151 North Franklin Street
Imagine an urban garden blooming above Chicago’s bustling streets—except this one glows with light. At 151 North Franklin, NBBJ's experience design studio, ESI, created "Sensing Change," a dynamic digital trellis that blends technology and nature to create a calming oasis for tenants and visitors.
Part sculpture, part digital canopy, the 61-foot-long installation layers vertical LED bars with brushed metal fins to evoke the dappled textures of a living trellis. In Living Wall mode, real-time weather data—from rain to sun to the rush of wind—animates the display, bringing the rhythms of nature into the city. Special Event mode transforms the terrace into a canvas of color and motion, celebrating Chicago’s cultural moments with over 50 unique visual permutations that connect the building to its vibrant community.
Features
The light installation acts as a digital trellis, layering vertical LED bars and brushed metal fins with real-time weather data to create a textured, immersive, "living" space.
Project Details
Client Name
The John Buck Company
Program
Digital art installation
Services
Experience design
Phase
Completed
Client Name
The John Buck Company
Program
Digital art installation
Services
Experience design
Phase
Completed
2019 IESNYC Lumen Awards – Citation, Interactive Façade
2019 IESNYC Lumen Awards – Citation, Interactive Façade
Art Critique, "Sensing Change’: An Artwork In Chicago Reflecting The Weather"
Dexigner, "ESI Design Transforms Chicago Parking Garage into Urban Oasis"
NBC, "Chicago News 4 at 4: Weather Inspired Art Display"
SEGD, "ESI Design “Sensing Change” in Chicago"
Weather Channel, "Weather Creates Art in Digital Display"
Art Critique, "Sensing Change’: An Artwork In Chicago Reflecting The Weather"
Dexigner, "ESI Design Transforms Chicago Parking Garage into Urban Oasis"
NBC, "Chicago News 4 at 4: Weather Inspired Art Display"
SEGD, "ESI Design “Sensing Change” in Chicago"
Weather Channel, "Weather Creates Art in Digital Display"
