I work near the Merchandise Mart which is a landmark building in downtown Chicago, right on the Chicago River. The Merchandise Mart is the world's largest commercial building, largest wholesale design center, spans 2 city blocks and is 25 stories tall. The Kennedys used to own it (possibly still do, I just don't know).The big building in the center of the pic is the Mart - I work in the red brick building to its right. Cool, huh?
Anyway, the Mart has (among other things) an amazing lobby that features some really cool seating areas (think posh, modern hotel lobby) . . . which they clear out occasionally for exhibits. Right now the exhibit is for the National Public Housing Museum, which will hopefully be complete in 2012.
It's a really cool exhibit to walk through - I hope to go back and take some pictures to post. For now, you can go to their website, look at photos, brush up on the history of public housing in the U.S. and read stories from people who lived in public housing at one time or another.
Site of future museum
I can't wait to visit this museum!! It will be located on the same site as Chicago's first public housing development, the Jane Addams Homes. Do you know who Jane Addams is? Does Hull House ring any bells? Jane Addams was a powerful woman who fought for the poor and disenfranchised, a rock star for social work before social work even had a name.
