Taken on State & Jackson with a Ricoh Theta S. Experimenting with VR video will come soon…
The quality of the image in the smaller window is not as good as the fullscreen experience. Image has not been leveled, but perhaps could be fixed with Pano2VR.
Mother and Child
As mentioned earlier, my mid-year resolution was to properly explore Chicago’s Art Institute. I am slowly making progress. Phase one was the Modern Wing, which I fully explored last week:
The Eventuality of Destiny
From my perspective, the third-floor gallery “European Modern Art 1900 – 1950” was the one that I enjoyed the most. There is a profusion of art there, but just enough space and light to prevent everything overlapping and distracting. This will probably be the gallery that I return to most.
Clown Torture
Whilst there, I did see a school group (kids about seven or eight years in age) mistake Bruce Nauman’s “Clown Torture” for something they would enjoy. They soon left, with a chastened school guide. Plenty of nightmare material…
Waka onna (young woman) No Mask
This week, I started to work my way through the “non-modern” museum. Visited the lower levels, and started on some of the galleries on the first level:
Merchandise Mart Station
Monday was the final official day of exploring The Pedway. Now that I have a good grasp of where the underground/overground passages and pathways go, I will be sure to walk The Pedway as part of my regular travels through Chicago – and may discover additional features along the way. I believe there are some segments that are private, connecting buildings and businesses that are no longer open to the general public.
Stairs to Wells Street
I began this leg of the tour by stopping off on the Brown Line at the Merchandise Mart stop. Here the Pedway options are either a staircase to the Wells Street, or an enclosed walkway across the road to Apparel Mart.
The Loop 97.9
The Loop 97.9
I took the enclosed walkway. Walking through Merchandise Mart you pass a hub of fast food options to the north, but more interestingly there are radio stations along the passageway that runs east-west. The Loop 97.9 has its studio here, and you can peer in through the windows.
Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart
A bridge spans North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart, where weary travelers can check-in to Holiday Inn, and where The Chicago Sun-Times has its offices (after vacating the spot where the Trump Tower was built.
Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart
Bridge Across North Lower Orleans Street to Apparel Mart
The bridge has some pleasant views of the river, but unless you live or work in the area there is little reason to venture far to this segment of The Pedway.
Chicago Sun-Times
Well, my little project is over. I am going to revisit my steps over the next couple of weeks and check off the segments based on Will Vaughn’s data:
| Segment ID | Name | Length (ft.) | Visted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Renassance Hotel Concourse | 1956 | |
| 2 | Aon Center – Fairmont Hotel Walkway | 184 | |
| 3 | Aon Center – Lakeshore Athletic Club Concourse | 538 | |
| 4 | Aon Centre Lobbies | 433 | |
| 5 | Apparel Center Ground Level Walkway | 733 | |
| 6 | Apparel Center Upper Level Walkway | 271 | |
| 7 | Bc / Bs – Monroe Garage & Grant Park Concourse | 1182 | |
| 8 | Chase Tower Ground Level Concourse | 280 | |
| 9 | Chase Tower Lower Level Concourse | 935 | |
| 10 | Chicago Title & Trust Center Walkway | 270 | |
| 11 | City Hall – 120 North Lasalle Walkway | 283 | |
| 12 | City Hall & County – Cultural Center Concourse | 2836 | |
| 13 | City Hall & County – Thompson Center Walkway | 247 | |
| 14 | City Hall & County Building Hallways | 682 | |
| 15 | Daley Plaza – Brunswick Building Concourse | 813 | |
| 16 | Fairmont Hotel – Park Millennium Concourse | 833 | |
| 17 | Garland Court – R.R.Donnelley Walkway | 280 | |
| 18 | Grant Park South Parking Walkway | 921 | |
| 19 | Jackson CTA Subway Station Connector | 852 | |
| 20 | James R. Thompson Center Ground Level Concourse | 928 | |
| 21 | James R. Thompson Center Lower Level Concourse | 779 | |
| 22 | Macy’s – 25 E Washington Concourse | 630 | |
| 23 | Merchandise Mart Ground Level Concourse | 2079 | |
| 24 | Merchandise Mart Upper Level Concourse | 1119 | |
| 25 | Metra Millennium Park Station Concourse | 1660 | |
| 26 | Metra Van Buren Station Walkway | 748 | |
| 27 | Michigan Plaza – Illinois Center Concourse | 920 | |
| 28 | Michigan Plaza Walkway | 691 | |
| 29 | Millennium & N Grant Park Garage Walkway | 1814 | |
| 30 | N Leo Burnett – S Leo Burnett Walkway | 385 | |
| 31 | Ogilvie Ground Level Concourse | 845 | |
