In the long history of the Olympic Games, cities have transformed themselves to put on the world’s largest sporting event. While the Games last two weeks, these transformations last for decades. Often times, specifically in the 20th century, what is left of the built environment designed and constructed for the Olympics does not maintain its luster. It is a vexing problem: how do you create something that is to thrill for two weeks and then be adapted for a hundred years?

Chicago has an opportunity to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Many observers in the city have seen as a chance for Chicago to become a true “world city”. How can the urban planning and architecture that serves for the Games be adapted to what Chicagoans will live with for a hundred years?

First, the planning must be in keeping with what has been successful thus far. Time-tested traditions of pedestrian-based neighborhoods with solid density will not just serve as infrastructure for the Olympics, but for the city for decades. Chicago’s numerous neighborhoods, planned in the 19th century, continue to provide everything its residents need day-to-day. Also, the Olympics are a great opportunity to solve the ever-present problem of a lack of variety in housing. Chicago has a great opportunity in having an extraordinary amount of open space / vacant land in the city limits. Creating a more suburban environment, (car based), with this land would be a disservice to the history of the city. Just because we have more the space does not mean we should not build dense, pedestrian based neighborhoods in which its habitants can enjoy streets, gardens, and parks.

Second, the architecture of the Olympic Village must have a sense of permanence and sustainability. For every successful Olympic Village, there is one that after a few short years looks outdated and irrelevant. The architecture should reflect the great tradition of building we have in Chicago. To turn our backs to over a hundred years of tradition by designing trendy architecture would be a disservice to our strong tradition of architecture.

In the planning, we must take into consideration all income types in designing the Olympic Village. The Games are about amateurs, and to create something that is only for the wealthy would be against the basic philosophy of the Games. Creating accessible architecture would create a sense of community that the Games are all about.

In the 20th century, Chicago’s urban planning was defined by the failed experiment of large-scale public housing projects. Now is the time to learn from our mistakes, not be taken by trendy planning ideas, and create sustainable development that will both inspire for the Olympics and last for a hundred years.

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