Navy Pier: Continues to advance centennial vision as construction for family pavilion renovation gets underway

CHICAGO, Sept. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Navy Pier, Chicago’s mission-driven cultural district, today announced the next phase of its redevelopment as it commences renovations in the Family Pavilion, located at the Pier’s historic entrance. As with prior renovations, the Pier will remain open throughout construction, including parts of the Family Pavilion.

The Family Pavilion, which houses several restaurants, retail shops, kiosks and more, has seen tremendous success over the years with the help of the Pier’s longstanding partners that have occupied it. Now, the space is set to complement those experiences and showcase a bold, contemporary design to match the new Food Experience that opened last summer. Drawing on Chicago authenticity, the renovation will also enhance the guest experience, with improved features and new partnerships to better accommodate guests as they explore the Pier and take advantage of the diverse offerings in the Family Pavilion.

“The re-imagination of the Family Pavilion, as outlined in the Pier’s Centennial Vision, marks a key milestone in Navy Pier’s transformational journey to becoming a world-class arts and cultural destination with this extraordinary space serving as a bustling marketplace and hub for retail, dining and leisure offerings inspired by our great city,” said Navy Pier President and CEO Marilynn Gardner. “We thank our partners and guests for their cooperation and understanding through this next phase of our redevelopment process.”

With completion slated for spring 2018, Navy Pier is working closely with its design and construction partners, Gensler and James McHugh Construction Co., to bring the vision of the new and improved Family Pavilion to life.

Gensler’s multi-layered vision celebrates and showcases the Pier’s vitality and draws on the uniqueness and influence it has as a connector of the people who live in and visit the great City of Chicago. As a team embedded and invested in the city, the design is reflective of the mission to further Navy Pier as a global destination that is both family friendly and culturally sophisticated.

“Navy Pier has always been a place for the people of Chicago and those who visit – It’s the People’s Pier,” said Gensler Chicago Principal and Design Director Benjy Ward. “The design creates spaces that act as a background to enhance the bespoke experiences that millions of guests have every year. The architecture reveals the authentic, industrial nature of Chicago and the rich history of the Pier by stripping it down to its original intent.”

The Family Pavilion renovation is financed by Fifth Third Bank, title partner of the two-year Fifth Third Bank Centennial Celebration at Navy Pier and title partner of the 2016 and 2017 Fifth Third Bank Winter WonderFest.

“Fifth Third Bank is proud to partner with Navy Pier as this iconic Chicago landmark and international destination has hosted generations of guests, employees, community partners and friends,” said Fifth Third Bank Market President Eric S. Smith. “We are honored to help finance this critical redevelopment project as part of the Pier’s transformation readying it for the next 100 years and beyond.”