| 32 | Ogilvie Metra Station | 1723 | |
| 33 | Ogilvie Upper Level – 2 Riverside Concourse | 927 | |
| 34 | One Illinois Center – Columbus Plaza Concourse | 855 | |
| 35 | One Illinois Center – Two Illinois Center Walkway | 202 | |
| 36 | Prudential Plaza – Aon Centre Concourse | 665 | |
| 37 | Renaissance Hotel Walkway | 276 | |
| 38 | Smurfit Stone Walkway | 90 | |
| 39 | Thompson Center – Concourse At 203 Walkway | 203 | |
| 40 | Three Bank One Plaza – 33 N Dearborn Concourse | 879 | |
| 41 | Three Illinois Center – Swiss Hotel Concourse | 755 | |
| 42 | Two Illinois – Three Illinois Concourse | 990 | |
| 43 | Two Illinois Center – Hyatt Regency Walkway | 201 | |
| 44 | Two Prudential Plaza Concourses | 278 |
For those who want to explore, here are some resources that I picked up along the way:
Pedway Between Red and Blue Lines
I had less time to explore the Pedway today, so simply visited the stretch of passageway between the Jackson Red and Blue El Lines.
Red Line Exit
I think I just need to visit Merchandise Mart and then I am done with my Pedway explorations.
Pedway
I decided today to skip my “do-it-yourself” regime and go with an expert – I arrived at work early (and left late) so I could extend my lunch hour and go on Margaret Hicks’ Chicago Elevated Pedway Tour.
The day began auspiciously enough, just as the group was starting to assemble (on the corner of Lake and Dearborn) Janet Davis (host of ABC7’s 190 North) passed and said hello to Margaret (hope she does not mind me saying, but she looks a lot younger/healthier in real life than on TV). I knew then that we were off to a good start (Margaret is featured in 190 North on July 15th talking about the naughty Red Light District tour).
Elevated Pedway
The tour lasted two hours, and took us along a stretch that I had already explored (Pedway Exploring: Part 3), but in reverse. However, I learnt a bunch of new things, was inspired to explore some new places, and was refreshed and rejuvenated at the end of the tour. The two hours just zipped by…
Lake and North LaSalle
As I said, we started on the corner of Lake and Dearborn, talking the elevated stretch (past one of the best Korean food joints in the area) and bridge ways that curve round to the James R. Thompson Center. Along this stretch I discovered that the Pedway is not owned/controlled by the City of Chicago, but by the businesses and buildings along the way that choose to participate in the system. This explains the charmingly haphazard way it has developed, and that the Pedway is not a connected whole. The businesses and buildings along the route decide how to provide signage (largely hidden) and how often to keep the things clean (Macy’s, shame on you). This also explains why different parts of the Pedway have completely different hours of access (and might be closed at the weekend).
Stand Here
And Speak Here
Margaret introduced us to a cool new trick at the Thompson Center. There is a small white circle to stand on in the middle of the basement concourse, and if you talk whilst facing the “James R. Thompson” sign the sound envelopes you in a spooky echo and feedback that has to be experienced (and is damn hard to describe). This is something I am going to share with everyone I take there.
City Hall
Chicago “Y” Symbol
We carried on through to City Hall where we discovered the Y-shaped historical symbol of Chicago. As Margaret explained, once you are away of this sign you see it everywhere throughout the City. Very cool. You can get married and/or divorced in the Pedway below.
Ornate “Push” Elevator Button
Also raking high on the cool scale were the ornate “push” buttons for the elevators. Very tasteful.
Block 37
Block 37 – 30% Occupancy (or less)
We continued on through Block 37 (great air conditioning, dismal retail occupancy) and then on past Macy’s.
Pedway Adjacent to Macy’s
Macy’s (formerly Marshall Fields) is probably the dirtiest part of the Pedway. Plastic bags full of identified matter are strewn along the way. Given that Macy’s is a premier shopping location, it is kind of sad that things are so unkempt here.
InFields (I now get the joke)
Here I learnt that the name “InFields” (the sports bar) is a not-so-subtle pun (In Marshall Fields).
The Heritage Center Underground Shoppes
The Heritage Center Underground Shoppes
Next came the Underground Shoppes, of which there is only one – a Subway (appropriately enough). This is one part of the Pedway that was actually designed. It looks cool, has a swimming pool (LA Fitness), but no stores…
Beneath The Chicago Cultural Center
The underground part of the tour ended beneath the Cultural Center (no busking from Bill Opelka today).
