James Corner Unveils New Design Scheme for Overhaul of Chicago’s Navy Pier

As it stands now, Chicago's <a href="http://www.navypier.com/">Navy Pier</a> is a cluttered, over-commercialized tourist trap that juts out into Lake Michigan. But a new redesign of the pier, unveiled by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/james-corner">James Corner Field Operations</a>—the firm behind New York's much-celebrated <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/high-line/">High Line</a>—and <a href="http://www.narchitects.com/" target="_blank">nArchitects</a>, calls for the transformation of Navy Pier into a lush urban park. Due to budgetary constraints, the updated plan is significantly scaled back from <a href="http://inhabitat.com/james-corner-field-operations-wins-competition-to-redesign-chicagos-navy-pier/">the plan outlined by Corner last year</a>, but it promises to open up the pier and make it more inviting, providing sweeping views of the lake and city skyline.

Corner's initial plan, which won the international design competition last year, called for adding a large swimming pool with a sand beach on the south side of the pier.

That feature and a few others won't be included in this first phase of construction, but several other upgrades will be include in the $176-million makeover.

Perhaps the biggest addition to the pier will be a large, curved staircase that will be flanked by a "wave wall," providing unobstructed views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.

In addition to the grand staircase and wave wall, the overhaul will include plenty of new plantings throughout the pier.

A new fountain for kids to splash around in, which will be transformed into an ice skating rink, will also be added.

Future phases could include upgrades to the Crystal Garden, and landscape enhancements on the western side of the park. Construction is expected to begin this fall, and the first phase should be completed by summer 2015.