CHICAGO UNION STATION, CHICAGO

2021 LANDMARKS ILLINOIS RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS FOUNDATION PRESERVATION AWARD FOR RESTORATION

Amtrak and Goettsch Partners have beautifully restored Chicago’s Union Station, a 96-year-old landmark designed by D.H. Burnham and Company that today remains one of the last grand American railroad stations. The successful restoration project at the historic train station reflects 10 years of careful stewardship and restoration, with a special emphasis on Union Station’s Great Hall and its massive vaulted skylight. The project also masterfully overcame the challenges associated with properly maintaining and honoring the architectural integrity of the building while incorporating modern amenities and state-of-the-art technologies that support the station’s large, high-performance skylight. The revitalization of this Chicago Landmark positively impacts the more than 130,000 people who pass through it every day. It also stands as a monument of the important role that railroads and transportation have played in Chicago’s history.

(Photo Credit: Amtrak)

 

PROJECT PRINCIPALS

• Leonard Koroski, Goettsch Partners
• Jeanne Cantu & Joseph Hoerner, Amtrak / National Railroad Passenger Corporation
• Archistoric
• Jack Tribbia, Berglund Construction
• John Becker, CBRE
• Warren Charter, CharterSills and Associates
• Jeremy Stanek, Clune Construction
• Terry VanderWell, Evergreene Architectural Arts
• Galloy & Van Etten
• Ray Volk, Jenkins & Huntington
• Joseph Woodworking
• JP Phillips
• Phil Renouf, Klein & Hoffman
• Medhi Jalayerian, MEP Engineer: ESD
• MTH
• Oosterbahn Painting
• Ben Nikolin, Pepper Construction
• Shaff Glass
• Stone Design
• David Nickell, TGRWA

(Photo credit: Amtrak)

LI ASKS: WHY IS THIS PLACE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Joseph M. Hoerner, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Amtrak, Principal Architect – Chicago Union Station

Chicago Union Station is an iconic structure and a great civic place, important to both the city and the country. It was named a Chicago Landmark in 2002, designated a Great Public Space in 2012 by the Project for Public Spaces and is listed by AIA Illinois as one of the 200 Illinois Great Places. In these times, transportation, civic and public infrastructure are struggling yet this project is a success story celebrating a long-term stewardship, revitalizing this grand space as a transportation hub, civic gateway and public gathering place for the next 100 years.

(Photo credit: Amtrak)

HOW DID SAVING THIS PLACE IMPACT PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Joseph M. Hoerner, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Amtrak, Principal Architect – Chicago Union Station

Union Station is a vital transportation hub for both Chicago commuters and national travelers. It is the nation’s third busiest train station, the busiest passenger terminal in Chicago and the most intact of what were once six major downtown Chicago stations. Union Station hosts more than 3 million Amtrak passengers and 35 million Metra passengers annually. The series of improvements to the station over the last decade have revitalized the landmark, providing a safe and vibrant transportation hub for all. The station also supports the expanding West Loop area downtown and its need for public space. It serves as a civic greeting place for travelers and facilitates the future growth of Chicago as a major metropolitan city.

(Photo Credit: LK)

Learn more about Chicago Union Station