Architectural Innovation: Chinatown

Chicago’s Chinatown is one of the country’s longest-enduring Chinese-American communities, forming around the year 1912. For decades, it has also been one of the city's fastest growing neighborhoods. With the population boom, the highways and rail yards that had historically fragmented the community also contributed to overcrowding. Through persistent activism and rising political clout, in the 1990s residents began to win long sought improvements to services, housing, infrastructure, and open space, all resulting in an evermore vibrant urban community. This self-guided tour highlights some of the key additions to Chinatown's public realm over the past 25 years.  Audio commentary is provided by Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, founder and Design Principal at Ross Barney Architects; Brian Lee, Consulting Partner at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill; and Ernest Wong, founding principal, site design group. Audio engineering by Prize Beagle Recording.