Metropolitan Correctional Center

An innovative idea in itself, bringing a jail to downtown Chicago brought along controversy and contemporary design. Located in the South Loop at 71 West Van Buren, the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) finally started construction in 1971 after much debate on its location. Many locals opposed the idea of a jail coming to the downtown area, but its purpose is to hold those awaiting trial at the courthouse, just two blocks away. When the issue of the placement of this building got to the courts, the judges threw it out right away. The placement of this building, despite frustrated locals, is quite perfect for the purposes it serves.

The architect for the MCC was Harry Weese. Weese is a Chicago native and his work is displayed throughout the city. He has also designed the Washington, D.C. Metro system, worked in Ghana, Boston, Wisconsin, Missouri, Ohio, and many other locations. 

Weese and the project manager, Jack Hartray, justified bringing the MCC to Chicago under the mindset that the men and women housed in the center are innocent until proven guilty. With this, Weese and Hartray wanted to make the building a little more inviting than your average jail. 

The Metropolitan Correctional Center stands 28 stories high, including a rooftop exercise yard. The building is a neutral tan, three sided, and has windows that measure five inches by seven feet. If one isn't aware of the jail, they would probably never know it was there.The building is often looked over because of the strange angles that it has in comparison to the buildings around it. From personal experience, the building is strangely hidden, but once you know it is there, its unique design eerily catches your eye every time. The angles seem to draw you in and the narrow windows hook your interest. The windows have no bars and run from the floor to the ceiling. As Weese and Hartray wanted to keep their "upscale jail" the windows ran floor to ceiling to emit natural light without the obstruction and feel of bars on your windows. The narrow design is quite innovative because although there is no bars, there is a very low escape risk with a width of five inches. 

Not only does this building have a sleek outer design, but the triangle formation has proven to be quite simple for the guards to patrol with the wide range of visibility on the floors. The doors on the elevator also serve as a security pass point as they are built in the style of service elevators with bolts. Prisoners are also kept only starting at the tenth floor. These precautionary measures to aid the public keep the South Loop a safe area. 

The amenities that the prisoners have are quite extensive, considering their circumstances. The furniture was all built in with hard wood, ordered by the architect, Weese. The top floor serves as an open aired exercise area. This is built up high enough to not show the city goers the frightening image of prisoners in close proximity to them. This also helps conceal the purpose of this building in the gorgeous South Loop. Inside is also a library and a store for the inmates. The idea of having extra amenities for these prisoners will benefit them by giving them something positive, like reading, to do in their spare time. 

Since its opening, the MCC has rid of the wood furniture and doesn't seem to have the same qualities and benefits as it was originally designed. Despite its changes, the building proves to be most interesting to anyone walking through the area.The innovative idea of this sleek, upscale correctional facility wasn't quite upheld by management, however the building design remains a spooky element to the regular four sided high-rises in the South Loop.