There is a cheerful little alley in the heart of downtown Chicago. It’s a welcoming space with playful seating, synthetic turf and warm lighting. Its very presence, nestled between 200 and 230 W. Monroe Street, is in sharp contrast to the metal, concrete, and glass of the skyscrapers towering above it.
Building owners Accesso, had purchased the two properties from separate owners and rebranded the space as Monroe Plaza to unify the complex. It then turned its efforts to the outdoor space between the buildings.
“It was a dark, dingy alley, populated with bicycle racks and trash cans, and a popular spot for smokers,” said Paul Gaines, Managing Director Asset Management, at Accesso. “We recognized the potential to transform it into an inviting public space for building employees, nearby restaurant customers and passersby.”
The concept for the Monroe Plaza Pocket Park was born, and the architects at Shive-Hattery Chicago worked with the buildings’ property managers to bring it to life.
Natural light within the space was non-existent so it was crucial to provide welcoming, comfortable, and safe amounts of illumination for park visitors.
“We saw an opportunity to use lighting as a point of visual interest and attraction,” said Mark Matuska, architect at Shive-Hattery. “We wanted the lighting to mark this area as a destination.”
The architects collaborated with KSA Lighting and the Design Assist team at Peerless (formerly marketed and sold under the A-Light brand) to create a unique, eye-catching lighting scheme. The final design includes a combination of Peerless’ 2” recessed and surface mount linear luminaires (formerly marketed and sold under A-Light ACL5 and ACL3 respectively).
Pierline’s recessed luminaires are installed in a custom criss-cross pattern on the underside of a wood-like canopy that spans the length of the pocket park. Pierline’s surface mount luminaire is mounted along an open, zig-zag concrete frame that runs parallel to the wooden canopy. Each “X” in the project’s pattern is formed with one long linear fixture and two short fixtures, welded together. When lit, the striking illumination in the pattern appears seamless.
“The lighting provides a dynamic visual in the park,” said Matuska. “The angled layout is intentional, to provide a juxtaposition to the rigid lines of the surrounding buildings.”
The Pierline luminaires are well-suited to the outdoor project for many reasons. Because of the fixtures’ slim profiles, minimal housing, and versatility in installation, a variety of pattern designs are possible.
Both direct linear fixtures feature an HE Tech™ lens, providing excellent distribution of light down to the casual seating spaces below.
Beyond aesthetics, Pierline offers optimized thermal and optical performance. The high-efficiency LEDs will ensure low maintenance and energy costs in the years to come. And the wet-rated fixtures can withstand the rigors of the Chicago climate.
“We were drawn to these particular products because of Peerless’ ability to meet our design requirements. The Design Assist team was able to provide continuous-looking linear fixtures with custom angled connections,” said Matuska.
Monroe Plaza Pocket Park has become everything the owners had hoped. Tenants and passersby now take breaks and enjoy lunch in the dynamic space. It’s even a safe place to take shelter during a sudden storm. The improved curb appeal has been an advantage as a value-add in current tenant leases as well as attracting new tenants.
The park has generated some great exposure for Monroe Plaza,” said Gaines. “The City has been very supportive of the transformation and snapped up the space as a pop-up venue for their Activate! Chicago summer program. We turned ‘nothing’ into ‘something’ and created a little oasis in the middle of the city.
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