Join us at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in Chicago on November 20, 2024, for an evening of networking, discussion, and a stunning view of Millennium Park.
Event Details
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
SOM Offices, 224 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL
$15.00 (In-Person Event)
Panelists
Randy Buescher
Senior Vice President / Director of Client Services, Epstein
Chicago, IL
Edward Keegan
Architecture Columnist, Chicago Tribune
Chicago, IL
Peter Kindel
Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Hong Kong, China
Mark Sexton
Founding Principal, Krueck Sexton Partners
Chicago, IL
Heidi Sperry
Supervising Planner, Central Region, Department of Planning and Development
Chicago, IL
Schedule
5:00–6:00 pm: Networking with refreshments
6:00–7:00 pm: Presentation and panel discussion
7:00–7:30 pm: Q&A
Millennium Park, one of Chicago’s most celebrated landmarks, marks its 20th anniversary this year. To honor this milestone, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Chicago is hosting a presentation and panel discussion on the making and history of this urban icon and its impact on the city. We hope you will join us at SOM’s Chicago office to enjoy stunning views of the park.
Krueck Sexton Partners’ very own Mark P. Sexton, FAIA, LEED AP will join this distinguished panel to discuss the creation of Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. Twenty years later, Crown Fountain still captivates for it remains an accessible and free interactive public space that is integral to Chicago’s cultural landscape.
Completed in 2004 and realized through the collaborative vision of Spanish visual artist Jaume Plensa, Crown Fountain features two 50-foot glass block towers displaying the faces of Chicago residents on LED screens, integrated with cascading water that periodically sprouts from the portraits. In a recent Chicago Sun Times article, The faces in the fountain: Millennium Park's Crown Fountain still watching over Chicago after 20 years, residents reflected on their portraits taken for Crown Fountain, celebrating the landmark’s enduring presence in the city’s heart.
Jaume Plensa's concept sketch for Crown Fountain.
Krueck Sexton Partners led a team of engineers and consultants to address the complex technical challenges posed by Plensa’s vision. This public sculpture and urban square celebrates the elements of water, light, and place. Intricate engineering integrated advanced LED technology, glass block (10 pounds each) and water with structural stability supported by internal stainless-steel frames. The firm’s design translated Plensa’s concept into an architecturally impressive and engaging structure.
Join us in celebrating this special anniversary and enjoy these key moments curated from the Krueck Sexton Partners archives.
Learn more about Crown Fountain
