Archinect - News

Northwestern University’s Ryan Field stadium breaks ground

2024-08-07T18:02:00-04:00

Northwestern University’s athletics tradition is getting a new crown jewel thanks to HNTB and Perkins&Will’s design for the new Ryan Field Redevelopment project. Work on the venue, which promises to be "most accessible in college football," commenced with a groundbreaking ceremony early last month in Evanston, Illinois, and will yield a total of 35,000 seats plus outdoor plaza areas after an investment of $800 million. Existing ADA requirements will be "doubled," according to HNTB's project page.

Turner Construction is spearheading its construction and expects the stadium to be ready in time for the start of the 2026 season. Thornton Tomasetti is providing structural design and construction engineering services for the redevelopment, which is targeting a LEED Gold certification.

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Ennead Architects to design a new 'University Commons' at Northwestern

2016-07-28T19:21:00-04:00

Northwestern University announced a plan to replace an existing campus center with a 209,000 sq. ft building designed by Ennead Architects. The lakeside building will be accessible from multiple sides on two levels and will include an auditorium, a black box theater, and a large multipurpose space. The building, named "University Center," will also have both indoor and outdoor spaces dedicated to performances, recreation, study, and other programs.

“We are excited to announce our plan to create a welcoming, dynamic space where the entire community can come to meet, create, learn and relax in this stunning lakeside setting,” states President Morton Schapiro in the press release. “This will be a spectacular place where students can study and hang out, faculty and staff can work or connect, and alumni and families can visit and engage with the community.”

Welcome to Evanston, Illinois: the carless suburbia

2015-10-23T16:27:00-04:00

What if a suburban downtown became a place where pedestrians ruled and cars were actively discouraged? As it turns out, what looks like normal urban gentrification actually marks the success of one of the most revolutionary suburbs in America. And its approach to development is fast becoming a model across the region—a model even embraced by [Evanston's] urban neighbor to the south, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.