WCCUP Chiller & Infrastructure Upgrades October 2025
October 7, 2025
On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, through Friday, October 31, 2025, construction activities related to the installation of a new chiller at WCCUP will occur. The use of a crane will be required for to complete the work.
Schedule:
- Start: October 14, 2025
- Finish: October 31, 2025
- Work is scheduled to occur on weekdays from 6AM – 6PM.
- No construction activities are expected to occur on the weekends.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions: Throughout the project, building occupants and visitors can expect the following:
- Temporary road closure and no parking on S. Maryland Avenue.
- Temporary sidewalk closures on the east side of S. Maryland Avenue, adjacent to WCCUP.
- Material staging along 56th Street.
- Flaggers and signage will be provided to direct pedestrians and traffic.
For questions and concerns please reach out to John Barlow, project consultant jbarlow@uchicago.edu.
Prioritized Midway Crosswalk Enhancements
August 28, 2025
Phase 1 and Phase 2 crosswalk locations are back open for use, with construction on Phase 3 locations underway. Please note, there will still be some restorative landscaping and signage installation work that will occur after the reopening dates shared, but the crosswalks will be safe to use.
Schedule:
- Phase 1 Crosswalk Locations reopened on September 11th
- Phase 2 Crosswalk Locations reopened on September 18th
- Phase 3 Crosswalk Locations are slated to reopen by October 3rd.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions: Throughout the project, campus occupants and visitors can expect the following:
- Crosswalk temporary closures
- Signage will be used to highlight alternative routes when the team reaches a point in the phased schedule for a respective crosswalk to close down.
- Instances where traffic will narrow down to one lane of traffic, but no full street closures
- Noise and minor dust during the asphalt/concrete scope.
For questions and concerns, please reach out to Lindsay Haskins, Project Manager, lhaskins@uchicago.edu
Turf Reinforcement at Main Quad Circle
August 25, 2025
Beginning on September 2, 2025, areas of turf surrounding and within the Main Quad Circle will be removed, reinforced, and re-sodded. Pedestrian and Authorized Vehicular Access will be maintained throughout the duration of the project. Construction vehicles will deliver and remove materials as required, with the use of flaggers.
Schedule:
The project will begin the week of September 1 and is targeting completion on September 16, utilizing standard working hours Monday through Friday.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions:
- During the project, construction vehicles will periodically enter the Main Quadrangle, and areas of turf immediately adjacent to the center circle will be under construction.
For questions and concerns please reach out to Katie Martin Peck, katie2@uchicago.edu
Cobb Gate Ivy Removal and Façade Repairs
August 25, 2025
Beginning on September 2, 2025, ivy will be removed, and repairs will be made to the façade of Cobb Gate. Pedestrian access will be maintained through the duration of the project, but vehicular access will be restricted. 20’ long canopies will be installed at the north and south facades for the duration of the project.
Schedule:
The project will begin on September 2 and is targeting completion prior to September 16, utilizing standard working hours Monday - Friday.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions:
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During the project, ivy will be removed, and the façade will be cleaned and tuckpointed via boom lift.
For questions and concerns please reach out to Katie Martin Peck, katie2@uchicago.edu
Quantum Lab Renovation - Michelson Center for Physics
August 19, 2025
The Mason Lab retrofits existing dry lab space to support quantum materials research, with a focus on the electronic properties of nanoscale and correlated systems, such as nano-scale wires, atomically thin membranes, and nanostructured superconductors. This work will entail the installation and reconfiguration of MEP infrastructure, casework, and minor finishes upgrades.
Schedule:
- Start: Friday, August 29, 2025
- The work will happen in 2 phases and will continue through the end of February 2026.
- The work will mostly be contained within the rooms and areas of construction, with some work occurring in the corridor
Construction Impacts/Disruptions: Throughout the project, building occupants and visitors can expect the following:
- Construction Noise and some vibration impact of sawing, hammering, etc. should be expected.
