Goettsch Partners has completed work on renovations at Chicago Union Station following nearly a decade of redevelopment efforts. Originally designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, the 93-year-old terminal recently received its final upgrade with the $22 million enhancement of the Great Hall.
The locally based firm updated the 219-foot-long cast-iron skylight in the Great Hall with a new skylight composed of steel and 858 panes of glass equipped to fill the interior with 50 percent more natural daylight. The space has also been improved with 24 original, refurbished ceiling chandeliers and the addition of 27 new light sources. Layers of paint were carefully stripped away from the ornate plasterwork, revealing its original paint job. To help with traffic flow, a new elevator was added as well.
“Essential to our vision for this project was preserving the historic design features of the building while making necessary improvements and repairs to stabilize this landmark for the longterm,” says Leonard Koroski, principal at Goettsch Partners who spearheaded the renovation. “By restoring Union Station’s original color scheme and stabilizing the skylight, visitors now enjoy the authentic experience intended in the 1920s, full of sunlight and color.”
