MAD architects reveal revised plans for George Lucas' Museum of Narrative Art
The architectural team behind director George Lucas’ Museum of Narrative Art have revealed revised renderings of the plans, which have been drawn up to counter a lawsuit filed by green space advocates.
Images by Beijing-based MAD architects, which will be officially presented to the City Council this week, show a significantly smaller but similarly-designed version of the lakefront buildings, with more green space for recreational use.
Earlier this month, a judge told Friends of the Parks – the nonprofit group suing in an attempt to halt development on the Chicago waterfront – that they had “no viable complaint” for the amended plans.
MAD Architects are acting as principal designers for the project, while Chicago-based Studio Gang are handling landscape design. In addition, VOA Associates, based in Chicago, will serve as the executive architect and lead the implementation of MAD’s design.
With the building reduced in size from 400,000sq ft (37,100sq m) to 300,000sq ft (27,900sq m), a new ground lease agreement sees the lakefront land between Soldier Field and McCormick Place handed to Lucas for US$10 (€8.87, £6.48) for a renewable period of 99 years. The new plan details 200,000sq ft (18,615sq m) of new parkland for open space advocates.
The museum itself will house George Lucas’ personal art collection, as well as providing temporary exhibition space for world-renowned artists and filmmakers. It features an open-air observation deck on the rooftop accessible for free via a ramp winding up the building's interior cone shape. The parkland will include an eco-park, garden, sand dune field and an event prairie to host art and film events.
Assuming the new plans gain approval, development is expected to begin in March, with a completion date of 2018. The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art was unveiled in November last year after Star Wars and Indiana Jones creator, George Lucas selected Chicago to be the museum’s home. The park district signed a preliminary agreement with Lucas last September, proposing the 17-acre site to house the museum.




Judge says green space advocates have 'no viable complaints' as Lucas Museum scales back plans for legacy project
Hollywood stars gather for launch of Rem Koolhaas’ art museum in Moscow
State lawmakers try to clear a path for Lucas Museum and Obama Library in Chicago
US judge halts development of George Lucas legacy project
A first look at George Lucas' Museum of Narrative Art


MVRDV reveal ambitious plans to create Marble Arch visitor attraction for London

Coventry's former IKEA building slated to become arts and cultural centre of international importance

World's first entirely wooden stadium approved for use by EFL

Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter and ASP Architecture create hidden nature retreat inspired by hygge and Nordic hospitality

Zaha Hadid’s Opus building houses spa designed by The Wellness

Meow Wolf creates mind-blowing Las Vegas attraction – Omega Mart

BRC selected to design new World Food Center – will explore sustainability and global food supply

Ritz-Carlton Reserve opens with luxury spa at Japanese alpine ski resort

Scott Brownrigg-designed Museum of Military Medicine in Cardiff given planning approval

Work starts on US$898m e-sports arena in Shanghai

Gyms added to the mix for new super-luxe retail roll-out

OMA designs Miami Beach's ReefLine – a seven mile-long underwater sculpture park

Ole Scheeren and Shigeru Ban team up to design art and cultural destination in Hangzhou

FIFA files criminal complaint over funding of €459m world football museum

ReardonSmith leads design of Heya – a hotel room concept offering personalisation for each guest

Disney reveals first visuals of ambitious Star Wars attraction – including designs for hotel 'pods'

Flaxmill Maltings – the world's first cast-iron framed building – is to be redeveloped as a visitor attraction by Mather & Co

LVMH announces Bulgari Hotel for Miami Beach, with design by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel

Technogym opens retail store in Los Angeles

AZPML and UKST win competition to design Korean Museum of Urbanism and Architecture

Delos partners with TPP Capital to advance access to health and wellbeing solutions in urban communities

The Well creates integrated wellness retreat in New England countryside for Auberge Resorts

Architects 10 Design reveal plans for ambitious Edinburgh city centre plans

Perth's Boola Bardip museum opens in new AU$400m building designed by Hassell and OMA

UK Government's £1bn scheme to decarbonise is 'a huge opportunity' for the leisure industries

Museum devoted to the history of the US Army opens its doors

Architrave designs Banyan Tree Krabi with rainforest-themed spa

Anantara to debut in Seychelles following rebrand of luxury Bill Bensley-designed resort

World’s first energy-positive hotel and spa to be completed with interiors by Space Copenhagen

3XN design Denmark’s first climate-positive hotel with rooftop spa
From parks designed to mitigate the effects of flooding to warming huts for one of the world’s coldest cities, these projects have been designed for increasingly extreme climates