How the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair Can Be a Model for the New Bears Stadium
Kevin Warren understands how stadiums represent their city.
He helped manage the construction of U.S. Bank stadium for the Minnesota Vikings. It was finished in 2016 and is widely considered one of the best stadiums in the NFL.
The stadium design pays homage to the Nordic roots of Minnesota. Its shape is reminiscent of a Viking ship. The front has a steep bow and the entrances on the sides represent rowers.
The style also reflects modern Scandinavian architecture (think Ikea). This is evident in the clean lines and minimalism. It’s focus on natural light is also characteristic.
Kevin Warren is now tasked with building a new stadium for the Chicago Bears. And Chicago’s rich architectural history gives him a lot to work with.
The design for the stadium will largely depend on what is done with the space surrounding it.
Arlington Park sits on 326 acres of land. When the Bears renovated Soldier Field in 2003 they were afforded 97 acres to redevelop (source). That included area for the stadium as well as parking lots and parkland.
They now have over three times the space available.
Repurposing parkland for congregating thousands of people is something Chicago has done well in the past.
The 1893 Chicago World’s Fair is a great example. Chicago was tasked with hosting the world’s biggest international event.
Jackson Park on Chicago’s south side was developed as the fair’s focal point. It was the site of its most visited attractions including museums and exhibits. These buildings lined a large waterway leading to a central administration building.
The new stadium could be framed in a similar fashion.
Another attraction at the World’s Fair was the Midway Plaisance. This was a long boulevard host to popular fair amusements. Today it runs through the University of Chicago campus.
The Midway Plaisance holds a special connotation with the Bears. It’s where the nickname “Monsters of the Midway” originated. The name originally applied to the dominant University of Chicago football teams that practiced on these fields. It eventually became synonymous with the Bears during their championship runs in the 1940’s.
Initial plans hint towards symbolism with these sites from the World’s Fair. This is clear from the waterways and park spaces shown in preliminary designs. They lead to the stadium in a way reminiscent of the Midway Plaisance and Jackson Park.
Urban planning for the World’s Fair was the vision of architect Daniel Burnham. His City Beautiful movement promoted civic pride through grandiose monuments and neoclassical building designs.
It’s possible the Bears revive a modern version of the City Beautiful Movement. This would be a nod to Chicago’s history while also representing the city’s iconic architecture.
The 2003 Soldier Field renovation tried to find this balance of classical and contemporary. An issue is the lack of cohesion between the historic and the modern parts. Critics say it looks like a spaceship landed on a museum.
Still, renovating Soldier Field a second time has its appeals. A transit-oriented football stadium surrounded by density is rare to find. The lakefront location also has extraordinary charm.
Otherwise, Kevin Warren has a blank slate at Arlington Park. He can reinvent the Chicago Bears future while paying respects to its past.
