This project includes the development of a new salt dome storage structure and associated site work at an existing salt storage site. Now an efficiently-assembled, cost-effective dome protects the road salt and sand needed for Chicago’s northwest side.

View other City of Chicago projects here.

The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (ChicagoCAC) is an innovative not-for-profit facility that co-houses all the City and State agencies that investigate allegations of sexual abuse of children, and provide social services to child victims and their families. PBC managed the construction of the center’s original facility in 2001, but with over 3,000 children and family members coming through the center for aid every year, ChicagoCAC outgrew its space. So, in 2015, the PBC supervised the design and construction a two-story, 18,900 square foot expansion to the Center.

ChicagoCAC is one of the largest children’s advocacy centers in the country and one of only a few at which all partner agencies are co-located. This added an extra level of care, planning, and attention to the collaboration needs of these parties. Teamwork, cooperation, and partnership needs were at the center of every conversation regarding the new design, with input from the building staff, onsite partners, a board of directors, and several community leaders.

“The unique nature of the ChicagoCAC is the collaboration. We are the only organization in the City that does this collaborative work with the Chicago Police Department, Department of Children and Family Services, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, and Stroger Hospital. We do it all in this child-friendly Center.”

– Char Rivette, Executive Director, Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center

PBC worked in close partnership with the ChicagoCAC to understand its new needs, synthesize those needs with its current uses, and respect the building’s original architecture while reflecting its current and future mission. As a civic cornerstone to the City of Chicago, several public partners were involved in the development of the final design of the addition, including the Chicago Police Department, the office of the States Attorney, the Cook County Health and Hospital Systems, and the Department of Children and Family Services.

“The collaboration and expertise that the PBC brought to the table for this very special user group ensured the success of this project. This project required certain sensitivities outside of the typical program. The PBC ensured we were all working together toward the collective goals of the ChicagoCAC. This was not specific to the design process, but the entire process. The General Contractor, IHC, carried this approach through construction, creating an open and collaborative process that was easy for all to work with.”

– Jan Behounek, Project Manager, Holabird & Root

From the beginning, it was the understanding of both the developers and designers that any addition required an appropriate response to the beloved architecture of the legacy building. Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman incorporated child-friendly elements into each aspect of his design, including bright colors and an abundance of natural light. The new 18,000-square-foot expansion, which doubles the size of the original center, respects the scale, materials and intent of the original building.  The interior and exterior of our building are brightly colored to mimic a playhouse or castle that a child might design. Windows sit low so that children can see out and plenty of light can come in. The main entry lobby interiors subtly incorporate the playful colors from the exterior façade, drawing visitors in to the heart of the building.

The addition has enabled the ChicagoCAC to expand its services and programs to its families. The additional space increased and number of child-and-family-friendly spaces, shaped the physical environment to enhance collaboration among teams, and doubled the mental health program capacity by adding staff and dedicated space. The new training space allows the ChicagoCAC to further expand its programs, as well as outreach and fundraising efforts, by offering a space to accommodate 100 people.

The entire facility is designed to be under operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With that in mind, the aesthetic and environmental aspects of the spaces both inside and outside of the building incorporated several sustainability goals, and the new addition has achieved LEED Gold certification.

More information on the legacy facility can be found here.
More photos on Flickr.

The PBC worked with the Chicago Infrastructure Trust to oversee the Retrofit One program, a component of Retrofit Chicago. This citywide initiative upgraded city-owned buildings to be more energy efficient without using taxpayer dollars. 60 public buildings—police stations, libraries, community centers and other facilities—received 114 energy upgrades, increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy costs.

Highlights:

• Covers more than 5 million square feet of space
• Guaranteed to reduce annual utility consumption by $1.4M, or an estimated 18% annually
• 114 energy conservation projects:
  • Lighting
  • HVAC upgrades
  • Digital controls
  • Building envelope weatherization

Overall stats:

• CO2 elimination equivalent to removing 2,896 cars from the road
• 1,500 occupancy sensors installed
• 29,000 light bulbs replaced
• 36 new or upgraded Building Automation Systems installed
• 35 buildings added to Global Building Monitoring System

Saving a Landmark

Chicago’s historic Stock Yards National Bank Building is ready for redevelopment and a new life after our stabilization efforts.

Preserving the Past, Looking to the Future

Chicago is renowned for its architecture and landmark buildings, many of which extend beyond downtown to neighborhoods rich with history and tradition. For more than a century, Chicago was the meat processing capital of the world. Chicago’s Union Stock Yards were known around the world. Today, more than four decades after the last meat processing plant closed, the former stock yards area is home to a thriving industrial park that offers opportunities for future growth and development. At the request of the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, the PBC oversaw the stabilization of the landmarked Stock Yards National Bank building. Completed in 1925, the building housed two banks that served the businesses and employees of the stock yards and nearby manufacturing district. Designed with Palladian windows and a central clock tower, the building is modeled after Independence Hall in Philadelphia. It was designed by Abraham Epstein, a Chicago architect and engineer best known for his designs for the reconstruction of the Union Stock Yards after a fire in 1934.

After sitting vacant for more than two decades, the building was in disrepair and needed stabilization so the City could market the property to prospective buyers for redevelopment. The PBC oversaw the necessary repairs and improvements in order to reduce weather related damage to the building. The work included stabilizing existing sections of deteriorated masonry and terra cotta, repairs to previous efforts to manage rainwater, and work to reduce water infiltration into the building. Today, the building is secure and protected from the elements as the City pursues redevelopment opportunities for this historic property.

View more photos of this project on Flickr.

2012 – The PBC completed the demolition of the former campus of the Michael Reese Hospital in Douglas Park, preparing the site for future redevelopment.

PBC will be implementing a building stabilization project for DHED. The project will consist of necessary masonry repairs including selective parapet cap repair, tuck-pointing and masonry replacement due to extensive water damage along the north, south, and west elevations. In addition there will be the selective removal and securing of terracotta units along the east elevation of Ramova Theater building.

Chlorine Improvements

LEED Certified: Silver

A 37,000 sq. ft. structure designed to house new chlorine processing equipment. Site work includes roadway improvements and 40 new parking spaces.

The project includes the removal of existing chlorination equipment, the installation of new chlorination equipment, new water lines, a new electrical feeder from an existing substation, provisions for new emergency scrubbers, new hoisting equipment, new compressed air equipment, improvements to the process control system and miscellaneous work as required to provide a complete installation.

LEED Features: Light colored pavement to reduce heat island effects. The building seeks LEED basic certification.

* formerly known as the South Water Purification Plant

LEED Certified SILVER

State-of-the-art masonry and steel fleet maintenance facility for maintaining and washing of refuse trucks and off-road equipment. The basement area provides service capabilities for refuse trucks and off-road equipment. It will have surface parking for 54 vehicles, staging area for 31 City refuse trucks and/or off-road equipment, and 17 Service Bays on a 4.26 acre site. It will include a Lunch Room, Administrative Offices, Men’s and Women’s Locker Rooms, a Tool Crib, Parts Area with a Parts Office, Machine Shop and Equipment Wash Bay.

LEED Features: The LEED goal is “Silver” Certification for this facility and will incorporate a solar thermal water heating system.