CCAC Gets Update on $320 Million Chicago-Based Research and Commercialization Collabortative by University of Illinois VP for Research Larry Schook

The CCAC would like to thank Mike Redding, Executive Associate Chancellor of Public and Government Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago, and Martha Gutierrez, Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago, for hosting the October 14 lunch meeting at UIC Student Center East on the Near West Side. At the meeting, members heard a presentation from Larry Schook, University of Illinois Vice President for Research, on the history and development of UI Labs.

Building upon University of Illinois' strong heritage of supporting applied research across multiple sectors--including an annual $1 billion research agenda--the University sought a new strategy to address contemporary technological challenges, improve technical workforce training, and create new technical and academic business models.

A visioning effort clarified the University's goal of "connecting the dots" among universities, the government, and the private sector to retain talent in Illinois, support company formation and community sustainability, and enhance competitiveness. The Chicago region was chosen for the initiative to provide maximum visibility, interdisciplinary collaboration, and potential for commercialization and transfer opportunities.

UI Labs (the initials standing for "University" and "Industry"), was incorporated as a stand-alone nonprofit in March 2013 and spent the balance of the year responding to the federal government's Request for Proposals to establish a national Digital Manufacturing Design Innovation Institute (DMDII). A $70 million federal grant was awarded in February 2013 to launch the new Institute in a former Wrigley facility on Goose Island, leveraging $250 million in already-committed funds from major, multi-sector partners.

Other initiatives coming to fruition in the past year include the December 2013 launch of Illinois Manufacturing Lab (IML) as a joint partnership between UI Labs and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and the March 2014 launch of Project CitySMART.

For additional details, view the full presentation in PDF format.

CCAC's Old Cook County Hospital Charrette Team Proposes Multi-Use Medical Campus as Magnet for Economic Development

CCAC was invited to participate in the Old Cook County Hospital Building Charrette on September 23-October 7, 2014. Over the course of the charrette, organizations including CCAC, Metropolitan Planning Council, Landmarks Illinois, and Lambda Alpha/Ely Chapter developed concept proposals for the re-development of the former Cook County Hospital building and adjacent land in the Illinois Medical District on Chicago's Near West Side. The charrette culminated in a presentation of proposals at the Chicago Architecture Foundation on October 7.

CCAC was invited to participated based upon our strong track record of success involving previous charrette efforts including last summer's IMD Charrette (see the January 2014 eNews) and this year's Gary Airport charrette (see the May 2014 and June 2014 editions of eNews.)

Our charrette team presented a vision on October 7 encompassing three key elements:

• HONORING HISTORY: Our program is based upon honoring the legacy of old Cook County Hospital as a widely recognized symbol of leadership in urban public health for nearly a century.
• BUILDING A LEGACY FOR THE FUTURE: As beneficiaries of this heritage, we envision a mixed-use campus anchored by the old Cook County Hospital that becomes the center of the Illinois Medical District and knits together its anchor institutions, connects to its adjacent neighborhoods and acts as a magnet for an economic development district centered on the West Side and built on the twin pillars of healthcare delivery and wellness, and post-secondary education and research.
• INCENTIVES FOR SUCCESS: To implement this vision, it is critical to consider all potential public-private funding sources and procurement models.

Key elements of our vision include (i) a 200,000 sq. ft. building connected to the old Cook County Hospital which creates a center for the Harrison Street east-west corridor, (ii) a renovated Hektoen building, (iii)  three inter-connected 130,000 sq. ft. buildings along western side of Wood Street south of the old Cook County Hospital, (iv) a 50,000 sq. ft. community health center and revenue generating underground parking garage, and (v) parkland decks over the Eisenhower Expressway and Ogden Avenue which create an unbroken pedestrian pathway to the new 2020 Harrison Street development to the West, United Center to the North, UIC Campus to the South and Rush University Medical Center to the East.

CCAC's full concept proposal may be viewed online in Powerpoint or PDF format.

CCAC would like to thank our charrette team members:

• CUSHMAN WAKEFIELD--Adair Schwartz;
• FORUM STUDIO--Erik Andersen and Tyler Meyr;
• GLOBETROTTERS ENGINEERING COMPANY--Michael McMurray, Virgil Anthaney, and Zygmont Boxer;
• LEND LEASE--Adam D'Auguste and Richard Rodriguez;
• LEND LEASE HEALTHCARE--Gordon Soderlund;
• PERKINS+WILL--Gina Berndt, Tom Kasznia, Thomas Mozina, Jim Giebelhausen, and Ralph Johnson;
• PORT ARCHITECTURE--Andrew Moddrell and Brandon Biederman; and
  
• RMC INTERNATIONAL--Mike Szkatulski.

Sponsors Sought for Central Area Connector White Paper

CCAC's Central Area Connector Steering Committee is currently seeking sponsors to fund a major White Paper examining the potential to build the new transit service to ameliorate access issues affecting areas including Navy Pier, the West Loop, and Museum Campus. The White Paper will be written by expert public transit consultants, with an initial draft expected within 90 days of funding and a final draft expected within six months. 

The overall White Paper budget will be funded by a major grant from the UIC Urban Transportation Center, matching sponsorships and in-kind contributions.

The Central Area Connector Steering Committee was formed as a result of strong interest expressed at the July 16 Central Area Transportation Workshop for further reviewing the Central Area Connector proposal, an idea inspired by City of Chicago’s 1990s plan for a downtown circulator.

Download the Connector White Paper Fundraising Proposal in PDF format

Read about the Central Area Transportation Workshop in the July 2014 eNews

Read about the launch of the Connector Steering Committee in the September 2014 eNews

SAVE THE DATE: CCAC Meeting with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle on Special Date: Thursday, November 13

Join us at the offices of Bryan Cave on a new date, Thursday, November 13, for a presentation by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.

	NEW DATE:	Thursday, November 13, 2014
	TIME:	Noon—1:30 p.m.
	LOCATION:	Bryan Cave 161 North Clark Street Suite 4300 Chicago, IL 60601 (map)
	HOST:	Greg Hummel Partner, Bryan Cave and Chairman, Chicago Central Area Committee
	INVITED GUESTS MAY RSVP TO:	mdoyle@ccac.org

Executive Director Kelly O'Brien Interviewed by Fox32 on New Regional Job Numbers

On Thursday, October 23, CCAC Executive Director Kelly O'Brien was interviewed by Fox32 News regarding data released by the Illinois Department of Employment security indicating a continuing drop in jobless numbers for urban areas across the state, including the Chicago region. O'Brien noted in her comments the importance of standing together as a region in order to ensure that, although led by Chicago at its core, all parts of our regional economy are able to grow and achieve success together.

View the full Fox32 video 

CCAC Welcomes New Executive Committee Members

CCAC would like to thank the following members for agreeing to serve on the CCAC Executive Committee:

• Erik Andersen, Design Principal, Forum Studio; and
• Tyler Meyr, Associate Principal, Forum Studio.

If you are interested in serving on the Executive Committee, please Kelly O'Brien at kobrien@ccac.org.