tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10923291.post677389931670528538..comments2024-03-26T09:42:38.709-05:00Comments on ArchitectureChicago PLUS: Sunday tour confirms importance of endangered Gropius buildings on Michael Reese campusLynn Beckerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03759748613223711212noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10923291.post-38145837186918382062009-06-09T09:26:24.763-05:002009-06-09T09:26:24.763-05:00I have gone on a tour of the Michael Reese campus,...I have gone on a tour of the Michael Reese campus, and having seen the buildings, I believe they are a very important part of architectural history. The proximity, both physically and chronologically, between Reese and IIT is very important. It is fascinating and instructive to see two very different strains of the Bauhaus built at roughly the same time and within a mile of one another. The non-Gropius buildings are also excellent examples of the modern design that flourished in Chicago for 30 years after WW II. The buildings themselves, and the gardens and spaces in between them, are beautiful and are of a unified language and should be preserved. Most importantly however, the adaptive reuse of the hospital campus would create a spectacular Olympic Village. There is plenty of room on the perimeter of the site to build enough units to house the athletes. The existing buildings at the core could be reused for both common spaces and residential units. This is true sustainability. The City of Chicago needs to show some imagination in putting together the plan for the Olympic Village. The demolition of these building will be viewed in 30 years as the equivalent of the demolition of the Sullivan and Chicago School buildings that occurred in the 1960s. We should try to learn from history. I urge anyone who has no seen the Michael Reese campus in person to visit and see for your self. I commend Preservation Chicago for their work on this issue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10923291.post-59726074124029720212009-05-26T10:23:37.153-05:002009-05-26T10:23:37.153-05:00One additional fact about Grahm Balkany is that he...One additional fact about Grahm Balkany is that he was one of the core group of individuals who founded Preservation Chicago, the citywide advocacy group. Grahm Balkany worked on several successful preservation fights in his role with Preservation Chicago.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10923291.post-19534933751264123282009-05-20T19:17:43.978-05:002009-05-20T19:17:43.978-05:00I was also on the tour and the buildings are remar...I was also on the tour and the buildings are remarkable. With imagination and selective demolition they could be remade into a stunning olympic village. I just hope someone at the city has the creativity and vision to see that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10923291.post-40177701990725456282009-05-18T18:47:00.000-05:002009-05-18T18:47:00.000-05:00This is a fascinating subject - when will Mr. Balk...This is a fascinating subject - when will Mr. Balkany be conducting his tour again? Thanks for the report; I am so happy attention is being drawn to this important matter.Adam Schaeffernoreply@blogger.com