Commercial Architecture June 2019 - 16

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FEATURE

| building technology

Tech Drives
Wrigley Field
Restoration
Emerging technology and innovative
structural work make it possible to
renovate the historic Chicago ballpark.
Dwayne Lindsey, Pepper Construction

enovating an historic landmark calls for
intense planning, precise coordination, and
seasoned expertise. Pulling off such a large,

phased scope of work in the 19 to 24 weeks during
baseball's off-season would not be possible without
the latest technology. That's certainly what has been
occurring over the more than five years since the 1060
Project at Wrigley Field, Chicago, began. The privately
funded project is designed to ensure that the ballpark
will be a safe, quality venue for future generations of

PROJECT CHALLENGES

dations be strengthened ahead of the structural work.

Cubs fans, while preserving the beauty, charm, and

The overall challenge was preparing the 100-yr.-old

Some work required early coordination and sequenc-

historic features fans have come to know and love. In

structure for expansion and modernization. The team

ing of electrical infrastructure upgrades. During 2014-

its hundred-plus year history, Wrigley Field has nev-

devised a plan to address every zone from the bottom

2015, the first year of major construction activities, the

er gone through such a radical change. How this was

up. Whether upgrading the foundations, the concrete-

construction team continued strengthening the foun-

achieved offers a glimpse into the direction the AEC

and-steel super structure, or the support infrastruc-

dations and columns for future work, and rebuilt and

industry is headed using emerging and innovative

ture, the goal was to ensure the structural integrity of

restored the ballpark's bleacher-seating sections, add-

technology and unique structural techniques.

the ballpark for the next century.

ing 300 seats and 300 standing positions, along with

Game-changing technologies are altering the way

Another significant challenge was the construction

new concessions, a new bleacher concourse, and space

buildings are designed and constructed, optimizing

timeframe, because major work activities could only

for future bullpens under the bleachers. They also

efficiency and productivity at every stage, from plan-

occur during the approximately 24 weeks of every

installed two large video boards, one almost 4,000 sq.

ning through construction. According to the World

off-season. The exact length of the off-season was nev-

ft. in left field and the other 2,400 sq. ft. in right field.

Economic Forum, "Wherever the new technologies

er known until the ball club was eliminated from the

have properly permeated this fragmented industry, the

playoffs or, as in 2016, after the World Series.

In 2015-2016, renovations included the first new
amenities at the concourse level-a 90,000-sq.-ft.

outlook is an almost 20% reduction in total life-cycle

The project's small footprint and historic location

underground structure, part of which is a 30,000-sq.-

costs of a project, as well as substantial improvements

in a dense, urban neighborhood also presented logisti-

ft. clubhouse connected by a new tunnel to the home

in completion time, quality, and safety."

cal challenges. With more than 500 tradespeople

dugout, and structural strengthening and repairs to

In 2013, the Cubs' owners revealed a renovation

working on site each day, the project was a closely

the left-field grandstand. While constructing the

plan that included changes inside and outside the ball-

coordinated symphony of personnel, equipment, and

underground structure adjacent to the ballpark, it was

park. It called for improvements to virtually every part

materials.

imperative that the ballpark foundations not move
more than three-fourths of an inch. This made it

of the property: mechanical and electrical infrastructure, deep foundations, structural elements, the histor-

PHASED IMPLEMENTATION

extremely challenging to strengthen the grandstand,

ic facade, restrooms, concourses, suites, bullpens, club-

The plan was primarily implemented in phases. Prior

including existing columns, trusses, and foundations,

houses, amenities, and training facilities, and a plaza

to the first major off-season, several enabling projects

to accommodate expansion of the upper deck in a later

and office building in a former parking lot. This didn't

were undertaken to prepare for the main project. This

phase while, at the same time, constructing a tunnel

come without challenges.

sequencing necessitated that the primary column foun-

beneath the same area.

JUNE 2019

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Commercial Architecture June 2019

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