Illinois Maritime Museum
Ryan Lawber
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Concept The design of a new maritime museum in Waukegan, Illinois should be expanded to play a prominent role in the community. The development of this museum is based around a public plaza to give the entire neighborhood a place to gather for events. This community-based design allows for the museum to become a community center hub with room for additions. Apart from the social aspect, the design of the museum incorporates a maritime ideology throughout. The repetition found on many boats (seen in the photos above) is due to the procedure in which they are constructed. Boat lofts (upper right photo) provide the basic frame to attach and form the structure. Additionally, the museum plays with the notions of floating and anchoring. Materials are kept simple with large expanses of glass contrasted with elements of precast concrete, steel, and wood. The long-span steel structure allows for an adaptable display hall for many large boats. Incorporated into this stage of development is a working section of a steamboat, allowing the visitors to see how these floating buildings worked.
Waukegan, Illinois: Harborfront
What could distinguish Waukegan from being just another former toxic hotspot is the vision of local officials that economic revitalization need not mean rushing to build the usual harbor-front condominiums. According to Susie Schreiber of the Waukegan Citizens’ Advisory Group, redevelopment could instead take place on Waukegan’s bluff overlooking the harbor, allowing a win-win scenario with spectacular residential views and a re-naturalized lakefront.1 Development on this site needs to take into consideration the uniqueness of the developing area, which has a strong bond with maritime design and manufacturing. The site is very accessible by train and should be geared toward accepting pedestrian traffic.
1: http://chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/summer2002/lakefront.html aerial photograph from Lake County GIS/Mappng Division, Waukegan, IL
Site
Once referred to by a newspaper as “the worst...mess in the world,” Waukegan Harbor could be the country’s best chance to execute the Doctrine of Hazmat to Habitat. With contaminated sediment cleanup due for completion soon, officials may be tempted to declare victory and go home.
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Site Plan
A B C D E F
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F E
D
A B
scale
Lakefront Plaza Lakefront Walk Water Exploration Outdoor Exhibit Memorial Pond Entrance Parking
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Site Plan with Expansion
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A B C D E F G H I
C H F E
D
A B
scale
Lakefront Plaza Lakefront Walk Water Exploration Outdoor Exhibit Memorial Pond Entrance Parking Expanded Parking Water Exhibit Expanded Boat Exhibits
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Site Perspective
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K G I
C A B
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D
G F
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First Floor Plan A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K.
Entry Ticketing Theater Gift Shop Cafeteria Kitchen Restroom Main Exhibit Conservation Area Conservation Storage Curator Area
Bridge Level Plan
scale: 1” = 50’-0”
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L. Administration Area M. Conference Room N. Observation Deck
Floor Plans
J
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Structural Grid
scale: 1” = 50’-0”
N
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East-West Section
N
scale: 1” = 1’-0”
scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”
scale: 1” = 25’-0”
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North-South Section
N
scale: 1/2” = 1’-0”
scale: 1” = 25’-0”
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Entry Section
N
scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”
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Elevations
East not to scale
West not to scale
South not to scale
North not to scale
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Perspectives
Main exhibit hall looking north to the bridge and glass wall of the conservation area
View from the entrance near the ticketing desk looking at the theater area in the lobby
Main exhibit hall looking east to the harbor views
Interior view of the theater area from the bridge
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Perspectives From the theater seating area looking west to the floating administration rooms above the gift shop