THE CITY LANTERN

A design response to Chicago’s public toilet needs centered on safety, sustainability, and public art.

The Pause Ideas Competition, led by Cultural Stadium’s Team Culture, Lou Raizin, and Perkins&Will Chicago.

The City Lantern is a public toilet prototype designed for Chicago’s downtown parking lots. At a time when the city is working to bring people back downtown, we see this as a opportunity to introduce both public art and essential public services. Many of Chicago’s downtown blocks are occupied by surface parking. These lots can become small anchors of safety, activity, and community. The City Lantern helps to make downtown feel welcoming again. The design uses the dimension of a standard parking space as its base module. This makes the structure easy to place, repeat, and adapt across different parking lots. The system can become a model for similar installations throughout the city. Each lantern is shaped and lit like a small piece of public art. Together, the forms create a sculptural presence that is visible both day and night. The goal is to show how creative design and public service can work together to support safety, culture, and community life. The exterior panels shift from solid to transparent depending on the program inside. Public-facing areas are more transparent, and private toilet stalls are more opaque. This gradual change allows people to see activity inside the facility. The gender-neutral layout improves safety and openness for all users. Rainwater is collected from the rooftops, filtered, and reused for flushing. This simple system reduces water use and supports sustainable operations, and acts as a example of technology and sustainability to the general public. The City Lantern includes kid-sized toilets and sinks, wheelchair-height sinks, and clear circulation for all ages and abilities. It welcomes families, workers, tourists, and anyone who simply needs a safe, clean place to stop.

The City Lantern is more than a public toilet. It is a small, bright, and practical way to rethink the everyday spaces of

Chicago’s downtown and turn them into public assets that serve the whole city.