The campus of the University of Chicago consists of 211 acres in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. The main quadrangles organized the original buildings on campus, a mix of Victorian Gothic and Collegiate Gothic styles. As the campus has continued to grow, its boundaries have moved west of Ellis Avenue, a bordering street to the quadrangles, and the current campus master plan envisions westward extension of the 58th Street east-west quadrangle axis. 

To reinforce the master plan’s goals and help solve circulation and enclosure issues at the Levi Hall administration building, a portal was opened through the building’s existing entry lobby, connecting the two sides of the campus.

The redesign required a multi-year phased renovation of the entire building to accommodate the relocated first-floor program. The walkway design was informed by a wind study, which demonstrated that a smooth through-way would cause a wind tunnel. To mitigate this condition, folding glass walls make up the opening’s sides to slow the wind as it passes through.

With entrances on both east and west façades, this lobby was already being used as a pedestrian thoroughfare. Spaces within the building were reorganized in conjunction with the space modernization program, over a period of 3-4 years, allowing the north and south segments of the ground floor to be functionally independent. 

The schedule was met through close collaboration with the design-assist curtainwall contractor and the MEP contractor. Early shop drawing approvals and prefabrication of the ADA ramp structure ensured all materials were ready for installation during the Summer break. This approach allowed for the GMC to be confirmed by the construction manager three months before the scheduled start of work.