrangement of the streets and avenues within the city” “The development of centers of intellectual life and of civic administration, so related as to give coherence and unity to the city”
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the six elements of the 1909 plan of chicago 1. “The improvement of the Lake Front” 2. “The creation of a system of highways outside the city” 3. “The improvement of railway terminals”
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4. “The acquisition of an outer park system, and of parkway circuits” 5. “The systematic arrangement of the streets and avenues within the city” 6) “The development of centers of intellectual life and of civic administration, so related as to give coherence and unity to the city”
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CHARGE Despite its wide success, the Burnham Plan has been subject to criticism being considered, in its essence, merely a “city beautification”1 proposal. Kristen Schaffer, author of The Plan of Chicago: Published, Unpublished, and the Treachery of Images, attributes this misconception primarily to Jules Guerin’s famous illustrations, which outshine the plan’s more functional, social and human concerns. Elements of Burnham’s social agenda included the enhancement of public space, parks, and field houses providing services to all citizens and the promotion of institutions such as neighborhood schools and daycare centers to help women balance work and family. Burnham addresses all of these issues in his draft of the plan—his intended vision was “Not the beautification of the city, but its humanization.”2 Now, in 2020, Chicago is very much a product of systemic issues that have been neglected and ignored despite the social intentions of Burnham’s original draft plan. Furthermore, Chicago is facing a new set of challenges. In contrast to the rapidly growing city of the early 20th century, today’s Chicago is shrinking. This population loss is due to several social, economic, and political factors, such as high taxes, access to high quality education and housing, crime, segregation, and social and racial inequality. In addition, Chicago is confronting global challenges including water and air pollution, climate change, and the current health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schaffer, Kristen. “The Plan of Chicago: Published, Unpublished, and the Treachery of Images”. In Stadtvisionen 1910|2010 Berlin, Paris, London, Chicago. 100 Jahre allgemeine Städtebau-Ausstellung in Berlin, 096 1
2
Ibid., 097
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7. Sherman Park field house, Plan of Chicago LXVII.
For the 2020 Burnham Prize, the Chicago Architectural Club is calling for new visions that address the humanization of our city. Looking at Chicago’s future and reflecting on today’s challenges, formulate your interpretation of the Burnham Plan that expresses the needs of our time. Through a project, series of projects or a larger plan, define one or more elements that address current urban issues that are able to contribute to the design of a more “human” city. • How do Burnham’s observations translate in today’s city and which new topics should be addressed? • How can we design a more “human” city today? Do existing planning and design processes sufficiently address the complexities inherent in our city today? • What are the issues of the future that cities are facing today and how can the architectural community address them? 8. Wading Pool at Mark White Square, Plan of Chicago, LXV.
• How can cities and urban life adapt and change in light of these new challenges? • If the 1909 Plan of Chicago still serves as a reference in urban planning, looking forward, how can Chicago act as a laboratory for urban and architectural innovation for cities of the future?
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9. Rendering By Jules Guerin, water front. Plan of Chicago Plate 127. 10. Rendering By Jules Guerin, Michigan Avenue. Proposed Boulevard. Plan of Chicago Plate 112 11. Rendering By Jules Guerin, Proposed Chicago Civic Center. 10
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SITE AND PROGRAM The project site is the city of Chicago: Competitors will define and address one or more topics of their choice that reflect the needs of our time. This is a speculative ideas competition. There is not a set program for this competition; your definition of the program is part of the design problem. Proposals can focus on one or multiple topics and can be anything from a holistic vision at a large/urban scale to a more focused architectural intervention. Submissions will be assessed on their identification of the issues and the design proposal’s efficacy in addressing these issues.
EXTENDED SCHEDULE April 30, 2020: Competition Launch with Online Registration. Question & Answer Period opens*. May 22, 2020: Early Registration closes. Question & Answer Period closes. June 30, 2020: Online Registration closes at 11PM U.S. Central Time. July 12, 2020: Submissions are due at 5PM U.S. Central Time. July, 2020: Virtual Jury Meeting, Projects Shortlist Announced. September, 2020: Winners Announced & Exhibition Opening Event **. *Answers to all questions will be posted to the competition website. ** This could be a fully virtual event
FEES Early Registration Fee: $75 ($30 Students) Regular Registration Fee: $90 (Student $50) Students (please submit pdf copy of valid 2019-20 Student ID)
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REGISTRATION To register for the competition go to the website http://chicagoarchitecturalclub.org, follow the payment instructions, and send an email to competitionentries@chicagoarchitecturalclub.org with the contact information for the entrant or designated team leader. Confirmation of the registration along with a random 5-digit registration number will be emailed to the registrant (individual or the team leader) for identification of the final submission. One registration is required per project submitted. Participants may submit multiple entries or be part of multiple teams, but each submission must have an individual registration number. Registration fees are non-refundable. Fees will not be returned under any circumstances. By registering for the competition, competitors agree to all competition terms and conditions
SUBMISSIONS Submissions are due at noon U.S. Central Time (UTC - 06:00) on July 3, 2020. Submissions are electronic and submitted via email only. The following materials should be submitted: 1. A maximum of four 11 inch x 17 inch boards (tabloid) oriented in portrait format. Each board must include the 5-digit assigned registration number in the lower right hand corner. Boards must be combined into a single four-page document and submitted in PDF format. The file should be named with the 5-digit registration number - “12345.pdf.” 2. A written statement of no more than 250 words explaining your ideas. The file should be named “Statement_12345.doc.” This file must be a .txt, .doc, or .rtf file, NOT a .pdf. 3. A single page document with team identification and contact information. Include: Project title, names of team members, leader’s telephone number, and email address. The file should be named “ID_12345.doc.” This file must be a .txt, .doc, or .rtf file, NOT a .pdf. The source of any third party materials incorporated in the entry must also be included; this source information may exceed one page if necessary.
