222 (Without the Codeine)...
Anybody that has spent any time in Canada knows that you can purchase 222's over the counter. Well, this is a completely different kind of 222...
By special request, I do my best to see 222 S Riverside Plaza differently than the thousands which pass under it on their way to and from Union Station everyday. I will try to be kind... But... Well....
I wouldn't call it world class architecture, 222 S Riverside Plaza (known as Gateway Center III), is what it is. It could be worse.
When I went to look it up, it was given barely a nod in my book on Loop architecture. Completed in 1972, this is not one of SOMs better works. Something tells me they had hoped it would be forgotten after it was completed.
My guess is that the barrel vaulted entrance was a later edition.
The round top actually doesn't work with the rest of the building, but I suspect they were attempting to draw your attention away from the gridded box of a building.
Wind blown tree branches blurry against the building.
"Metra-ites" scurrying home from the big bad city to the relative blandness and perceived safety of the burbs.
By special request, I do my best to see 222 S Riverside Plaza differently than the thousands which pass under it on their way to and from Union Station everyday. I will try to be kind... But... Well....
I wouldn't call it world class architecture, 222 S Riverside Plaza (known as Gateway Center III), is what it is. It could be worse.
When I went to look it up, it was given barely a nod in my book on Loop architecture. Completed in 1972, this is not one of SOMs better works. Something tells me they had hoped it would be forgotten after it was completed.
My guess is that the barrel vaulted entrance was a later edition.
The round top actually doesn't work with the rest of the building, but I suspect they were attempting to draw your attention away from the gridded box of a building.
Wind blown tree branches blurry against the building.
"Metra-ites" scurrying home from the big bad city to the relative blandness and perceived safety of the burbs.
posted by Devyn at 6:56 PM
10 Comments:
Sweet! Thanks so much. can't wait to show my co-workers!
You make the 'salt mines' look almost inviting.
I now promise to leafve you alone (but still direct my few faithful readers to your wonderful site!
My Pleasure! Any other requests out there? It may take a while, but I if it is in the Loop, I will get around to it.
how about the fine at building?! Extra kudos for shots inside the studebaker theatre..
arts that is... not at!
one more thing -
your comment about "scurrying home from the big bad city to the relative blandness and perceived safety of the suburbs..."
I reject the notion of urban intellectual superiority. Living in an urban environment, as opposed to a suburban one, as your comment suggests, doesn't make you smarter, more liberal, hipper, or richer in any way. I'd love to live in the "big bad city", (again), but economics and a family situation dictate otherwise.
Don't think every person who lives outside the great liberal artsy bastion of Chicago is obese, voted for Bush, watches 'Spinger' and eats Pringles non-stop right out of the can... all while driving a mini-van full of screaming children. Its not quite like that...
Surprisingly, you might find many brubs to be relaxing, liberal, fun places.
easyw, Yes, I am somewhat biased, I will acknowledge that it was a blanket statement regarding those that live outside of the city. And I will add that there are plenty of heavy, pringles eatin, springer watchin folks right here in the city. (Perhaps not so many Republicans.) Also, there are plenty of bland areas of the city as well.
Having grown up in a tract house in suburban California, I know well what life is like in the burbs. For the majority, it is the desire to live a homogenous life. A life without the challenges the city poses, the hassles, the crowds, the higher costs, the difficulty of dealing with day-to-day life. (There are also plenty of people that think square footage is more important than a small local café nearby.) All the while, they are missing out on the rewards of urban life. They don’t see the benefit. They don’t “get” it. To them the city is a frightening place. I have worked with more than a few people that take Metra into Union or Northwestern train stations, and come into the office (at Madison and Canal) to work… And are terrified to cross the river and go into the Loop (at least alone). Not sure why, fear of a culture different than theirs? Fear that there are black people? What ever it is, they perceive the city as a scary place.
You my friend, “get” it, along with many others that are living outside of the urban core. I have many co-workers that live outside the city and are quite hip, quite liberal, and yes, even quite a bit richer. For many of them, it is also circumstance that has them where they are, with economics and family obligations being primary reasons. I have no issues with that. I am the first to say that I am very lucky to live where I do. But, I also have had to give up many things most people wouldn’t ever consider. I don’t have a car, I live in just 525 square feet, and I didn’t have children. I am not groaning about it, but the first question asked when it’s found out I live in the Loop is, “Where do you park”. The look of horror in their faces when I explain that I don’t have a car is always hilarious.
Well, I didn’t plan this to be a rant, sorry for draggin’ on so long. But I will leave you with this: Stereotypes are always based on some form of truth.
I work in this building.. sort of get the feeling like seeing your name as pedestrian #3 in a movie, after looking at the website this morning... great site keep up the good work. my linch break thanks you our companys profit margins do not,
Devyn - its all good.
If I lived in the city, I wouldn't have a car either. As it is, even as a suburnaite, I haven't commuted using a car in more than a decade - I've used a combo of train, bike and walk (and during that time haven't always worked at 222).
Having been born on the west side, and lived in/spent a significant amount of time in Hyde Park, Back of the Yards, Lakeview (Wrigleyville/Buema Park) and Lincoln Park (DePaul), I can say that I certainly prefer the fewer 'challenges' offered by suburban living. If I was single and/or childless, or wealthy enough to send my kids to Pakrer or Latin, yes, I'd be livin in some hipster hood. As it is, I prefer the fewer hassles that seem to accompy suburban living. I enjoy mountain biking at Palos, and the burbs have more diversity than one might expect. But when I need a real dose of culture, the city is at my feet. I probably go to more museums than most 20-somethings from Cook Co...
And if you think the 222 building is ugly, check out the old Borg Warner building at the corner of Michigan and Adams. My dad worked there for 20+ years... man, it is one ugly building...
I don't hate Borg Warner, I am very neutral on it. Not a good building, but not a bad one either. What can you say, it was the 50's. It just needs a good cleaning.
Don't gripe (too much) about the Chicago burbs - at the very least they are reachable by a stellar rail transit trip, so those wanting culture can find it. Course, when I lived in the city, I complained about the burbs. All that changed when I moved to Phoenix - and let me just mention that Phoenix makes Schaumburg (or Wheeling, hell, even Crystal Lake) look like the culture capital of the western world. Why am I here? Why don't I move back to civilization? I don't have a good answer - life just happnes in random ways sometimes.
Post a Comment
<< Home