McCormick Place is undergoing some big and exciting changes, a new brand, new logo, and new name — McCormick Square. And have you heard about this museum that is looking to use space at McCormick Place? A little place called the Lucas museum. Photo courtesy of CISCO
By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com
SCHAUMBURG — As a major contributor, not to the Chicago economy, but to the region and the entire state, McCormick Place is not slowing down anytime soon.
“We’re in a great place to win moving forward because of the momentum in the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as the bigger plans, that are underway today,” said Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) Chief Executive Officer Lori Healy during the April 22 Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) annual luncheon event.
An artist rendering of the yet unbuilt Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, bottom photo, could find its home on the McCormick Campus, which is a very preliminary proposal. Rendering via Lucas Museum of Narrative Art website
Some of those ‘bigger plans’ revolve around the newly released news the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art could build on the campus. “I want to be clear,” Healy said, “this is a very preliminary proposal,” but exciting none the less.
What she can talk about is their new brand, new logo, and new neighborhood name — McCormick Square.
McCormick Place has grown to become the premier convention center in North America. Photo courtesy of McCormick Place
“At MPEA, we’re officially saying goodbye to McPier, and changing it over to McSquare,” she stressed.
What does it all mean for Chicago? “It means more jobs, more tax revenues, more visitors, and an enhanced, international profile, which continues to be so important as we continue to attract international visitors. We need to evolve to stay successful,” Healy explained.
The McCormick Campus has a lot going on. There is a yet-to-be named event center to being constructed, the result of a public private partnership with DePaul University, scheduled to open in September 2017. Also being constructed is Chicago’s only Marriott Marquis Hotel with 1,206 rooms, 90,000 square feet of meeting space, and a roof top bar on the 33rd floor.
The newly expanded the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is directly connected to the convention center.
“We provide permanent jobs for almost 3,000 people on our campus. When we’re done with the first phase of our construction project, we’re going to be up to 3,500 permanent jobs on our campus,” she added.