Chicago SkyLine

Designed in collaboration by Davis Brody Bond and Marks Barfield Architects, the Chicago SkyLine is a sophisticated, environmentally friendly, aerial cable car running along the south bank of the Chicago River. The SkyLine emerged from Davis Brody Bond’s PierESCAPE entry to the Navy Pier Centennial Vision competition, and links Navy Pier, the Chicago Lakefront, and the Riverwalk with downtown Chicago. With stations just a short stroll from Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue, the SkyLine encourages visitors to explore the city without the use of cars, reducing the carbon footprint. The ability to move tourists to and from Navy Pier will not only help ensure the Pier’s position as the top tourist destination, but will also energize the city’s Riverwalk and other public spaces in a way that is both practical and inspirational. The system is designed to carry up to 3,000 people per hour at 800 ft/minute (240 m/minute), in each direction along the Chicago River. The Chicago SkyLine will enable its passengers to inhabit this wonderful city and its breath-taking scales from a privileged position - a position the attraction shares with the Chicago Towers.

Lou Raizin commented:
“The SkyLine is a prime example of how we can move Chicago from old guard to vanguard. We kept coming back to the same question: what’s our unique feature? Where’s our Eiffel Tower? Where’s our Big Ben? These ideas are our attempt to answer this question and are intended to start a conversation in the city about what we would like our reputation to be in the future.” 

Steven Davis, Partner at Davis Brody Bond, said:
“The SkyLine, as a concept, originated during the Navy Pier Centennial Vision competition in 2010. We realized that without creating an innovative mode of transport, directly connecting the Loop with Navy Pier, we would leave a trove of potential visitors untapped. The SkyLine is the embodiment of that idea. And what an exciting proposal it is!” 

David Marks, director at Marks Barfield Architects, remarked:
“The Chicago SkyLine could do for Chicago what the London Eye has done for London, and become a very identifiable landmark within the city, driving tourism and prosperity. Gently fitting in and standing out at the same time, it will allow local people and visitors alike to appreciate the city and its world-class architecture from a completely new perspective, stimulating Chicago’s tourism industry. Its design touches the ground lightly and with an environmentally sensitive and delicate presence - like jewels in a necklace - energizing the city’s Riverwalk, and attracting the eyes of the world.”