AT&T Plaza

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name= AT&T Plaza


location= 55 N. Michigan Ave
city-state|Chicago|Illinois
broke_ground=
opened= July 16, 2004
surface = Concrete
owner= City of Chicago
construction_cost=
architect=
former_names= SBC Plaza, Ameritech Plaza
tenants= "Cloud Gate"
seating_capacity=

AT&T Plaza (formerly Ameritech Plaza and SBC Plaza) is a public space that hosts the "Cloud Gate" sculpture. It is located in Millennium Park, which is a park built to celebrate the third millennium and which is located within the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois in the United States. The sculpture and the plaza are sometimes jointly referred to as Cloud Gate on the AT&T Plaza.cite web|url=http://www.millenniumpark.org/artandarchitecture/cloud_gate.html |accessdate=2008-09-28|title=Cloud Gate on the AT&T Plaza |work=Millennium Park]

It was opened in the summer of 2004 with the initial unveiling of the sculpture during the grand opening weekend of the park. Ameritech Corporation/SBC Communications Inc. donated US$3 million for the naming right to the space.cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CREB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=106D2CDD4BC4B85F&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Dawn of the Millennium|accessdate=2008-09-19|date=2004-07-16|publisher=Newsbank|work=RedEye] cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0EB4862A2DB2FB15&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=City Tweaks Millennium Park Design|accessdate=2008-07-24|date=2000-01-07|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Song, Lisa] The plaza has become a place view the McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink and during the Christmas holiday season, the Plaza hosts Christmas caroling.

Details

multiple image
align = left
direction = vertical
header =
header_align = left/right/center
header_background =
footer = Before, during, and after buffing depictions of "Cloud Gate".
footer_align = left
footer_background =
width =


width1 = 160
caption1 =


width2 = 160
caption2 =


width3 = 160
caption3 = The plaza is located above Park Grill, above and behind the McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink, adjacent to the Chase Promenade, and between the North and South Boeing Galleries. The plaza and sculpture sit atop the 300-seat $6 million dollar Park Grill, which opened in November 2003 behind the McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink. [Gilfoyle, p. 328.] The surface of the plaza is concrete. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=103E95422CC91A29&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=`Cloud Gate' - (star)(star)(star)(star) - SBC Plaza , between Washington and Madison Streets - Anish Kapoor, London|accessdate=2008-09-19|date=2004-07-18|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Kamin, Blair] The plaza is composed of convert|25200|sqft|m2|lk=on of concrete pavers. Each paver is convert|30|by|30|in|cm|lk=on, and each is convert|2.5|in|cm thick.

History

The plaza was originally named Ameritech Plaza for Ameritech Corporation, the corporate sponsor, who donated $3 million for the sculpture-hosting plaza's naming rights. [cite web|publisher=Public Building Commission of Chicago|url=http://www.pbcchicago.com/upload/454.pdf Millenium Park News|title=Upcoming Park Features|work=Millennium Park News|date=Winter 2001-2|accessdate=2008-08-22] By the time the park officially opened in 2004, Ameritech had merged with SBC Communications and the plaza was called SBC Plaza. When SBC acquired AT&T and subsequently changed the name from SBC to AT&T in 2005, the name of the plaza changed again.

"Cloud Gate" was originally estimated to weigh convert|60|ST|MT LT|1|lk=on because it was impossible to estimate the thickness of the steel compatible with the desired aesthetics.Gilfoyle, p. 165.] [Gilfoyle, p. 402.] The final piece, however, weighs convert|110|ST|MT LT|1 and care had to be taken in supporting it. The roof of the Park Grill, upon which "Cloud Gate" sits, had to be strong enough to bear the weight. A large retaining wall separating Chicago's Metra train tracks from the North Grant Park garage travels along the back side of the restaurant and supports much of the sculpture's weight. This wall, along with the rest of the garage's foundation, required additional bracing before the piece was erected. In June 2004, when construction of the shell began, a large tent (pictured left) was erected around the piece in order to shield it from public view.cite web|url=http://www.lynnbecker.com/repeat/Gehry/kapoor.htm |accessdate=2008-05-31 |title=A photo essay on the making of Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate sculpture in Chicago's Millennium Park |work=Repeat |author=Becker, Lynn]

Activities

In 2006, the tradition of Christmas caroling during the holiday season began at the plaza. Sing-along caroling with choral groups occurred every Friday between Thanksgiving and Christmas from 6 PM until 6:30 PM.cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:NWRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11591906F4834490&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Head downtown to catch Christmas spirit|accessdate=2008-09-14|date=2006-11-21|publisher=Newsbank|work=Northwest Herald] In 2007, Starbucks provided free peppermint hot chocolate and Christmas blend coffee for the Friday caroling, and the choral groups included Bella Voce, Chicago Mass Choir, and Chicago Children's Choir. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11D8A9EA88101640&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Carolers at the Bean in free event |accessdate=2008-09-14|date=2007-12-14|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Sun-Times] [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:SKYB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11D820E2DBDE2F90&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=Calendar|accessdate=2008-09-14|date=2007-12-05|publisher=Newsbank|work=Skyline]

Because of its elevation above the McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink, the plaza has become a prime viewing location for Jazz music concerts held during the summer at the McCormick Tribune Plaza. McCormick Tribune Plaza is located below and to the west of AT&T Plaza as well as adjacent to Michigan Avenue's Historic Michigan Boulevard District, which are slightly further west. [cite web|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:CTRB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=104C6D20DEEF0BE8&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=AA98CDC331574F0ABEAFF732B33DC0B2|title=A people's park for the future|accessdate=2008-09-19|date=2004-08-29|publisher=Newsbank|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Kamin, Blair]

Notes

References

*cite book|title=Millennium Park: Creating a Chicago Landmark|author=Gilfoyle, Timothy J.|publisher=University of Chicago Press|origyear=2006

External links

* [http://www.millenniumpark.org/parkevents/parkmap.pdf Millennium Park map]
* [http://egov.cityofchicago.org/webportal/COCWebPortal/COC_ATTACH/Community_Areas_LOOP.pdf City of Chicago Loop Community Map]

Geographic Location
Center = AT&T Plaza
Northeast = Chase Promenade
East = Chase Promenade
Southwest = Crown Fountain
West = McCormick Tribune Plaza & Ice Rink
Southeast = Chase Promenade
Northwest = Wrigley Square
North = Boeing Gallery
South = Boeing Gallery