ChicagoCitySLA
In recognition of the centennial anniversary of Daniel Burnham’s first architectural Plan of Chicago in 1909 and to help promote Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games, the Chicago Architecture Foundation recently commissioned a large-scale model of the city of Chicago,
Chicago-based Columbian Model & Exhibit Works, along with the Chicago Architecture Foundation, chose rapid prototyping technology as the best way to create the model and after constructing accurate digital models of the buildings, rivers and roads, each of the more than 1,000 building structures included in the exhibition were produced using SOMOS high-performance stereolithography resins.
Catherine Tinker of Columbian Model & Exhibit Works explains why they chose stereolithography. “These buildings, made from SOMOS material, were undeniably the best choice for models of this scale and importance. The buildings have outstanding detail, stability and are easy to finish and paint,”
Vince Adams, DSM Somos Marketing Manager added, “We are extremely pleased to have been part of this historical project. Not only does it showcase what stereolithography technology can achieve for the architectural community, but has allowed DSM to contribute to Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Games.”
The complete display portrays more than four square miles of the city. It contains an exact model of every building in the area. There are more than 1,000 of them, from a 3-foot-high Sears Tower down to old two-story storefronts at a scale of 50 feet to 1 inch. The entire city model encompasses an area of more than 800 square feet and it is pretty damn impressive when you see it first hand.
The Chicago Model City Exhibition is on display now at the Chicago Architecture Foundation building in downtown Chicago. If you are lucky enough to be in this fantastic city before November 20th then it’s well worth a visit, if only to show the family that the stuff you do at work can be cool!
