Work continues on the plaza surrounding The Bean at 201 E Randolph Street within Millennium Park. The famed sculpture located at the heart of the popular park has reigned as one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city for years. The work is being carried out by the city along with the Chicago Park District.
Image of The Bean plaza remodel by Ian Achong
Originally opened in 2006 and formally known as Cloud Gate, the sculpture is from famed British-Indian artist Anish Kapoor. Kapoor, who had some controversy around the world’s darkest shade of black called Vantablack, was inspired by a drop of liquid mercury for the piece. The piece was originally meant to be assembled in Oakland, California and shipped to Chicago.
Image of The Bean plaza remodel by Ian Achong
Rising 33 feet in height, 42 feet wide, and 66 feet long, the sculpture is a major part of Millennium Park which was considered the world’s largest green roof. Now, nearly 20 years after the plaza it sits on was unveiled, it has been completely ripped up to be redone as part of necessary maintenance according to the city.
Image of The Bean plaza remodel by Ian Achong
Along with new pavers, much needed as the previous ones were breaking and becoming uneven, the plaza is also receiving upgraded accessibility features and repairs to multiple elements. The work itself started last August, however it is unknown when it will be fully completed as it was only mentioned that it will run through the spring of 2024.
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Only in Chicago would it take nearly a year to repave a patio.
After 18 years stone pavers are crumbling and becoming uneven, who did the lack job installing the substandard material?? Adding accessibility?? The ADA was passed in 1990 and should have been factored in when built in 2006.
Typical Chicago, do a really expensive job poorly so you can come back and do it again for even more money.
Just move out of Chicago already…
GEEZ 🙄
Steve probably lives in Indiana
I believe there is a structure underneath the plaza. Rooftop plazas require more maintenance to preserve the structure beneath. It also gets an incredible amount of traffic, and all the wear that comes with it.
This is like the first major bit of work on the paving/roof structure since its debut almost two decades later, yet, every damn road needs major overhaul just two years later.
As one of THE BUSIEST patios and most photographed objects in the WORLD, people should give more credit.
Ya’ll are starting to really suck the life out of everything.
Take a step back, apply some logic before going ‘angry face’ on the keyboards, and appreciate life for just one damn second. Ughhh
Thank you Alex and Ian for continued positivity and respectfulness.
@Ian Aching, Millennium Park was opened in 2004, not in 2006. Please get basic facts right. It was supposed to open in 2000 for the millennium, hence the name , but was delayed and over budget and didn’t finish until 2004.
Hi uneven, I said The Bean, not the park, was completed in 2006. It was unveiled in 2004 before being covered up to be refinished into 2006. I am aware of the parks history.
-Ian Achong
Why are you being such a jerk? Ian’s not a robot. He’s a human being, and he doesn’t have to write these articles for us.
Please try to have some more empathy in your future communication.
What a shame for Chicago for its world class inefficiency. In another country this would be one week’s work.
Ah yes, “Hoe,” you sound like a structural engineer with plenty of experience with busy tourist plazas & park space sitting atop a decked-over parking garage.
The frustrations of having to deal with the effects of ineffective work force thanks to all the unions in Chicago is taking its toll on all of us.
I agree with the last comment-it takes forever to get something done in chicago-it has to, its built in – unions thank you much.