- Workers will be on site from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays – Saturdays
- A few sprinkler heads in the area of work will need to be relocated, which will require a drain down of the sprinkler line in the basement for one 8-hour shift. The rest of the building will remain unaffected.
For questions and concerns, please reach out to Krystal McDoom, Project Manager, kmcdoom@uchicago.edu.
6022 S. Drexel Hot Water Heat Exchanger Replacement
August 13, 2025
This project will include the installation of three new gas-fired domestic water heaters, associated accessories, and vertical ventilation pipes on the south exterior elevation. Once the new equipment is in place and operational, Facility Services will be mobilizing a construction project for the above location. Please see below for the schedule and anticipated impacts. Demolition and removal of the existing steam-powered domestic water heater and storage tank will take place.
Schedule:
Start: On August 18th, 2025,
The work will continue through the beginning of November 2025.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions: Throughout the project, building occupants and visitors can expect the following:
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Construction activities are expected between 8 am and 4 pm, Monday through Friday, for the duration of the project.
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Construction activities will occur in the basement level hallway and mechanical spaces, as well as the south exterior elevation.
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Occupant access to the building and community areas in the basement will be maintained throughout construction.
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There will be periods of significant noise inside the building associated with work activity. Noise will include drilling, sawing, and banging.
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A limited-duration scheduled water service disruption is expected when transitioning to the new system.
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A community notification will be sent to occupants a minimum of 72 hours in advance of this activity.
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Debris dumpsters will be located in front of the building as indicated on the graphic below.
For questions and concerns, please reach out to Crystal Szewczyk, Project Manager, ccarlson2@uchicago.edu.
Crerar Quad Vault Improvments
July 29, 2025
Work temporarily paused for this project during Orientation week and the week leading up to the South Side Science Festival. We will resume construction of this project on Monday, October 6th. The footprint for the project fencing will remain minimized, and pedestrian paths will still be open, as shown in the graphic below. We have run into a lead time issue for one of the final steps for this project, and this is the driver for the new project’s completion date.
Remaining Schedule:
- Work will resume on Monday, October 6th
- Concrete pours for the two hatch lids are slated for Saturday, October 11th, so that there is less impact on pedestrians.
- The remainder of the electrical scope is slated for October 14th and 15th
- Plumbing and mechanical vault work to be completed by October 30th.
- Fencing removal and landscaping restoration are slated for Monday, November 3rd.
For questions and concerns, please reach out to Lindsay Haskins, Project Manager, lhaskins@uchicago.edu
Prioritized Crosswalk Enhancements
July 16, 2025
In order to further improve the safety of pedestrians throughout campus, there will be MMA painting and flexible bollards added to a number of existing crosswalks. Locations where this painting and flexible bollards are shown are shown in the graphic below. The crosswalks furthest south will be completed first, with the contractor then moving northbound, finishing the scope on 55th last.
Schedule:
Start: Beginning the week of July 21st
The work will continue through the Week of August 4th
Construction Impacts/Disruptions: Throughout the project, campus occupants and visitors can expect the following:
- Temporary barricades as needed when working near the respective crosswalks.
- Crosswalks will remain open during this time.
For questions and concerns, please reach out to Lindsay Haskins, Project Manager, lhaskins@uchicago.edu
Prioritized Lighting Enhancements between ISAC and Rockefeller
July 1, 2025
A lighting study was completed, identifying areas on campus where inadequate lighting levels are present. The area between ISAC and Rockefeller was identified as one of the spaces on campus where lighting levels could be improved upon for the safety of all on campus. This project will add 6 light fixtures and a few quad receptacles.
Schedule:
Start: Mobilizing on July 7th.
The work will continue through the end of July.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions: Throughout the project, building occupants and visitors can expect the following:
- Temporary barricades near pedestrian pathways.
- Please note, all pathways will remain open unless otherwise communicated.
- Anticipated working hours will be from 7 AM to 3 PM.
