Polish Triangle renovation design plans are coming close to revelation

This rendering shows an aerial view of the Polish Triangle with Division at the bottom and Milwaukee on the right

Design development plans in the form of renderings for the Polish Triangle, the parcel of land bound by Milwaukee, Division and Ashland, are close to being ready for public presentation, according to Mieko Yoshida, President of the Polish Triangle Coalition (PTC). 

Bugaj Architects [pronounced Boo guy], 1223 N. Milwaukee Ave., began a partnership with PTC in April to move PTC's revitalization plans for the Triangle to the next step in structure, use and beauty for the people plaza. This public space is the gateway to four neighborhoods: Wicker Park, East Village, Noble Square and Pulaski Park. 

"Bugaj is in the final stages of producing renderings, which incorporate the community's opinions regarding the feel, use and appearance of the space. Flexibility of space use, low maintenance and sustainability are three of the goals they are working toward in their design…and they are succeeding," Yoshida says with great enthusiasm. 

With their offices on Milwaukee Ave. across from the Triangle, Bugaj has been observing the space at all hours of the day and night for four years. They see the people flow, traffic jams, cyclist usage, people pausing, children playing with the water, sweet and disruptive behavior, people feeding pigeons, the confusion of travelers wondering where they are and how to get where they are going…they see it all. 

Armed with their own knowledge and experience of the space and architecture, Bugaj is blending community interests and constraints of the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the City of Chicago. The end result will be a packet of renderings which will be released to the public in early August. 

Artur Kaczmarek, Alex Robbins, Anna Bugaj, Mieko Joy Yoshida and Drew Bayley review possible use concepts

Once Anna Bugaj and Artur Kaczmarek's team had an opportunity to review the material provided by PTC, they began conceptualizing elements for the Triangle space. Then they began a series of meetings with three PTC Board Members, Mieko Yoshida, who by day is the Operations Manager for Near North Montessori school, Drew Bayley, Architect and community resident, and Elaine Coorens, historian/author, Editor/Publisher of Our Urban Times and resident. 

At the meetings the Bugaj team showed possible elements to solve problems  with the space while fulfilling space use needs and community interests and preferences. Selected elements turned into overall concepts and now into more refined renderings that will provide a way for dialogue with all the stakeholders in this people plaza, including possible funders.