OMA Project in Chicago's The 78 Canceled

Plans for DPI, a research and training facility that is part of the State of Illinois's Innovation Network, were revealed two years ago with renderings of OMA New York's dome-like building on the South Branch of the Chicago River. Construction had actually started on the building site at the south end of The 78, the 62-acre development that also includes 10,000 housing units, commercial space, and open space, but then “the university abruptly stopped the work to reconsider.” This according to an article in Crain's Chicago Business on October 18. 

Instead of a bespoke building with offices, classrooms, labs, and event space across eight floors with more than 200,000 square feet, DPI will be split into two, with facilities at the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park being built on the city's Far South Side and classroom and office space downtown. While the decisions is a missed opportunity to give DPI a strong architectural expression in Chicago, it also leaves developer Related Midwest without an anchor tenant for The 78. Nevertheless, the developer is optimistic, with Related Midwest CEO Curt Bailey telling Crain's, "While there is some disappointment in DPI choosing not to continue to build on the
site, that opens up signicant possibilities for something really spectacular, and we
look forward to being able to pursue that with all vigor quickly."