Recreating Chicago’s famous skyline in Minecraft

One Minecraft user spent years building a scale replica of Chicago in the game

By AJ LaTrace Feb 13, 2017, 10:01am CST

Recreating Chicago in city building video games, LEGO form, and other open world sandbox games like Minecraft is nothing new, but perhaps it’s safe to suggest that never before has there been so much detail and effort put into building a virtual Chicago than in the creation of one Reddit user. Over the weekend, Reddit user Koodoo25 shared images of their Chicago replica in Minecraft, stating that the project has been nearly four years in the making. The virtual skyline and streetscape is almost a flawless scale model of Chicago, complete with details like accurate facade treatments and colors.

According to the project’s creator, data and mockups from sites like Emporis, Skyscraperpage, and even models from the Sketchup 3D Warehouse, were used to ensure the proper look for each building. Iconic skyscrapers like the Willis Tower, the Wrigley Building, and the Chicago Board of Trade Building and even newer gems like Aqua and Legacy at Millennium Park were all painstakingly recreated. Even Alexander Calder’s “Flamingo” in the plaza of the Federal Center makes an appearance in this recreation of Chicago.

Those interested in poking around in the map can do so as the project’s creator has made the replica available for download.