Art Institute of Chicago: Modern Wing and Nichols Bridgeway Project | Chicago, Illinois | Projects

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Art Institute of Chicago: Modern Wing and Nichols Bridgeway Project
Structural Peer Review, Local Structural Engineering Consultant, and Construction-Phase Services

In 2000, the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC), commissioned Italian architect Renzo Piano, renowned for his museum designs around the world to design a large addition to the existing Art Institute campus. The AIC retained WJE to serve as structural peer reviewer and local structural engineering consultant. When a pedestrian bridge to be founded on top of an existing underground parking garage to the south of the of the Art Institute was added to the project, WJE evaluated loads on the parking structure and designed the foundation system for the new bridge. Working on behalf of the Art Institute, WJE collaborated with the European designers and other local consultants throughout the eight-year design and construction process.

CLIENT
The Art Institute of Chicago

STRUCTURE
The Art Institute of Chicago, located on Michigan Avenue along Chicago's lakefront, includes the original museum building constructed in the 1890s and numerous contiguous extensions. The Modern Wing, opened in 2009, is a 264,000 square-foot addition that increases the size of the Art Institute by a third, making it the second largest art museum in the United States. The Nichols Bridgeway is a 620-foot-long pedestrian bridge that spans from the third floor of the Modern Wing, over Monroe Drive, and into Millennium Park.

SOLUTION
Working on behalf of the Art Institute, WJE collaborated with the European designers and other local consultants throughout the 8-year design and construction process. Specific tasks performed by WJE included:

Comprehensive structural peer review

Evaluation of bridge loads on underground garage

Design of strengthening for underground garage

Nichols Bridgeway foundation design

Construction-phase site observation

Specialized construction-phase consulting and testing

Implementation of extensive vibration testing and monitoring program to protect existing buildings and artwork from construction-related work

Careful evaluation and innovative strengthening of the garage supporting the Nichols Bridgeway saved time and money by avoiding work from the underlying railroad terminal

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STRUCTURE

Bridge
Museum / Theater

SERVICE
Materials Evaluation and Research
Peer Review and Commissioning
Repair and Rehabilitation
Structural Evaluation
Testing and Instrumentation