The demolition of the buildings behind the historic facades on Wabash Ave. and Randolph St. in the heart of Chicago’s Loop is paving the way for the new Heritage at Millennium Park, a 57-story residential high-rise and 100,000 square feet of new retail space. Construction of the $300 million mixed-use development is expected to be complete by 2004 -2005.
Dating back to from just after Chicago’s 1871 Fire, the facades have been severely altered over the years to the extent that the integrity of any original architecture has been compromised. But by borrowing a technique used on historic properties in Paris, London and Washington, D.C., the development team will preserve and restore the facades to the condition they were in during the 1920s. A system of steel supports will hold the facades in place until the new structure is completed behind them, when crews will attach the old “faces” to their new places. Work on the facades is scheduled for completion in mid-to-late 2003.
“By implementing this innovative and rarely used construction process, we will be able to preserve a piece of architectural history that dates back to Chicago’s Fire in 1871,” said Richard A. Hanson of the development team for The Heritage.
The Heritage at Millennium Park and the new retail center are being developed by Mesa Development, Walsh Construction, Klutznick-Fisher, and Markwell Properties and is designed by architects Solomon Cordwell Buenz & Associates. |
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