What secrets is Chicago Union Station hiding?
MPC's 2013 Placemaking Contest, Activate Union Station, is seeking creative ideas to temporarily enliven the wide-open public spaces at Chicago Union Station: the Great Hall, the Canal Street Arcade, and the riverfront Fifth Third Plaza. Most of the 120,000 people who pass through the station every day are familiar with these areas. But the massive station, originally built in 1925, also hides a lot of areas that are now closed, vacant or inaccessible to the public.
Want to go behind the scenes to some of these areas? MPC has an exclusive photo tour.
For instance, the area off the west end of the Great Hall once housed a sprawling lunch counter, formal dining room, and a women's lounge. Which is behind this door? Check out the full set of photos (with captions) for the answer.
Where can you find this vacant, crumbling office?
Or this swank, recently-renovated office? Check out the full set of photos (with captions) to find out.
Where is this vacant retail space, just waiting to become a restaurant or boutique, with grand views of the Great Hall and Canal Street arcade?
And where does this staircase lead? Check out the full set of photos (with captions) to follow them up.
Once you've completed the photo tour, don't forget to check out the Activate Union Station contest!