Nichols Bridgeway | |
|---|---|
 The Bridgeway after completion in May 2009 | |
| Coordinates | 41°52′50″N87°37′21″W / 41.880555°N 87.622490°W /41.880555; -87.622490 |
| Carries | Pedestrians |
| Crosses | Monroe Street |
| Locale | Chicago,Illinois |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 620 feet (189.0 m) |
| Width | 15 feet (4.6 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Renzo Piano |
| Construction start | September 20, 2007 |
| Opened | May 16, 2009 |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Nichols Bridgeway | |
TheNichols Bridgeway is a pedestrian bridge located inChicago,Illinois. The bridge begins at the Great Lawn ofMillennium Park, crosses over Monroe Street and connects to the third floor of the West Pavilion of theModern Wing, theArt Institute of Chicago's newest wing. The bridge opened May 16, 2009.[1]
Designed byRenzo Piano, the architect of the Modern Wing, the bridge is approximately 620 ft (190 m) long and 15 ft (4.6 m) wide. The bottom of the Bridgeway is made of white, painted structuralsteel, the floor is made ofaluminum planking and the 42" tall railings are steel set atopstainless steel mesh. The Bridgeway features anti-slip walkways and heating elements to prevent the formation of ice and meetsADA standards for universal accessibility. The bridge is named after museum donors Alexandra and John Nichols.[2] The bridge design was inspired by thehull of a boat.[3]
The Nichols Bridgeway was added to the master plan of theModern Wing of theArt Institute of Chicago in 2005.[3] Construction on the bridge began on September 20, 2007. Construction was completed on April 8, 2009. The bridge officially opened, along with theModern Wing on May 16, 2009.[1]
On June 11, 2009, the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois (SEAOI) named the winners of its 2009 excellence in engineering awards.Arup andWiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc., received an Award of Merit for their design work for the Nichols Bridgeway.[4]
In the 2012romantic comedy,The Vow, the characters run from theArt Institute of Chicago across the Bridgeway toMillennium Park, where they kiss underCloud Gate.[5]
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