Downtown Office Plaza

Latent construction defects, intermittent maintenance, and a series of ill-planned renovations had, over time, damaged the waterproofing on Illinois Center’s busy entry plaza and allowed the rapid deterioration of the existing poured concrete walking surfaces, destroying the original character of this historic plaza designed by Mies van der Rohe.

As a result, water leaks were reported at multiple locations within retail lease spaces below. Water had invaded plaza lighting conduit, shorting fixtures. Under-sized deck drains created areas of spotty ponding and swamped landscaped planters.

Hicks Architectural Group was employed to temporarily fix spot waterproofing failures, then ultimately trusted to draw up redesign options, provide Construction & Bid Drawing and site observation for a comprehensive, cost-effective plaza remodeling to the character of the existing buildings.

This work included the demolition of the 45,000 square-foot failed paving system and waterproofing materials, repairs to the existing concrete structural deck, installing waterproofing and a custom sand-bed set precast concrete paver system, replacing glass perimeter guardrails, recladding of above-grade planters, plus adding new efficient path and landscape lighting, integrated flagpoles, fixed seating, and monumental signage.