It has been revealed that the Discovery Partners Institute (DPI) within The 78 has been canceled. The project located at 1519 S Wells Street has been in the works for years and saw several reductions in scale since it was first announced. The cancellation was first reported by Crain’s, dealing a blow to the massive development led by Related Midwest that has been trying to lock down additional anchors.
Previous rendering for the 78 with the Discovery Partners Institute in right foreground (stadium not included). Rendering by OMA and Jacobs
Model of DPI by OMA and Jacobs
DPI was originally supposed to serve as a science/tech R&D center for the University of Illinois (Urbana) and other local universities, hoping to foster the same level of activity with corporations and national labs as places like Silicon Valley. The pebble-like structure was being designed by globally known architecture firm OMA.
Rendering of DPI by OMA and Jacobs
Rendering of DPI by OMA and Jacobs
Rising eight stories and 135 feet in height with 213,000 square feet of space, the building would have contained classrooms, meeting spaces, labs, office space, an auditorium, terraces and more around a central atrium. All of this would have been clad in a glass facade with angled aluminum panels that widen towards the south to curb sun exposure and heat gain.
Rendering of DPI by OMA and Jacobs
Rendering of DPI by OMA and Jacobs
While it took many years to get going, DPI was moving ahead after Related donated the 1.5 acres of land on which it would have stood. Most recently, the university had selected a contractor and was starting basic groundwork, having already invested $25 million in total including design, planning, and construction prior to halting the work this fall.
Rendering of DPI by OMA and Jacobs
Rendering of DPI by OMA and Jacobs
The cancellation came as the university shifts its gears towards the new Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park set to rise at the former South Works site, which is also being developed by Related. This combined with the building’s shrinking size as construction costs ballooned led to the outcome, with the university deciding to focus on Quantum and AI.
Rendering of Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park by LJC
Rendering of Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park by LJC
However it still plans to have a presence downtown, hoping to lease out space for classrooms and offices to continue to offer its local programs like its master’s in computer science. However plans within the new quantum campus for the university have not been announced and remain vague as they now look for additional funding.
Rendering of DPI and Sox stadium in The 78 via Related Midwest
Rendering of Sox stadium in The 78 via Related Midwest
As for The 78, its future remains unknown similar to other mega-developments like Lincoln Yards. Stadiums seem to be the latest push as the team built a baseball diamond and is hosting events around it. Most recently Chicago Fire FC announced they are looking to build their own stadium with no tax-payer money and have toured The 78, Lincoln Yards, and Bronzeville Lakefront.
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Bummer! Some not great news for all the yimbys, but thanks for sharing. I was waiting for an update on the DPI, but unfortunately it was not news of breaking ground
I think this building would look great sitting on lakefront at south works The beginning of a new downtown for south side Also a Chicago Fire stadium and a White sox stadium at the 78 would look great as well With a park in the middle Would love to see that tower from the casino proposal along with entertainment center riverside docks apartments and restaurants Lets hope we have a city that still has the will to build this kind of stuff
The Fire need to get with the Bears and build a single stadium. They already play some games at Soldier.
For the Bears to get with fire Theye will need a grass field The Bears should go to Arlington they messed up the Sox coming back as soon as they thought they could some Bond action They like the lakefront because no property tax and they would eliminate competition for concerts with Soldier field out of picture We wont get any big international soccer matches with no sf Here is the deal I like extend hotel tax to include Suburbs Put Bears in Arlington The Fire and White sox at the 78 The Red Stars on Goose Island or Lincoln and save The old Sox Park site for future second NFL team Thats a long shot but if South Side stared building up again it would get a team And the South works will be the catalyst for that rebirth JW
Between this news and the struggles of Lincoln Yards, it hasn’t been a great year for megadevelopments. Really neither site has figured out any viable success plan that didn’t include Amazon HQ2 (that saga feels like a lifetime ago).
I’m actually more surprised at The 78 lagging so far behind as it has so many built-in advantages that Lincoln Yards doesn’t due to its proximity to downtown, a thriving Chinatown, and planned/existing transit infrastructure. It was the best option for the casino project. I’m quite sure they’ve been quietly courting the Bears and it may not be long until the site is floated as a “stadium district.”
Disappointing. This would’ve been quite different and architecturally-unique from all the boxes going up everywhere. Oh well
Maybe they should subdivide the piece of land and allow a handful of smaller developers to do as they wish, albeit in line with certain architectural and infrastructural provisions set by the city?