Temporary Street Light Installation on Ellis Avenue along NESB Site
May 20, 2025
The City of Chicago is requiring temporary street lights be installed on the east side of Ellis Avenue (from 56th Street to the south end of ACC) in preparation for the demolition of ACC and HEP. These street lights will remain in place through the construction of the New Science and Engineering Building (NESB).
Schedule:
Start: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
The work will continue through May 30, 2025.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions: Throughout the project, building occupants and visitors can expect the following:
- No parking will be posted on the east side of Ellis Avenue, from the corner of 56th Street to the south end of the Accelerator Building.
- Temporary traffic disruptions may occur. Flaggers will be onhand to direct traffic if required.
- Work may be noisey at times or result in minor vibrations.
- Workers will be on site from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
For questions and concerns please reach out to John Barlow, project consultant jbarlow@uchicago.edu.
WCCUP Chiller & Infrastructure Upgrades
May 20, 2025
On May 28, 2025, glass curtain wall panels will be removed from the 3rd floor of the WCCUP Building to allow for equipment and construction material deliveries. The use of a crane will be required to complete this work.
The work is anticipated to be completed on the same day.
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.
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 new researcher (Fleming Team) with different requirements. The project will be constructed in two phases: 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:
- During Phase-I work, a portion of the hallway outside LL-148 will be cordoned off with temporary partitions; however, there will be no impact with exiting or access to other labs.
- No impact on accessibility pathways throughout construction.
- During Phase-II minor vibration could be experienced during installation of 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 with shorter duration, and the construction crew shall strive to do the work before regular business hours.
- Work hours will start at 5:30 am though 2:30 pm, with possible overtime based on schedule constraints.
For questions and concerns please reach out to Raj Desai, Project Manager rajdesai@uchicago.edu.
Michelson Generator Relocation
May 15, 2025
In preparation for the construction of the NESB building, the Michelson Center for Physic’s emergency generator needs to be relocated from its current location on the east side of the building, to the northeast corner of the building.
Start: On Monday, May 19, 2025
Anticipated End: The work will continue through to the end of May, weather dependent.
Construction Impacts/Disruptions
Throughout the project, building occupants and visitors can expect the following:
- All activities are anticipated to take place within the existing construction fence
- Work may at times be noisy and cause minor vibration
- A small crane will be used to relocate the generator to the new location
- Workers will be on site from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day
For questions and concerns please reach out to John Barlow, project consultant, jbarlow@uchicago.edu.
Memo Exterior Stairs/Ramp Replacement Work
May 12, 2025
The purpose of the project is to replace the existing exterior ramps/stairs around the building leading into the building. The project will be constructed in two phases: first phase starting with stairs on Drexel side from May 12th through May 19th, and the second phase starting with stairs/ramp on the Ingleside from May 19th through mid-June.
Construction Impacts and Disruptions:
- During Phase-I construction, building access will be from stairs/ramp on Ingleside (Alley) only; and during Phase-II construction, building access will be from stairs on Drexel side only.
- There will be no accessible entry during Phase-II construction
- No parking will be allowed in the alley (Ingleside) along the building side during Phase-II construction
- Work hours will start at 5:30 am though 2:30 pm, with possible over-time based on schedule constraints.
For questions and concerns please reach out to Raj Desai, Project Manager rajdesai@uchicago.edu.
Stagg Field Track Replacement
May 5, 2025
The purpose of the project is to replace the current track surface and subsurface. The project will continue through mid August.
Construction Impacts and Disruptions:
- Access to tennis courts will still be open to player via the south field gate on 56th St.
- Restrooms will remain open to public.
- Track, field, bleachers, and locker rooms will be closed during the duration of the project.
- Truck traffic will enter work area from North gate along 55th St. All traffic and bike lanes will remain open on 55th St.
- Work hours will start at 6 am though 2 pm, with possible over-time based on schedule constraints.
- Weekend work may be required.
For questions regarding the status of the elevator modernization project, please contact Kathy Adams, project manager, at khadams@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.
1155 E. 60th Roof Replacement - Phase 3
February 17, 2025
In early March mobilization for the third and final phase of roof replacement at 1155 East 60th Street will begin.
The scope of work includes:
-
Installation of protective canopies over the exterior doors and scaffolding for roof access.
-
Replacement of four roofs with related repairs to the rooftop drainage, fall protections, and parapet masonry.
Building occupants and visitors can expect noise related to the installation of fall protection anchors and parapet work as masons grind and point mortar joints and replace broken ashlar stones. Dust protections will be put in place and coordinated with Facilities Services Staff. The work is expected to conclude in July.
Please direct questions to Patrick Lummen, project manager, at plummen@uchicago.edu.
Thank you for your patience during this work.
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.
Harper East Tower Elevator
November 10, 2023
The Harper East Tower elevator will be out-of-service effective end of the day, Friday, Nov. 10. In its current condition, the reliability of the elevator is not consistent and it poses a safety concern when it is used, and entrapments are likely.
There is a capital project approved and scheduled for the modernization of the elevator. The project will occur in 2024. Until the project is complete the elevator will remain out of service.
The extent of Harper Memorial Library East Elevator
-
The East elevator is a traction-type elevator that was previously installed in 2006. The typical useful service life of the hoist drive motor, machine, essential components & mechanisms, and controller is 20 years.
-
Currently, there is a lack of proper machine room cooling and enclosure (keeping doors shut to ward off dust and debris and maintaining proper ambient temperature may be straining controller components thereby significantly reducing the service life.
-
The project scope for the modernization of the East elevator will replace all of the major operational and mechanical items. The scope also includes replacing the elevator cab (interior finishes), providing proper machine room cooling, updating fire service locks for BOTH East and west elevators, and installing a lobby fire command panel for both East and West elevators.
The campus community and visitors can expect to following while the elevator is out of service:
-
The scheduled elevator modernization will occur in Summer/Fall 2024
-
The Harper East Tower stairwell will be unlocked from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The doors will remain locked over the weekend.
-
The door between SSRB-5th floor and Harper will remain unlocked from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The door will remain locked over the weekend.
-
Signage will be posted at the elevator indicating the elevator is unavailable; please see the attached signage.
-
Project updates will be provided, as needed, regarding the start of work and progress made throughout the modernization process.
For questions regarding the status of the elevator modernization project, please contact John Choi, project manager, at jchoi21@uchicago.edu.