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.