Union Station Lincoln Presidential Center
Project of the Year: Renovation/Rehabilitation
Union Station in Springfield, Ill., is a structure in the Romanesque Revival style originally designed in 1898 by Francis Bacon of the Illinois Central Railroad. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The building underwent a modernization in 1946 that removed its ornate clock tower, in addition to other alterations. In 1985, the station was turned into a shopping mall.
The station was rehabilitated by the state of Illinois according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and is now a Visitors’ Center for the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum Complex.
The waiting rooms serve as orientation galleries that provide visitors with concierge-type assistance. The mezzanine and second-floor contain offices.
In addition to rehabilitating the 108-year-old structure, other goals included matching the existing materials and techniques and bringing the building up to codes for seismic, fire protection, accessibility, air and water quality, security and energy efficiency.
Rehabilitating the Tower
The biggest challenge was the accurate reconstruction of the 150-ft-tall clock tower. Based on period photographs and the original construction drawings, the new tower recreates the 1898 original in traditional materials.
Because the original tower’s foundation was too deteriorated to support the new internal steel structure, a combination of concrete-filled steel caissons—drilled into bedrock 60 ft below street level—and a ring of heavily reinforced concrete now support the tower.
Another issue included the seamless integration of accessibility features and mechanical, electrical and fire-protection systems into the historic fabric of the structure.
The project also included the selective repointing of the historic exterior brick and stone, wood window restoration, terra cotta roof tile replacement, rehabilitation of ornamental iron work and painting of wood surfaces with historically appropriate colors.
Inside, decorative wood trim and paneling were refinished and, where missing, new woodwork was detailed and finished to match the original. Historic maple floors were restored and new maple floors were installed where the existing had been damaged beyond repair.
Jury Comments: “This is a fine renovation. A historic structure was renovated and incorporated into the complex honoring President Lincoln. The renovation was faithful. The redone tower is beautiful. The project is helping drive economic redevelopment.”
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