University of Chicago

Masterpieces of the Midway
Materialize in Hyde Park

by Craig Barner

César Pelli might have done the design equivalent of an all-nighter for the University of Chicago.

In the early 2000s, Pelli was named to be the architect for the Gerald C. Ratner Athletics Center, the first physical education building constructed on the Hyde Park campus in more than 50 years. Pelli worked with a Chicago-based firm, OWP/P, on the design of the $51 million facility on Ellis Avenue in the campus' northwest quadrant.

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The facility includes a fitness center, natatorium and gymnasium, and early plans called for conventional trusses to support the roof.

"We were very modest at the beginning," Pelli says of the trusses.

After reviewing the proposed design, university trustees asked for refinements in part because a landmark building was sought.

"We welcomed the suggestions because it allowed us to push the design a bit further," Pelli adds.

He came back with something that was a first in Chicago and likely a first nationwide: a cable-supported roof. Hundreds of tensioned cables attach to the roof, rise and loop over 20 white, tapered masts - some reaching 10 stories in height - and anchor in either concrete counterweights or foundations in the ground. The system supports the roof girders.

Beyond being a first, the element is significant because of what it represents about building at the U. of C.

Judging by the number of awards the Ratner building received in 2004, when it was completed, the school got its landmark - one of many appearing with increasing frequency in Hyde Park.

National organizations honored the project (Engineering Excellence Honor Award, American Council of Engineering Cos.; Engineering Award of Excellence, American Institute of Steel Construction Inc.) as did locals (Eminent Conceptor Award, American Council of Engineering Cos. of Illinois; Midwest Construction's Project of the Year Overall).

Another key factor about the cable-stayed roof is how it reflects - and goes beyond - the design heritage of a university deeply aware of its history and academic reputation. Ironically, the contemporary Ratner building represents an updating of the Gothic language that is the U. of C.'s signature.

"The building connects back to the spirit of Gothic buildings - where the lines and forces are exterior and not lineal in flying buttresses," Pelli says. "It is characteristic of Gothic architecture that the support is outside the volume."

He adds that "when we presented it to the trustees, they all saw (understood) it, and it was quickly approved."

Most important, the U. of C. pushed Pelli to meet its goals for design excellence. Some organizations would be reluctant to do the same because of Pelli's standing - his work appears around the globe, and his name is known by people with no connection to architecture. The school's persistence resulted in a landmark for owner and architect alike.

The two heads of building and design, Abby Zanarini and Julia Parker, were not with the university when the Ratner was in planning. Zanarini is interim associate vice president of facility services, and Parker is university architect and interim director of design and construction for master-plan projects. They oversee a staff of 225 in Facility Services.

"We don't look for a wow factor," Parker says. "But if we felt [a design] wasn't suitable or didn't have enough presence on the campus, we'd ask the firm to go back and look at providing options or tweaking it."

Maroon Splendors

Seeking design excellence is one reason why Midwest Construction is selecting the U. of C. - whose nickname is the Maroons - for its owner and developer of the year award, the eighth ever. A particularly noteworthy trend on the campus is that recent commissions have been awarded to some of the biggest names in architecture.

In addition to Pelli, they include Mexico's Ricardo Legorreta with Chicago-based VOA Associates for the Max Palevsky Residential Commons completed in 2002; New York-based Rafael Vinoly for the Graduate School of Business' Charles M. Harper Center (formerly, Hyde Park Center) opened in 2004 and a hospital pavilion under way; and Chicago-based Helmut Jahn for three projects: a 24,000-sq-ft South Campus Chiller Plant and 40,000-sq-ft West Campus Utility Plant, both expected to be complete this fall, and the not-yet-started 38,200-sq-ft addition to the Joseph Regenstein Library.

Another exciting commission was announced in early June - the designer for the $100 million Reva and David Logan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, Zanarini says. A design competition was held, and the husband-and-wife team of Tod Williams and Billie Tsien of New York won the commission. They defeated several Pritzker Architecture Prize winners.

