University of Chicago
Graduate School of Business Hyde Park Center
Cost: $125 million

The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business had previously held classes in seven buildings, and the decision was made to build the Hyde Park Center.

The 415,000-sq.-ft. facility was designed in response to innovations in teaching and student collaboration.

Since the faculty is interdisciplinary, the decision was made to bring together faculty offices so finance, accounting and marketing professors could socialize and exchange ideas.

The manner that business school students and faculty interact has changed in recent decades, making the previous buildings the GSB occupied not suitable for today's learning.

The new building will facilitate collaboration because it contains ample space for group meetings, clubs and quiet study.

Because of the intensity of the GSB's programs, students are anticipated to occupy the building at least eight to 10 hours each day. Amenities have been provided to support these activities, including a student lounge.

Design was Key

The Hyde Park Center is designed to complement architecturally significant buildings nearby: Frank Lloyd Wright's Frederick C. Robie House and the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.

The Hyde Park Center has a winter garden that is six stories high and enclosed by four funnels of glass, each supported by steel columns that rise 40 ft. before fanning out to form funnels.

The columns form Gothic arches that reflect elements in the design of the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel and also the Ida Noyes buildings nearby.

The winter garden fabrication required specialized equipment and material from across the United States and Europe.

The columns were fabricated in Poland and rolled in France, and the components were completed in Germany. The glass was fabricated in Italy.

The Hyde Park Center also complements the ground-hugging style of the Robie House by including rooftop planters, horizontal limestone on the facade and cantilevered floors. A 42-ft.-long cantilever area supports the Dean's office.

The site on the southeast corner of 58th and Woodlawn avenues had the typically high water table of the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Because of the building's lowest portions are 35 ft. below grade, an earth retention system was required. A slurry wall was selected because of its ability to provide a water cutoff during excavation and to eliminate concerns that vibrations caused by installing a sheeting system would disturb the community and damage adjacent properties.

Return to Top of 2005 list