International Wood International Wood 2006 | Page 10

The stage floor is constructed of
jarrah which Gehry liked because
of its warm, reddish color. It is
similar to teak in appearance and
weather-proof characteristics but
stronger and more durable.
10 i m p o r t e d
wood
“For the pavilion stage, Frank Gehry liked the look of jarrah, with its warm,
reddish color. Jarrah is sourced from Eucalyptus trees in Australia, and it coor-
dinates quite nicely with special acoustic wall and ceiling panels fabricated from
Douglas fir plywood.
“The front of the pavilion is enclosed by large glass hangar doors that move
on tracks to open the stage to the Great Lawn. The stage apron is outside of
the glass doors and exposed to the elements year round, so we continue to put
sealers on the exposed jarrah to keep the stage looking more uniform.”
Gehry also designed the 925-foot-long winding BP Bridge, which connects
Millennium Park to Daley Bicentennial Plaza, east of the park. It’s Gehry’s first
bridge and provides incomparable views of the Chicago skyline, Grant Park, and
Lake Michigan. Clad in brushed stainless steel panels, the BP Bridge comple-
ments the Pritzker Pavilion in function as well as design by creating an acoustic
barrier from the traffic noise below.
Designed by the internationally recognized landscape architectural firm
Gustafson Guthrie Nichols Ltd., the two-and-a-half acre Lurie Garden pays
homage to the city’s motto, “Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden). Specifically, its
design references Chicago’s transformation from flat and marshy origins to a
bold and powerful city. A graceful hardwood footbridge over shallow water acts
as a diagonal seam between the “light” and “dark” plates of the garden.