McCormick Place, Convention center on Lake Michigan in Chicago, United States
McCormick Place is a convention center on the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago and consists of four interconnected buildings with exhibition floors, meeting spaces, and ballrooms. The campus stretches across a wide area south of downtown and offers direct views of the lake.
The center opened in November 1960 and was rebuilt after a devastating fire in 1967. Over the following decades, additional buildings were added that expanded the original site considerably.
The complex takes its name from Robert Rutherford McCormick, a former publisher of the Chicago Tribune who played a role in shaping the city. Visitors today experience large gatherings such as trade fairs and industry events that bring professionals and enthusiasts together from across the region.
The campus is accessible through a dedicated Metra station directly beneath the complex as well as through multiple parking levels with thousands of spaces. Visitors should allow extra time for orientation, as the four buildings are spread out and connected by long corridors.
The rooftop holds a garden covering more than 1 hectare (2.5 acres) that supplies vegetables and herbs for the food service operations inside the building. This rooftop garden is among the largest in the Midwest and shows how urban farming can work on a large scale.
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