Healy and Millet Stained Glass Dome
Preston Bradley Hall And Tiffany Dome
Staircase
And the tour continued walking about the Cultural Center. As Margaret explained, it was impossible to include this location midway through the tour – people would just want to explore and linger here. She made the sensible choice to show us some highlights and then bid us a fond adieu. I had a great time, learnt lots, and look forward to some more explorations….
You can find out more about Margaret’s tours here (and sign up). Recommended.
Riverside Plaza
Today’s exploration of the Pedway was a bit of a bust – I headed west across the river to Union Station and Ogilvie Station. I found plenty of walkways, passageways, and paths but this did not have the “Pedway feel” to it (or much in the way of Pedway signage.
Bridge to Riverside Plaza
The highlight was probably taking the pedestrian bridge to Riverside.
Union Station
However, I did get to walk through Union Station and mentally reenact a scene from The Untouchables.
The French Market
I also got to chill out at the French market. One of the best places in Chicago to grab a quick lunch.
The Low-Tech Map
Along the way I found some more resources to help me navigate. At present, a crumpled printout of the 2008 Pedway map in my wallet is the primary means of navigation, but I did notice that the Pedway is marked on Google Maps….
Google Maps
The Pedway can be difficult to read on Google Maps, and not all the paths are marked, but this comes in very useful (particularly when looking for a hidden entrance). Google Maps also works in offline mode on Android tablets, which I plan to utilize from here on.
It also appears that there is a half-decent map of the Pedways that can be purchased at Walgreens – the site Chicago In Maps has a PNG map taken from Downtown Chicago Plus (published by Great Pacific Maps) which I intend to see if I can find. Here are some of the other websites that have been helpful along the way:
Pedway Entrance on East Washington
Today’s exploration of the Pedway began at 25 East Washington. A monolithic sign on the street indicates that the Pedway, retails shops, ATS Institute of Technology and more can be found be simply walking through the doors….
To The ATS Institute
A staircase and escalators immediately inside the building take you down to some decidedly unglamorous stores, offices, and mysterious rooms behind closed blinds. The Pedway heads north at this point through the basement floor of Macy’s (Barbara’s Bookstore, food courts, and InField Bar) and then joins the east-west stretch of the Pedway that parallels Randolph Street.
Yeh – A Pedway Map!
Although I could not find a more recent map of the Pedway than the 2008 edition on the City of Chicago’s website, more up-to-date editions certainly exist – there is one on the walls here (which helpfully even points out where you are.
The Glamorous Pedway
I walked east at this point. The Pedway tunnel here is low and wide. Not particular pretty to look at, and bare of all adornment. I am surprised that the City of Chicago does not attempt to charge for advertising along the walls. Parts of London’s Underground are similarly down at heel, but they are festooned with movie posters and adverts.
Red Line
The Pedway erupts into life a little further along where the Red Line (El) intersects at the Washington Station.
Block 37
Things get a little more upscale as the Pedway continues east into the Block 37 shopping complex. The Pedway passes through various fast food options and restaurants here (Au Bon Pain, Simply Thalia, etc.). The larger building houses CBS and Morningstar. Air conditioning here works incredibly well in the heat of summer.The Pedway passes through another El station here, this time Washington on the Blue Line, before arriving at the Richard J. Daley Center. This was where I felt less confident taking pictures – security guards and police have a significant presence, and I was worried about being targeted as trouble of some sort. The pathways here are more confusing – identical, under lit, and looking like straight out of the movie Brazil. This is probably the busiest part of the Pedway, with City officials, lawyers, City workers, and hapless citizens scurrying around.
Detour to LaSalle
A rather dingy corridor continues east to 120 North LaSalle Street, which I took and then doubled back and north to the James R. Thompson Center via City Hall.
James R. Thompson Center
Being a fan of the Blues Brothers I paused at the Thompson Center. There is a particularly sweet plaque dedicated to Chief Building Engineer Stephen T. Hynes on the ground floor (with a note indicating that today was “Hynes Day”) and a somewhat anonymous sculpture on the first floor balcony.
Aboveground Pedway
Aboveground Pedway
The food court on the lowest floor is best avoided, but there is a path north to a series of buildings running east-west along Lake Street. This was somewhere I had wanted to explore for quite some time. The enclosed bridges and outside seating areas can be seen from the train as I travel to and from work. Up close, probably not so exciting, but worth a visit.
