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Goals for the Salem Baptist Church House of Hope in Chicago included helping the client build a dual-purpose facility. It would serve as a central worship space for a large, growing church and an event arena that could suit a variety of entertainment and recreational needs.
The construction was streamlined to help the church meet its July 4 opening.
And, value-engineering and preconstruction program were implemented to reduce the budget to a workable number while still providing a facility that satisfied goals.
The facility was completed in 12 months. It is a 10,000-seat, 205,000-sq.-ft. facility composed of structural steel, precast concrete and precast exterior. Joists in the roof that were 220 ft. long helped ensure obstruction-free sightlines in the 7,000-seat bowl.
The open floor, with multipurpose stage, can accommodate up to 3,000 folding chairs and room for three full-size basketball courts. Sound, broadcast, video and lighting systems ensure that visitors can hear and see for both church services and musical events.
A Big Space
The church provided a wide-open space for construction - a rarity in urban areas.
The 22-acre site had long been cleared for redevelopment but still retained a little history: It was once the site of a Pullman Rail Car Co. manufacturing plant. A big problem was getting rid of a pack of feral dogs that had made the property their home.
The church had none of the features typically found in religious construction, like stained glass, light wells, natural woods and masonry. Function overrode form in the design, construction and execution.
The House of Hope is the only church in the Chicago area that doubles as an arena. Indeed, it is the largest facility of its kind in the city except for the United Center.
More than a year was spent in preconstruction as the construction team worked to reduce the cost from $50 million to $34 million while still ensuring the church got a facility that would meet its needs.
The exterior features 50-by-12-ft. precast panels. Inside, the team used 45-ft.-long precast concrete risers to speed construction of the raised seating area.
Driving the 430 piles and installing the sewerage, water and electrical systems underground were difficult because the remains of the 100-year-old Pullman plant turned up frequently.
Almost 35 percent of the contracts went to minority-owned businesses and 8 percent went to women-owned businesses.
The jury said, "They had some site complications, including feral dogs, but delivered the project on time and met the budget. It sits 10,000 people and has to double as a community center. It was challenging from a cost standpoint."
Key Players
Owner:
Salem Baptist Church of Chicago
Owner's Representative:
International Facilities Group LLC, Northbrook
General Contractor:
James McHugh Construction/Riteway Construction Services Inc. Joint Venture, Chicago
Architect:
Archideas, Chicago
MEP Engineer:
Environmental Services Design Inc., Chicago
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