Lakeshore East/Cascade Park
Lakeshore East/Cascade Park
Chicago (Illinois), USA

A park threshold between city and lake

Lakeshore East is a multi-tower mixed-use development located northeast of the Loop and north of Maggie Daley and Millennium Parks along Lakeshore Drive. Positioned between the city’s iconic skyline and the limitless horizon of Lake Michigan, the park provides an immersion between these two powerful qualities that define the unique identity of Chicago. A continuous sloped path connects these two extraordinary features to create a one-of-a-kind experience in the city.

The park provides a pedestrian link between the upper street network of the neighbourhood and the lower level of the lake 50 feets lower. A seamless and accessible descent from North Harbor Drive links pedestrians via a contiguous park surface. The descent of the park is divided into tiered spaces that can accommodate a wide range of flexible programming to become an open space amenity for the surrounding Lakeshore East community. The descending open space in the park is suspended above a circulation corridor at the lake level which accommodates local traffic to the adjacent developments, as well as pedestrians and cyclists connecting to the Lakefront Trail. The juxtaposition of these two overlapping public spaces creates additional area for activity within the constraints of a compact site. Combined with the garden ambience designed for the base of the towers and their respective outdoor amenities, the landscape strategy aspires to transform the current post-industrial ‘terrain vague’ into a generous high quality outdoor space for residents and visitors.

Client
Magellan Development Group, Lendlease

Collaboration
bKL Architecture, Living Habitats, Confluence (Landscape Architect of Record)

Area
15945m2 (4 acres)

Awards

2023 
Gold Certification – Grands Prix du Design – Discipline : Landscape & Territories

2022
Mention Honorable – The Best Urban Design – Fast Company

Year
2017-2021

Status
Completed

Categories
Master Plan
Park
Skyscraper
Streetscape
Photo, 2021 - Nick Ulivieri
Photo, 2022 - Tom Rossiter
Photo, 2022 - Tom Rossiter
Plan - CCxA
Photo, 2021 - Nick Ulivieri
Photo, 2021 - Jack Crawford
Photo, 2021 - Jack Crawford
Photo, 2022 - Confluence
Photo, 2023 - Mark Chamberlain
Street View - Google Earth
Photo, 2022 - Tom Rossiter
Photo, 2021 - Jack Crawford
Circulation Diagram - CCxA
Photo, 2021 - Jack Crawford
Context Map - CCxA
Context - CCxA
Photo, Under Construction, 2020 - bKL
Photo, Under Construction, 2020 - Confluence
Photo, Under Construction, 2020 - Confluence
Photo, Under Construction, 2020 - Confluence
Rendering - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Rendering - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Rendu - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Rendu - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Rendu - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Rendu - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Rendu - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Rendering - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Rendering - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, Claude Cormier + Associés
Rendering - Lendlease, Magellan Development Group, bKL Architecture, CCxA
Photo, Existing State, 2017 - CCxA