Lou Raizin, president and CEO of Broadway in Chicago, has a vision to re-energize our city’s downtown. Chicago’s cultural community is responsible for attracting hundreds of millions of visitors downtown every year who spend billions — a reliable economic engine. Why not double-down and transform Chicago into a true cultural district?

Span, led by John Pobojewski, wrote, produced, and animated a short film outlining the framework behind the Chicago Cultural Stadium project. The film illustrating how new institutions, interventions, and temporary installations can be catalyzed through zoning incentives.

A map of Chicago comes alive with glowing points of interest. Each shape represents a new cultural initiative that was illustrated through Midjourney and RunwayML to quickly express the potential of these incredible future programs. The short film, divided into three mini chapters, mirrors the three basic principles of the plan — Reconnect Vacant Spaces, Reimagine Underutilized Assets, and Revitalize the Public Realm.