For questions and concerns, please reach out to Lindsay Haskins, Project Manager, lhaskins@uchicago.edu
Harper Library - Alterations to Accessible NE Entrance
June 9, 2025
The project will reconfigure the existing accessible NE entrance and vestibule doors to provide wider accessible openings with new automatic door operators, including push-plate actuators and card readers. The work will occur on the first floor exterior and interior areas of the existing NE entrance and vestibule.
Schedule:
Start: Wednesday, June 11th, 2025
The work will continue through middle of August 2025.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions: Throughout the project, building occupants and visitors can expect the following:
- Impact on NE Entrance ingress/egress and accessible route
- Workers will be on site from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day
- Noise and Vibration impact from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day
For questions and concerns, please reach out to: Bryndis Pape, Project Manager CPD at bpape1@uchicago.edu.
William Eckhardt Research Center Lab Renovations
May 19, 2025
The project includes enabling renovation work required in LL1-130 and LL1-148 for the researcher (Carlstrom Team) who currently occupies LL1-127. This will free space for the LL1-127 renovations to accommodate a new researcher (Fleming Team) with different requirements. The project will be constructed in two phases: the first phase starting with LL-130/LL148 June 2nd through mid-July, and the second phase, starting with LL-127 from mid-July through October 2025.
Construction Impacts and Disruptions:
- Phase I has been completed
- Phase II: The Unistrut installation has been completed. Crane installation began on September 11th. Lab LL127 to be ready by mid-October.
- During Phase II, minor vibration could be experienced during the installation of the crane and mezzanine, for which advance notification shall be provided to adjacent labs located on the same floor, above, and below. Such work will be limited to a shorter duration, and the construction crew shall strive to do the work before regular business hours.
- No impact on accessibility pathways throughout construction.
- Work hours will start at 5:30 am through 2:30 pm, with possible overtime based on schedule constraints.
For questions and concerns, please reach out to Carlos Martinez, Project Manager, cimartinez@uchicago.edu.
6045 S Kenwood Recapitalize of Roof and Parapet
March 13, 2025
A project to recapitalize the roof and parapet on 6045 South Kenwood will mobilize on Monday, March 17 with the installation of construction site fence and overhead protections. Construction will begin in late March and will conclude by the end of July. The work will involve noise and dust from the masonry repairs and workers accessing the roof from the building exterior. Several short crane lifts are expected to bring materials onto the roof. Notice of the crane activities will be sent in advance.
For questions and concerns please reach out to Patrick Lummen, Project Manager plummen@uchicago.edu.
Accelerator Building (ACC) and High Energy Physics (HEP)-Demolition
September 3, 2024
Starting on Monday, Sept. 9, construction activities will start at the North Sciences Quad in preparation for the demolition of the HEP and ACC buildings. The work activities will continue for several months into early 2025. There will be periods of time when noise, dust and vibrations will be evident, and mitigation efforts will be managed by the construction team. Please see the below graphic showing the fenced-in project site and expected traffic and pedestrian interruptions.
The campus community can expect the following during the coming months:
- Traffic lane and parking lane temporary closures.
- Saw-cutting for water disconnecting work in the roadway on Ellis Avenue.
- Construction vehicle traffic during fence installation and throughout demolition.
For questions, please contact Eric Eichler, project consultant, at eeichler@forgeprojects.com
Thank you for your patience throughout this project.
Rockefeller Chapel Exterior Envelope project-summer 2024
February 6, 2024
A project to repair the façade and restore the stained-glass windows is scheduled to start in early February. The project will mobilize throughout the month of February with actual construction starting in early March. The project schedule will continue through April 2026.
The campus community can expect the following throughout the project:
- There will be scaffolding and fencing erected throughout the project.
- All access to the chapel will remain open.
- The circle at the east side of the chapel will remain open for drop-offs.
- There will be debris dumpsters at the site.
- Workers will be on site Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- There will be some noise associated with project activities.
Please direct questions to Patrick Lummen, project manager, at plummen@uchicago.edu.
Thank you for your patience during this work.