It is important to be vigilance when it comes to water-born disease, if we look a number of disease many of them derive from contaminated water, misuse resources, deplete the water supply and we must find a way for early detection.

Which leads me to the main idea behind the project, an early water pollution detection laboratory and pavilion. The targeted audience are students and researchers, and the public on a wider scale.

My logo symbolized “Keep your eyes open and enjoy life”

Time is spinning and now is the right time for us to stop, watch observe and take action towards raising awareness about the quality of drinkable water.  The use of the cycle allows this to be visually monitored by visitors, researchers and send a message to the city about our desire to initiate change.

Site analyzing

The location for the project was set on the south side of the river between Wabash and Michigan ave. with heavy pedestrian traffic in this area on upper Wacker street and the river walk, the building accommodates for easy entrance and exit by having the main lab space and services on the river walk level, possibly accessible from the east and west and the main pavilion on upper Wacker with an entrance from the south. Thus maintaining the flow of pedestrians in the area, and improving their experience.

As previously pointed out, the building has entrances from the East, and west accessible from the river walk, and from the south accessible from upper Wacker dr. Functions of the building were distributed on three levels, the plaza, reception and gallery on the lower Wacker drive level, the lab and restrooms on the river walk level. And the observation deck on upper Wacker street level, allowing for some time away from the bustle of the city to relax and enjoy the scenic views of downtown Chicago. All levels are accessible by stairs or elevator.

Effective and attractive:

We are proposing a giant waterwheel that gives the city of Chicago the 'Bilbao effect'. This water wheel will invoke the desired message of raising awareness to locals and visitors, as well as invoke some nostalgia for countryside living, when times were simpler and water pollution was not a concern. It will also allow visitors to experience the effect of drinking clean, purified water on site, encouraging them to make effective changes immediately.

The wheels main purpose is to transfer water to the lab for daily testing that is done by carrying the water up then cascading down mimicking a waterfall, which allows the water to trickle down to the lab. Also the water wheel can assist in generating electricity, and enriching the water life by providing oxygen to the river.