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All three files must be then saved in a single ZIP file named with the 5-digit registration number “12345.zip.” This zipped file should not exceed 5MB. The single ZIP file should be sent via email to: competitionentries@chicagoarchitecturalclub.org. The email subject line should read “Registration Number_12345.” Upon announcement of the winners, higher resolution images may be requested from winning submissions and selected entries. Upon jury decision, shortlisted entries will be contacted to each submit one poster for the exhibition. Posters will be submitted digitally, CYMK, 300DPI.
ELIGIBILITY The 2020 Burnham Prize Competition is open to anyone with a vision for Burnham 20/20: students, architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, designers, and artists. Members of the Board of Directors of the Chicago Architectural Club, staff and members of the jury or their families, or those involved with the preparation or funding of this competition may not participate. This competition is to be conducted solely via this website - no additional printed material is available. The official language of the competition is English. All drawings and architectural scales should be expressed in feet and inches.
AWARDS 1st Prize: $1,500 2nd Prize: $1,000 3rd Prize: $500 Honorable mentions may be awarded at the discretion of the jury but will receive no cash prize. Select projects will be featured on the websites of the Chicago Architectural Club, and other partner agencies, and are to be exhibited in a special opening event. This could be a fully virtual event. Further information will be provided.
JURY A jury of notable professionals, academics, and public officials will decide the competition winners. The decisions of the jury will be final and unalterable, and the jury thereby reserves the right to leave any of the prizes vacant, or partially awarded. The jurors will be listed on the Competition Website (www.chicagoarchitecturalclub.org).
ANONYMITY & OWNERSHIP The 2020 Burnham Prize is an anonymous competition. No names of team members shall appear on graphic material or in file names. The unique 5-digit registration number is the only means of identification. All material received by the competition organizers becomes their property, including reproduction rights. The intellectual property rights for each submission remain with the author(s) of the submission. The Chicago Architectural Club reserves the right to publish, exhibit, or present the work submitted to this competition in any format.
QUESTIONS Questions regarding the competition will be accepted until May 22, 2020. Questions should be emailed to: competitionentries@chicagoarchitecturalclub.org. Answers will be posted on the Chicago Architectural Club’s website.
Copyright Š 2019-2020 Chicago Architectural Club | www.chicagoarchitecturalclub.org
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REFERENCES 1. Schaffer, Kristen. “The Plan of Chicago: Published, unpublished, and the treachery of images”. In Stadtvisionen 1910|2010 Berlin, Paris, London, Chicago. 100 Jahre allgemeine Städtebau-Ausstellung in Berlin. 2. Roche, Samuel R. and Lascher, Aric. “Plans of Chicago”. Published by Architect’s Research Foundation, distributed by the University of Chicago Press. 2009.
IMAGE REFERENCES
Organized by:
1. Plan of Chicago, Plate 86. [ONLINE] http://www.architecture.org/learn/resources/architecture-dictionary/entry/1909-plan-of-chicago/ 2. Plan of Chicago, Plate 40. [ONLINE] http://burnhamplan100.lib.uchicago.edu/node/1755/ 3. Plan of Chicago, Plate 73. [ONLINE] http://burnhamplan100.lib.uchicago.edu/node/1976/ 4. Plan of Chicago, Plate 44. [ONLINE] http://afterburnham.com/daniel-burnham-2/ 5. Plan of Chicago, Plate 91, Proposed Diagonal Arteries. [ONLINE] https://www.artic.edu/artworks/196348/ plate-91-from-the-plan-of-chicago-chicago-proposed-diagonal-arteries
Supported by:
6. Plan of Chicago, Plate 110. [ONLINE] https://www.artic.edu/artworks/196350/plate-110-from-the-plan-of-chicago1909-chicago-plan-of-the-complete-system-of-street-circulation-railway-stations-parks-boulevard-circuits-and-radialarteries-public-recreation-piers-yacht-harbor-and-pleasure-boat-piers-treatment-of-grant-park-the-main-axis-and-thecivic-center-presenting-the-city-as-a-complete-organism-in-which-all-its-functions-are-related-one-to-another-in-such-amanner-that-it-will-become-a-unit 7. Sherman Park field house, Plan of Chicago LXVII. [ONLINE] http://burnhamplan100.lib.uchicago.edu/newberryexhibit/ nurturing/cultivating-green.shtml 8. Wading Pool at Mark White Square, Plan of Chicago, LXV. Chicago History Museum. [ONLINE] http://burnhamplan100. lib.uchicago.edu/newberryexhibit/nurturing/cultivating-green.shtml 9. Plan of Chicago, Plate 127. [ONLINE] http://burnhamplan100.lib.uchicago.edu/node/1756/ 10. Plan of Chicago, Plate 112. [ONLINE] http://burnhamplan100.lib.uchicago.edu/node/1754/ 11. Plan of Chicago Proposed Chicago Civic Center. [ONLINE] https://www.artic.edu/artworks/90737/proposed-chicago-civic-center-chicago-illinois-perspective
12. Front Page. Plan of Chicago, Plate 107. [ONLINE] http://burnhamplan100.lib.uchicago.edu/node/1747/
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