Pullman Erecting Shed Stabilization
Once home to one of America’s first planned industrial communities, the Pullman Historic District, a National Monument and State Historic Site, has been the site of our country’s most pivotal labor movements, including the 1894 Pullman Strike and Boycotts, one of the major inciting incidents leading the creation and celebration of Labor Day. As the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is making strides to preserve the historic sites and create interpretive moments to educate visitors on Pullman’s historic and cultural significance, Bailey Edward is stabilizing one of the erecting shops where Pullman employees assembled the historic sleeper cars. The stabilization and restoration of the site to its Era of Significance during the height of the factory’s production from 1880-1897, is the first step in helping the owners visualize the erecting shop as a special exhibit with full-size railcars for visitors to better understand the “hotels on wheels” originally constructed on-site.
client
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
location
Chicago, Illinois
size
36,200 sf
Services
Specialties
client
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
location
Chicago, Illinois
size
36,200 sf
Services
Specialties
Investigation
With vegetation growing inside and on top of the building, the Rear Erecting shop has been deteriorating for several years. Bailey Edward’s team of historic preservation architectural staff developed a plan to document the site’s current conditions to better understand the rate of deterioration and determine the best possible solution to halt further loss of historic materials and prepare the building for future use. During a week-long site investigation, our team conducted non-destructive and destructive evaluations of the remaining building walls, trusses, windows, and doors. Nondestructive evaluations included surface penetrating radar and wood species identification. Working closely with our contractor assist partner, the historic iron and wood roof trusses were exposed from their temporary covers and select areas of brick and mortar were removed for testing. Using a Matterport scanner, we captured and generated a digital reconstruction model of the Rear Erecting shed. Our team also reviewed historic drawings and records of the building including historic photos to establish a timeline of the evolution of the building and to investigate historic elements that are no longer present.
To ensure funding could be used to most effectively achieve the goals of the historic site, our team held visioning and programming sessions with representatives from the Illinois Capital Development Board, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and the National Park Service. Together, we reviewed the existing Master Plan for the Historic District and defined project success in the context of the building’s own history as well as the mission and vision of the National Monument. These engagement efforts led to the identification of emergency repairs integral to the stabilization design.