Musicians performing live in glass at the
Hancock? Could happen
By: Ryan Ori June
18, 2014
Hearn Co. wants to put a
diamond-shaped glass atrium in the plaza of the John Hancock center on Michigan
Avenue. Photo by Erik Unger
Not long after luring thrill-seekers to the "Tilt" on
its 94th-floor observation deck, the John Hancock Center may get an
eye-catching addition at street level.
An owner of the 100-story tower hopes musicians will soon
entertain crowds in the public plaza from inside a glass, diamond-shaped
structure rising four to five stories above North Michigan Avenue.
Chicago-based Hearn Co., which owns the office space in the
skyscraper, wants to liven up the northern end of the Magnificent Mile shopping
district by building "an iconic structure in front of an iconic
structure," said Hearn President and CEO Stephen Hearn. He likened the
atrium-like structure to the 72-foot glass and metal pyramid in the plaza of
the Louvre in Paris and the 32-foot glass cube outside Apple Inc.'s store in
Manhattan.
Hearn is unveiling its plans after the opening in May of the
"Tilt," a glass enclosure on
the 94th floor that shifts to give guests a facedown view at a 30-degree angle.
A Parisian company, Montparnasse Group 56, bought the observation deck in 2012.
A venture led by Hearn last year bought the Hancock's office
space and parking structure tower for $140 million, a deal that also included
ownership of the public plaza in front of separately owned retail
space at the bottom of the building at 875 N. Michigan Ave.
Since completing that deal last
June, Hearn has been drawing up unconventional ideas to try to liven up the
plaza. Recently, Hearn has begun describing its plans and showing renderings of
the freestanding, enclosed glass structure to neighborhood groups and Ald.
Robert Fioretti (2nd) as it seeks support to revamp the well-located but
underutilized public plaza.
The vertical, diamond-like glass structure would be the
centerpiece of a total overhaul of the plaza, Mr. Hearn said.
Mr. Hearn acknowledges the project, which he estimates would
cost about $10 million and include other changes to the plaza such as removing
lower-level steps and adding an elevator, still faces hurdles, since it has yet
to secure permits from the city, and the company is still meeting with
neighbors.
RECORDING STUDIO
"There is no outdoor space on North Michigan Avenue where
you can sit, drink a glass of wine and listen to live music on a summer
night," Mr. Hearn said. "There's no place to stand in front of the
building to take a picture. We think the beacon will be this glass structure,
which will create the notion that something new and interesting has been
activated in this plaza."
If approved, the enclosed glass structure would include a
state-of-the-art recording studio that musicians could use year-round, Mr.
Hearn said. For acoustic concerts, poetry readings and other live events, glass
walls could be pulled open on one side, allowing performers to be heard from
the stage inside the structure.
"We want to give people a reason to enjoy that outdoor
space," he said. "It's not a profit maker. We would hope to break
even."
Chicago-based Music Dealers LLC, which
licenses music to ad agencies, filmmakers, game developers and others, would
serve as a consultant to design the recording venue and bring in both live
entertainers and artists booking studio time, according to Mr. Hearn.
ALDERMAN KEY
If the plans are approved, the project likely would begin next
spring, Mr. Hearn said.
"It needs to undergo a lot of approvals, and they need to
work with everybody in the building and nearby residents," Mr. Fioretti
said. "We want to make sure that they embrace the neighborhood and that
the impact is minimal."
The alderman's opinion is key because his ward will include the
Hancock under a remap that takes effect next year.
"There are still some bumps in the road, but I feel like it
will liven up the area," he said. "It's a slow spot on Michigan
Avenue, and this will continue the vibrancy of Michigan Avenue. This can really
be transformational for the plaza area, how people are attracted to it and use
it."
Gail Spreen, president of the Streeterville Organization of
Active Residents, a neighborhood group, has met with Mr. Hearn but declined to
take a position on the project until others in the group have seen the plans.
Generally speaking, she said SOAR favors creating more events north of the
Chicago River.
"We would be for activating the plaza with some fun,
interesting things," Ms. Spreen said. "The avenue needs to have
things that are somewhat programmed so that there is always something going on
at the north end at Hancock and the south end at Pioneer Court."
