Chicago, Illinois, USA
The future vision for the United Center is an ambitious and energizing community-first mixed-use project designed and master planned by RIOS in collaboration with the United Center Joint Venture group. Called The 1901 Project, it encompasses more than 13 million-sq. ft. that will restitch the surrounding neighborhoods and provide a world-class urban core for Chicago’s West Side—representing a visionary approach to urban planning poised to become a model for metropolises worldwide.
The 1901 Project by RIOS Architects, won an American Architecture Award 2025 from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design.
The United Center, a premier 960,000-sq. ft. multi-use entertainment facility, has attracted over 70 million fans since its opening in 1994. Home to the six-time World Champion Chicago Bulls and six-time Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks, the United Center hosts over 200 events annually, ranking as the second busiest arena in the United States and the third busiest in the world.
As a long-term, multi-phased development, The 1901 Project represents a transformative $7 billion private investment on Chicago’s West Side. Connecting local heritage with a global perspective, the mixed-use project will feature housing, commercial office space, hotels, retail, and entertainment—anchored by lively public spaces.
The first phase, led by RIOS and approved by the Chicago Planning Commission, will include a 6,000-seat music hall, a boutique hotel, and nearly 10 acres of green space, featuring parking garages topped by rooftop public parks and ground-floor retail spaces. The project will ultimately bring 9,463 new homes (20% designated for affordable housing), 1,309 hotel rooms, and a total of 25 acres of open space to benefit the city. The development aspires to create a vibrant, human-centered neighborhood that serves as an emblem of urban charisma, engaging sports fans and the community alike.
The master plan aims to craft an urban canvas that allows the legacy of the existing neighborhood to write its own new chapter. Designed without gates or admission fees, The 1901 Project is fundamentally a neighborhood committed to living alongside its residents. The project has earned enthusiastic community support for its potential to benefit the entire West Side, particularly in lifting the voices of youth and fostering one of Chicago’s most diverse communities. Through diverse programming and year-round activation, The 1901 Project will emerge as a dynamic destination where people can live, work, and play—celebrating Chicago’s rich heritage of ambitious infrastructure and community-driven design.
The project prioritizes pedestrian activity by emphasizing walkability and creating diverse open spaces that enhance well-being and sustainability. Drawing from Chicago’s rich history of industrial innovation, the design incorporates a future park with walking paths, recreational areas, and community gathering spaces. RIOS’ overall landscape strategy for the park, designed by Field Operations, will establish new green spaces that connect the community to nature and celebrate the West Side’s unique character.
This collaborative vision with the United Center Joint Venture group represents an ambitious transformation that will elevate Chicago’s West Side into a world-class example of urban revitalization. The 1901 Project embodies innovative urban design, community-focused development, and the potential to reimagine urban spaces for future generations.
Architecture: RIOS
Design Team: Sebastian Salvadó, Creative Director; Andy Lantz, Creative Director; Bob Hale, Creative Director; John Hallock, Paul Westwood, Jenny Myers, Richard Peterson, Scott Mikawa, Abe Salman, Romiar Karamooz, Hayden Hood, Xixi Chen, Zac Williams, and Ryan Vasquez
Landscape Architects: Field Operations
Design Team: James Corner, Matt Grunbaum, and Lisa Switzer
Landscape Architects of Record: Site Design
Client: United Center Joint Venture
Renderings: Studio Ladder, Proloog, and RIOS
