Concrete Innovation Museum: A Symphony of Liquid Stone and Light

Abstract

This thesis explores how diverse concrete construction methods—cast-in-place, precast, concrete blocks, and 3D concrete printing—can be integrated to shape spatial experience, manipulate sunlight, and enrich architectural expression. The project is sited in DuSable Park, a 3.4-acre remediated site at the mouth of the Chicago River, overlooking Lake Michigan. The park honors Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, Chicago's first non-Native settler, and offers a platform to engage with the city's urban and material heritage. The proposed Concrete Innovation Museum reflects on Chicago's architectural lineage, drawing formal inspiration from the 1909 Plan of Chicago. A weaving, arch-based structure blends into the landscape and preserves open views to the lake, while its accessible concrete roof deck offers an immersive civic experience. The design employs a hybrid system of concrete construction: cast-in-place concrete forms the structure and roofscape, precast components support modular assembly, concrete blocks organize secondary spaces, and 3D-printed concrete is applied selectively to develop porous and light-responsive architectural elements. Through this multi-system approach, the thesis investigates how digital concrete fabrication, in particular, enhances design precision, light modulation, and formal experimentation. The research also compares the advantages and limitations of digital versus traditional concrete methods in terms of material efficiency, constructability, and architectural poetics. Ultimately, this thesis positions concrete not just as a structural medium but as a sculptural and atmospheric agent—transforming a once-contaminated site into a museum that embodies innovation, memory, and light.