CITATION OF MERIT
DISTINGUISHED BUILDING
Chicago, Illinois
| Architect: | Daniel P. Coffey & Associates Ltd. |
| Client/Owner: | DePaul University |
| General Contractor: | W.E. O'Neil Construction Co. |
| Consultants: | Globetrotters Engineering Inc. w/ Don Belford (Structural), WMA Consulting Engineers Ltd. (Mechanical), Teng & Associates Inc. (Electrical) |
| Photographer: | Steinkamp-Ballogg, James Steinkamp |
"The exterior is a success."
-Jury Comment
This project is proof that a building built
for one purpose, an early-20th century
department store, can be brilliantly re-used
for another: an urban university that also
houses offices and a variety of smaller
stores. On the one hand, this is a
restoration project that included over
1000 new pieces of terra cotta on the south
and west facades. But while the integrity of
the original design was maintained, many new
features were added. A new entry leads to a
central atrium that has new elevators and
escalators. A block-long interior storefront
is made of mahogany and links the building's
various entries. An exterior "courtyard" lies
to the north of the building where an adjacent
two-story building once stood. This space has
become a popular place for impromptu concerts
and brown-bag lunches and is faced by the new
north facade. The redesign of the roof
included skylights and a rooftop terrace.
In short, DePaul Center has revitalized a
deserted white elephant and transformed a
blighted area into an active part of the city.
