Illinois Maritime Museum

Ryan Lawber

1

Concept

The design of a new maritime museum in Waukegan, Illinois should be expanded to play a promi-nent role in the community. The development of this museum is based around a public plaza to give the entire neighborhood a place to gather for events. This community-based design allows for the museum to become a community center hub with room for additions.

Apart from the social aspect, the design of the museum incorporates a maritime ideology throughout. The repetition found on many boats (seen in the photos above) is due to the procedure in which they are constructed. Boat lofts (upper right photo) provide the basic frame to attach and form the struc-ture. Additionally, the museum plays with the notions of floating and anchoring. Materials are kept simple with large expanses of glass contrasted with elements of precast concrete, steel, and wood. The long-span steel structure allows for an adaptable display hall for many large boats. Incorporated into this stage of development is a working section of a steamboat, allowing the visitors to see how these floating buildings worked.

2

Site

Waukegan, Illinois: Harborfront

Once referred to by a newspaper as “the worst...mess in the world,” Waukegan Harbor could be the country’s best chance to execute the Doctrine of Hazmat to Habitat. With con-taminated sediment cleanup due for completion soon, officials may be tempted to declare victory and go home.

What could distinguish Waukegan from being just another former toxic hotspot is the vision of local officials that economic revitalization need not mean rushing to build the usual har-bor-front condominiums. According to Susie Schreiber of the Waukegan Citizens’ Advisory Group, redevelopment could instead take place on Waukegan’s bluff overlooking the harbor, allowing a win-win scenario with spectacular residential views and a re-naturalized lakefront.1

Development on this site needs to take into consideration the uniqueness of the developing area, which has a strong bond with maritime design and manufacturing. The site is very ac-cessible by train and should be geared toward accepting pedestrian traffic.

1: http://chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/summer2002/lakefront.htmlaerial photograph from Lake County GIS/Mappng Division, Waukegan, IL

scale

3

Site Plan

ABCDE F

Lakefront PlazaLakefront WalkWater Exploration Outdoor ExhibitMemorial PondEntranceParking

A

B

C

D

E

F

4

scale

Site Plan with Expansion

ABCDE FGHI

Lakefront PlazaLakefront WalkWater Exploration Outdoor ExhibitMemorial PondEntranceParkingExpanded ParkingWater ExhibitExpanded Boat Exhibits

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

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Site Perspective

6

Nscale: 1” = 50’-0”

Floor Plans

First Floor Plan

A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K.

Bridge Level Plan

L. M. N.

A

B

C

D

EF

G

G

H

I

J

K

M

L

N

N

EntryTicketingTheaterGift ShopCafeteriaKitchenRestroomMain ExhibitConservation AreaConservation StorageCurator Area

Administration AreaConference RoomObservation Deck

7

Nscale: 1” = 50’-0”

Structural Grid

8

N

scale: 1” = 25’-0”

scale: 1” = 1’-0”

scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”

East-West Section

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N

scale: 1” = 25’-0”

scale: 1/2” = 1’-0”

North-South Section

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N

scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”

Entry Section

11

Eastnot to scale

Westnot to scale

Northnot to scale

Southnot to scale

Elevations

12

Main exhibit hall looking north to the bridge and glass wall of the conservation area

View from the entrance near the ticketing desk looking at the theater area in the lobby

Main exhibit hall looking east to the harbor views Interior view of the theater area from the bridge

Perspectives

13

From the theater seating area looking west to the floating administration rooms above the gift shop

Perspectives