Did you ever wish you could fly, dance with the stars, or never grow up? Then take a peek at Navy Pier, Chicago’s nonprofit, mission-driven cultural district designed to inspire, educate and connect communities.
The gem, located on Lake Michigan and stretching more than six city blocks, paints happiness throughout Polk Bros Park, a 13-acre green park that boasts the Polk Bros Fountain and Plaza and the Polk Bros Park Performance Lawns. The newly constructed Peoples Energy Welcome Pavilion in Polk Bros Park serves as a graceful beacon. The Pavilion’s expansive screen display highlights Navy Pier’s history and, in various languages, welcomes guests.
The soul soothing South Dock, along with the Wave Wall staircase leads to Pier Park. That’s where you’ll discover the technological marvel, Centennial Wheel. Feel like an astronaut riding 200 feet in the atmosphere in the wheel’s enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas.
The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s ‘to be, or not to be’ dynamic design features nine mobile audience “towers.” The theater focuses on resourceful, sustainable and adaptive design and flexible configuration developed by world-class architectural teams.
Calling all foodies: Navy Pier is where you want to live. Put in your change of address if you want to satisfy your food crush with culinary innovation. The Pier has strategically collaborated with Chicago’s culinary giants to bring best-in-Chicago dining options.
Navy Pier, one of the top cultural destinations in the Midwest, does not recognize “tip-toeing.” Instead, it boldly struts into its second century with continued revitalization.
“As the People’s Pier, we’ve been expanding our dining, retail and entertainment offerings and evolving the Pier into an accessible, year-round centerpiece for Chicago’s diverse arts and cultural landscape,” said Lydia Jordan-Parnell, PR coordinator at Navy Pier.
The newly-renovated Fifth Third Bank Family Pavilion serves as a robust marketplace representing the best of Chicago’s culture and hospitality. It features an assortment of restaurants, shops and entertainment.
These new spaces also showcase cutting-edge technology including interactive digital screens. Fourteen monitors placed along a 20-foot stretch of wall are inspired by Chicago’s connection to water. The Concierge Hub stars four screens anchored by Navy Pier’s Guest Experience Staff.
Work is underway on a 220-room Hilton-operated hotel, which will sit adjacent to Festival Hall. A trendy, new rooftop venue will also come online, offering guests year-round, 360-degree views of Chicago’s iconic lake and skyline. A transient marina and boat slip will create new dining and entertainment elements that are sure to elevate the Pier’s social scene.
Of course, Navy Pier’s programmatic offerings will continue to expand in 2018 and beyond as the Pier remains committed to offering free, one-of-a-kind arts and culture experiences designed to kindle inspiration, education and connection for guests from across the city and globe.
Navy Pier has achieved Gold certification under the Sustainable SITES Initiative rating system, the first project to earn this level of certification under SITES v2. Phase 1’s Gold certification demonstrates Navy Pier’s undeniable commitment to the environment through expanded green spaces, improved pedestrian access, energy efficiency, innovative storm water management, use of recycled local materials and much more. SITES was developed through the efforts of the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin and the United States Botanic Garden.
For additional information, visit www.navypier.org.