Pulaski Park Field House

Historic Preservation of a Chicago Landmark

Farr is leading the historic preservation and renovation of the Pulaski Park Field House, built in 1914 and designed by the Illinois State Architect William Carbys Zimmerman (1905-1915). The craftsman, tudor-revival field house contains a variety of spaces including two gymnasiums, a black box theater, a former Chicago Public Library branch, a courtyard, and multiple verandas.

Our facility inspection and assessment report identified locations of deterioration, barriers to accessibility, and hazardous building conditions. We provided a detailed rehabilitation plan recommending the most efficient use of the park district’s budget, given the project’s focus on improved energy efficiency, accessibility, life safety, and preservation.

Client: Chicago Park District

Location: Chicago, IL

Role: Architect of Record

Size: 37,000 sf

Estimated Completion: 2024

Construction Cost: $3,000,000

  • BTL Architects: Facade Architect

    Stern-Joglekar: Structural Engineer

    Primera Engineers: MEP & Code Analysis

    Macrosite Historic Advisors: Historic Consulatant

    Specialty Consulting, Inc.: Environmental Testing

  • Pulaski Park Field House is a designated Chicago Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Chicago Park District: Pulaski (Casimer) Park

  • Updated Bathrooms

    Updates included new tile, partitions, ADA amenities, fixtures, and electric hand dryers.

  • Interior Accessibility Improvements

    Wheelchair seating added to the gym mezzanine (pre-stain). New wheelchair accessibilty includes new ramps throughout the building’s interior.

  • Micro Piles

    Separate permits were required to introduce footings/micro piles in basement and repair concrete cracks.

  • External Repairs

    Before (left) and after showing repair of rotting wood, repainting, shimming gaps in structure.

  • New ADA-compliant railing and ramp

  • Masonry Updates