Illinois State Fairgrounds Coliseum
Project Summary
For 115 years, the Illinois State Fairgrounds’ Coliseum brought citizens together every summer for agricultural showcases, performances, and political rallies. In 2016, the building closed its doors due to structural instability. Hired in 2018 to reactivate the building for future events, Bailey Edward led the architectural and engineering team through careful research and testing to restore the building’s structural and historical integrity and to provide improvements for sustainability, accessibility, and flexibility so that the Coliseum could be a gathering place for all Illinoisans year-round.
Our historic preservation team determined the building’s period of significance (1918-1935) by analyzing the age and historic relevance of existing materials and by studying historic documents and photographs. A detailed field survey by the team, along with structural modeling, revealed original design errors in the structural components of the roof system. A new roof system was designed with approval from the State Historic Preservation Officer and constructed within 7 months in time for the Coliseum to reopen for the 2019 State Fair.
client
Capital Development Board
location
Springfield, Illinois
size
60,000 sf
cost
$28 million
Services
Specialties
client
Capital Development Board
location
Springfield, Illinois
size
60,000 sf
cost
$28 million
Services
Specialties
Photos courtesy of our partners at Hanson Professional Services.
Keeping Cool
The research also shed light on the original design’s natural ventilation system used to cool the building in the summer. Enhanced with large fans and insulation, this system successfully provided a greener way to control the building’s temperature. The cooling system and ADA accessibility improvements ensured individuals of all ages and abilities could enjoy the Coliseum during the hot August days of the State Fair.