Chicago’s Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, was joined by the representatives of city’s Department of Transport and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), at the groundbreaking for the new Damen station on the Green Line. Construction of the new station house is expected to start later this year and be completed in 2021.
“The groundbreaking marks another major milestone for the CTA, which brings new jobs and opportunities for Chicago’s residents. This new station will be a community anchor, serve those who live and work in the neighborhood and will become a gateway to further usher in economic growth for the Near West Side,” Mayor Emanuel said.
The art for the station will be created by Folayemi (Fo) Wilson, a noted Chicago artist from blkHaUS studios. For the Damen and Lake station, the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has chosen Wilson to create murals for the station.
Station materials and design elements were chosen and arranged to enhance and create an intuitive user experience of the facility and to allow for a long-lasting transit facility with low-maintenance requirements. A grand stair and escalator, clearly visible through the station’s transparent glass façade, will guide arriving passengers up to the platform level. A glass bridge will facilitate connections between inbound and outbound train platforms while simultaneously celebrating the breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline and orienting visitors to the neighborhood destinations and attractions. The visible structure of the bridge provides a dynamic reference to Chicago’s iconic steel bridges and creates a memorable icon for the station.
The USD 60 million Damen station is being constructed by the Department of Transport and will be the fourth new CTA station added since 2011. The fully ADA-accessible station will serve the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, the United Center and surrounding residential area on the Near West Side, including the Chicago Housing Authority’s Villages of Westhaven complex. The neighborhood has seen notable residential and commercial growth in recent years.
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