The Manager
Doubling back to the Thompson Center, I took another path west to the Chicago and Trust Center where I snapped a pic of the 2006 sculpture “Manager” by Kerry Stewart. The Guardian has good things to say about her.
No Idea What This Does
I hurried back to work pretty much along the same route I had come earlier. Somewhat ominously there is strange device just off the Thompson Center that seems to monitor air quality. Or something.
Exit to Three First National Plaza
I exited at Three First National Plaza, where I was buffeted by the heat and the humidity.
Chicago Cultural Center
Today’s exploration of the Pedway involved a little bit of retracing my steps, but rather than return to the depressing North Grant Park Garage I started at Chicago’s Cultural Center. I had to resist the temptation to dawdle in the galleries, as I walked towards the north of the building where a largely hidden elevator descends to the Pedway that runs east-west along Randolph street.
Beneath The Chicago Cultural Center
The décor here is pretty much anonymous, but gets very busy as you approach Millennium Station to the east.
Millennium Station
The floor has a train track motif, which induces a desire to hurry up and get out of the way. So I did. A plethora of fast food vendors ply their trade behind glass walls to the south of the concourse.
Goat/Numerically Inspired Sculptures
I choose north, and exited to above ground at Prudential Plaza (passing goat/numerically inspired sculptures) and crossed Lake Street to re-enter the Pedway at the Boulevard Towers complex.
205 N. Michigan Avenue
Food was hastily consumed at Mezza, and then I continued north and east below the Illinois Center and Hyatt Regency Hotel, then ascended to street level. The aim here was to explore the disconnected length of Pedway that connects the area where the BlueCross Blue Shield Tower sits and Grant Park.
Pedway
Here it gets a little trippy – the entrance is in a spacious skyscraper lobby, with an elevator down to the Pedway. Beneath everything seems normal until you cross Randolph Street through a glass and steel tunnel supported by luminescent yellow girders. The south exit onto Grant Park is pretty close to the BP Pedestrian Bridge that snakes its way across South Columbus Drive and into Millennium Park.
Art Institute
It was as hot as Hell outside, but the walk through the park and across the Nichols Bridgeway to the Art Institute was pleasant. The occasional oasis of air-conditioned buildings keeping me from melting into a sweaty mess.
Van Buren Street Metra Station Entrance
The first day of official exploring began fairly innocuously. I explored the less useful / less interesting part of the Pedway that begins at the nicely appointed Art Nouveau-style Paris Metro entrance on Michigan and Van Buren. From outside it looks like you are about to descend to a place that looks historic and pleasantly designed, but once underground it is ugly and functional – with a pathway east-west to the Van Buren Street Metra Station platforms, and north-south along the Grant Park South Garage.
Grant Park Garage South
Grant Park Garage South
The north most part of the Pedway here ends at Jackson Blvd., so I had to head up to street level and the blistering heat.
Grant Park Garage North
Grant Park Garage North
I continued walking north along Michigan Avenue, and ducked down into the Pedway again just north of Monroe Street. Again the Pedway was part of the underground parking garage, this time the Grant Park North Garage. It was a toss-up whether it was warmer underground or at street level, as the path was largely alongside air-conditioning vents, which nosily blasted hot air. Around Randolph Street things improved, with cooler air-conditioning and a more tourist-friendly décor as the Pedway became part of Millennium Station. I grabbed a very quick lunch at Market Creations Café (in Prudential Plaza – the Pedway exits here), and then rapidly got lost amidst the passageways below the Aon Centre and Hyatt Regency Hotel. Luckily there was a map to help me orient myself.
Pedway Map
Here the Pedway largely resembles an out-of-town shopping mall, with food courts, hairdressers and newsagents. Coming from the grungy parts of the parking garage it feels a little surreal.
Carbide & Carbon Building
I headed back south and exited at Boulevard Towers where Lake Street meets Michigan Avenue. A somewhat surreal, but fun lunch break.
Chicago Pedway (James R. Thompson Center)
An unfulfilled resolution (until now) has been to get a better understanding of Chicago’s Pedway – the near secret underground city complex of passageways beneath Chicago. Lunch breaks are now finding me starting to explore. The downside (or perhaps the challenge) of doing so is the paucity of accurate maps and information. The City of Chicago website has a very basic map from 2008 here, but this is not particularly helpful: However, Will Vaughn has a more useful overlay map which can be found here. Hoping to plug away at this before the year is out and get a good understanding….