PROJECTS

Old Cook County Hospital Given New Life as Medical Center Hotel

Chicago, Illinois

One of Chicago's Crown Jewels Gets a New Beginning as a Vibrant Mixed-Use Space

The Old Cook County Hospital is a remarkable piece of history transformed into a new mixed-use development that accommodates 2 Hyatt hotels, a food hall, museum, and office spaces.

The building — on the National Register of Historic Places — was uninhabitable before the revitalization plan, which restored the terra cotta, granite, and brick facade to preserve elements from the building’s past life. The interior has also been fully renovated, from the tile and terrazzo flooring to the plaster walls.

IMI hosted a custom restoration training for the project team at the request of the general contractor’s quality director, which included superintendents and subcontractors. The full-day program covered condition assessments, masonry materials, and wall system construction and performance. During the training, the group also discussed suitable masonry material repairs, including appropriate unit replacement, cementitious patching options, mortar analysis and composition, as well as cleaning approaches and methodologies.

Many of the BAC craftworkers on the project, in addition to having extensive experience restoring Chicago’s landmarks, also hold IMI’s Historic Masonry Preservation Certificate (HMPC).

Read more about the project.

BAC restoration craftworker cleaning terra cotta facade of Old Cook County Hospital as a part of the restoration process


Photo courtesy Eric Nordstom/Building 51 Museum

Services

Materials

  • Terra Cotta
  • Granite
  • Brick
  • Plaster
  • Terrazzo
  • Tile
Project Team

Craftworkers:
BAC Administrative District Council 1 IL (Local 21 Chicago)
BAC Contractors:
MBB Enterprises of Chicago INEscorza Group (Tile), Menconi Terrazzo (Terrazzo), REA Masonry, LLC, Mark 1 Restoration, JP Phillips (Plaster)
General Contractor:
Walsh Construction
A/E Firms:
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) Architects, Rubinos & Mesia Engineers Inc (RME)

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