"We felt we had great submissions," Parker adds.

The building is expected to be about 85,000 sq ft, will include studios and facilities for theater, music and film and be centered around Midway Studios, the home and work space of perhaps the nation's most accomplished sculptor, Lorado Taft, who died in the 1930s.

Other reasons for the Midwest Construction honor include the large quantity of building overall, the link between construction and the school's academic mission and having a campus plan.

"They are committed to providing a built environment that is equal to their academic environment," says Michael Szkatulski, senior managing director of Chicago-based Mesirow Financial Real Estate, a subsidiary of Mesirow Financial, an investment management and banking firm. Mesirow was the owner's representative for the Harper Center and the developer of the Graduate School of Business' Gleacher Center conference and meeting facility in the Loop.

The university's academic accomplishments include 79 Nobel laureates as faculty, students or researchers - the most of any U.S. university - the first controlled release of nuclear energy and the worldwide impact of the Chicago School of Economics.

The university has an enrollment of about 13,500 students, including 422 students in the Pritzker School of Medicine, 664 in the Law School and 1,631 in the Graduate School of Business.

3 Million Sq Ft of Space

The U. of C. is expected to set an institutional record for construction volume of more than 3 million gross sq ft by the end of the decade on the 211-acre campus, Zanarini says.

Since 1998, it has spent more than $700 million on construction. During that time, 11 projects of significance have been completed, and nine major projects are under way.

Recent major completions include the approximately 480,000-sq-ft Ellen & Melvin Gordon Center for Integrative Science and the 242,000-sq-ft Comer Children's Hospital, both completed in 2005. Two large projects under way include a 391,000-sq-ft residence hall on 61st and Ellis avenues and the 331,000-sq-ft Jules & Gwen Knapp Center for Biomedical Discovery on 57th Street.

Previously, the two most productive eras were the 1960s (about 2.75 million gross sq ft) and the 1970s (2.25 million gross sq ft). Back then, a number of buildings on the South Campus were constructed, including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's School of Social Service Administration and the New Graduate Residence Hall.

The administration attributes the university's recent rise in prominent rankings in part to the building program because it is a factor used in evaluations, says Larry Arbeiter, director of communications. The school went from 14th to ninth overall in the widely watched America's Best Colleges ranking in U.S. News & World Report. Also, the Graduate School of Business was ranked No. 1 for the first-time ever by BusinessWeek. (It and Midwest Construction are both properties of the McGraw-Hill Cos.)

The university's culture of academic excellence is spilling over and affecting contractors.

For instance, the skin of the residence hall under way is made of limestone, metal panels and curtain wall, says Michael Bohn, senior vice president and regional manager in Chicago of Providence, R.I.-based Gilbane Building Co., the contractor.

"The exterior skin is exciting and multifaceted but it's complex vs. a conventional skin," he adds. "For us, the challenge is to coordinate all of that and make sure the responsibilities are clear for the manufacturers and trade contractors."

The university completed a master plan in 2004 to guide development through 2020, Zanarini says. At least 11 projects of significance are expected, in addition to consideration of infrastructure needs and renovation of existing buildings.

Development plans are common among universities, but what sets the U. of C. apart is its approach, Mesirow's Szkatulski says.

Mesirow has done some planning with the U. of C., and it took a look at its program needs - as all planners do. In addition, the university analyzed its historical growth patterns.

"We found the university has grown at a place far beyond predicted space needs that can be derived from existing programs," Szkatulski says. "They're smart enough to be aware that it's likely that the plan is a direction that they will have to modify in ways they can't predict."

As new projects are announced, some observers are looking forward to the changes in Hyde Park, including Pelli.

"It's perfectly appropriate to build more exciting buildings in the area," he says.

"The only tricky part is today's architecture idiom is inconsistent. Each architect works in a different language."

