Narrative A new elevated station at Morgan and Lake Streets defines the geographic center and character of Chicago’s Fulton Market District, an industrial area transformed into a multi-faceted neighborhood with emerging residential and retail uses. The Market serving the City’s wholesale foodvendors, is a rich combination of warehouses, off-the-beaten-path restaurants, specialty purveyors, loft conversions and boutique stores.
To reinforce this character, material selections take cues from nearby—steel, glass, concrete, polycarbonate, granite and cast iron are all used in adjacent structures. To maximize station visibility and pedestrian access from the active Randolph Street corridor, stationhouses are located at grade level. New trees, landscaping and artist-commissioned bicycle racks are located along Lake Street to soften the industrial character. Wide, clear corners at the intersection improve visibility for both pedestrians and drivers.
Accessibility, durability, and ease of maintenance were prime functional concerns. Each stationhouse has an ADA-compliant elevator that provides disabled passengers access to the platform and to the transfer bridge above between inbound and outbound platforms. Materials were chosen to reinforce the feeling of openness. Platform canopies are constructed from translucent polycarbonate panels providing weather protection, permitting natural light, and with their low weight, allowing less structureto reduce cost.
The lightweight nature of the panels allows for easy replacement. The transfer bridge, elevator enclosures and grade level entries are made of glass. Stair towers and guardrails are perforated stainless steel panels. Sustainable strategies concentrated on materials and resources. Steel and concrete are the predominate materials andcontain high amounts of recycled content. Polycarbonate panels have both a high recycled content and are regionally produced; granite flooring was extracted from nearby quarries. The landscaping is drought tolerant requiring no irrigation. New bicycle racks encourage alternative transportation. The location with its sweeping views of the skyline creates both a literal and metaphorical gateway to the Chicago Loop serving a strong emblem of the modernity of Chicago’s mass transit system.
