TEAM - The Centennial Vision | A Framework for Reimagining Navy ...

!melk landscape architecture PC!melk urban design LLC11 John Street, Suite 2650New York, NY 10038melk@melk-nyc.comwww.melk-nyc.comOctober 6, 2011Mr. Steven J. HaemmerleExecutive Vice PresidentNavy Pier, Inc.600 East Grand AvenueChicago, Illinois 60611Re: Design Team Search for the Pierscape at Navy PierTeam !melk Design Team Qualifications and PortfolioDear Mr. Haemmerle:It is with great enthusiasm that we present to you our qualifications for the Pierscape at Navy Pier designcompetition. As you will see herein, we have assembled an internationally-renowned design team ofunparalleled experience, poised to deliver a visionary, innovative planning strategy and design for Chicago’slandmark Pier. This delivery will be focused on cutting-edge (landscape) architecture, as well as strongrelationships and connections with the city’s downtown.Our teaming strategy is built upon a core collaboration between !melk, HOK and UrbanLab. Our team –which includes a thoughtful selection of speciality consultants and contributors – is referred to as Team !melkthroughout this submittal. As a team, what we bring, first and foremost, is creativity and collaboration. Eachof us is known for working closely with communities to realize noteworthy design and successfully reimaginedwaterfronts, both nationally and internationally. We view challenges as opportunities, drawing inspirationforth to create places and destinations that are both beautiful and surprising. Our proposed Design Teamhas read the RFP, acknowledges receipt of Addendas 1 and 2 and agrees that it will be bound by the termscontained in the RFP.Core Design TeamFor the Pierscape at Navy Pier project, !melk, a New-York-based landscape architecture and urban designpractice dedicated to large-scale urban and landscape interventions as well as public spaces and gardens,will act as the Lead Designer (providing landscape architecture and urban design). !melk is joined byinternational design firm giant HOK who will serve as Master Planner (providing urban planning and design,sustainable design and architecture, as required). Finally, the Chicago-based, multiple award-winning globaldesign firm that focuses on urban planning strategies to energize public spaces, UrbanLab, will serve asUrban Design Strategist (providing public space expertise, sustainable design and strategic direction).Founded in 2010 by Jerry van Eyck and Evan Rose, !melk is a partnership based on years of collaboration onprojects in Boston, Los Angeles, Washington DC and New York’s Governors Island. Since its formal launch,one and a half years ago, !melk has established itself as a leading name among design firms world-wide,touting a portfolio that is rapidly growing with projects on multiple continents, such as the design of Pier57 in New York, the public realm design of Brown University’s campus expansion in the Jewelry District inProvidence, Rhode Island, the Bridge District in Sacramento, California, “Fashion City” along the ShanghaiRiver in Ningbo, China and the Citylife development in Milan, Italy (which is also Europe’s largest urbanlandscape design project of today), that features work by the architects Daniel Libeskind, Zaha Hadidand Arata Isozaki.With over 35 years of combined experience, the now-principals of !melk have worked on many prominentwaterfronts and public spaces around the world. Jerry van Eyck will serve as the lead team member and theprimary point of contact with Navy Pier. Jerry is a former partner, principal and design director of West 8 inRotterdam. For the Navy Pier project, he brings international design thinking and leadership to this team,drawing upon award-winning waterfront and open space designs including the aforementioned GovernorsIsland, the Toronto Waterfront, Singapore’s One North Park, Expo.02 Switzerland, Jubilee Gardens along theThames in London and the recently completed “Soundscape Park” in Miami Beach.1.1