SIDEBAR 1

Designing a University

Several ideas guide design and development at the University of Chicago.
For instance, the university's academic mission is the No. 1 guiding principal.

Indeed, a campus development plan has four key principles, including one to "maximize the use of the campus to support research and teaching."

The interdisciplinary approach is key, says Julia Parker, university architect and interim director of design and construction for master-plan projects. An atrium was incorporated in the 480,000-sq-ft, 170-laboratory Ellen & Melvin Gordon Center for Integrative Science completed in 2005 to encourage interaction among scientists.

"We work very closely with the [Office of the Provost] in development of the overall academic plan, and they work hands on with each group on campus to understand its long-term goals," Parker adds.

Improving student life is another key element of planning, says Abby Zanarini, the university's interim associate vice president of facility services.

The concept for a 391,000-sq-ft, 800-bed residence hall under way at 61st and Ellis avenues calls for eight, 100-bed "houses" to encourage interaction and community. Each house will have its own stairs for vertical circulation.

Students in a typical residence hall "hit an elevator button, get out, walk down a long corridor as in a Holiday Inn and close their door," adds Michael Bohn, senior vice president and regional manager in Chicago of Providence, R.I.-based Gilbane Building Co., the contractor. "The university is trying to get away from that."

Green spaces and quadrangles are being integrated throughout the campus in part to respect the heritage of a university located adjacent to three famous grassy areas: Jackson Park, Washington Park and the Midway Plaisance linear greenway.

The University of Chicago Botanic Garden - a term to define designated campus areas deemed to be noteworthy botanical locations - is formally recognized by the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta.

The Gordon Center has a quadrangle on its south, and a pedestrian greenway is planned for the South Campus.

"The blocks are fairly long, so we think it [the proposed greenway] will create a feeling of cohesion and tie together the ends of the campus well," Parker says.

These ideas also support another key principal in the campus plan: "make the most of the adjacent parks and acknowledge their roles as campus entry portals."

SIDEBAR 2

Regenerating Chicago, Local Neighborhoods

The vigor of the University of Chicago is helping drive other building and development in the city.

The economic impact of the U. of C. on the city is huge in terms of capital, long-term jobs and tax revenue, says Paul O' Connor, executive director of World Business Chicago, a nonprofit economic development body.

For instance, professionals in general like living in cities to be near employers and take advantage of cultural and nightlife opportunities and other benefits.

"The result is a strong trend toward downtown for about five to six years in which companies are moving and following talent into the city to run their national and strategic large systems," O'Connor says.

O'Connor points to the relocation to the Loop of two major corporations as examples - Boeing Co. from Seattle and the soon-to-move United Airlines from suburban Elk Grove Township. The Boeing move resulted in a 300,000-sq-ft build-out of its West Loop headquarters.

Executives with these firms cited the reputation of the MBA program at the U. of C., in addition to programs at other universities, as a factor contributing to their move.

The university is also influencing development of other independent academic organizations in Hyde Park.

For instance, the 151,000-sq-ft Catholic Theological Union on Cornell Avenue was completed in 2006 and the 41,000-sq-ft McCormick Theological Seminary Administration Building on University Avenue was opened in 2004.

The university has had an impact on development and building in adjacent neighborhoods - North Kenwood/Oakland to the north and Woodlawn on its south - by committing financial support, says Henry Webber, vice president for community and government affairs.

The U. of C. provided loan guarantees for employees seeking market-rate and affordable housing in those neighborhoods, he says. Almost 150 employees have taken advantage of the $7,500, zero-interest loan.

In addition, the university has partnered with the Local Initiatives Support Corp. of the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to start and operate three public charter schools in adjacent areas, Webber says. Three closed buildings were renovated for about $20 million combined as a result of the program.

Finally, the U. of C. is committing to minority-business-enterprise and women-business-enterprise employment. About $72 million - or 35% - of the more than $200 million in contracts let on the South Campus were awarded to MBE/WBE firms.

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