150-Year-Old Institution Has Updated Galleries, Enlarged Public Spaces, and Interactive 21st-Century Technology
Chicago, IL -- The Alter Group (www.altergroup.com) has completed program-management services for the Chicago History Museum (CHM), completed program-an ambitious 10-month renovation of the landmark city institution, announced Ronald M. Clarkson, President, Construction Services, of The Alter Group.
The large-scale project, which was completed in time to celebrate the Chicago History Museum's 150th anniversary, renovated and redesigned 75 percent of the buildings public spaces, with new exhibitions installed in the transformed galleries.
Among the highlights is the lobby -- displaying a custom blue 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo low-rider, classic Chicago street signs and a two-story mural. The lobby itself has been enlarged to nearly 7,000 SF, with a new version of the CHM's emblematic winding staircase constructed towards the rear of the building.
The museum's centerpiece is the 16,000 SF Chicago history exhibition, entitled "Chicago: Crossroads of America", which is 2 times larger than the old installation and presents the city's history in expansive, dramatic environments.
According to Tracy Nicholas, Vice President, Construction Services, The Alter Group, "One of the more challenging aspects of the Chicago history exhibition was creating a display space for the city's first el car. The vintage, 21-ton train car -- which is dark green, has wicker seats and a canvas roof -- is now displayed in a second-floor area, complete with replica station. On loan from the Chicago Transit Authority, the shrink-wrapped car was carefully transported from a Skokie storage yard and hoisted by crane into the exhibit space."
Other highlights of this important exhibit -- which consists of five linked galleries -- are such diverse items as the first steam locomotive to pass through Chicago, portions of Fort Dearborn dating to 1848, recovered deck chairs from the Eastland after the ship sank in the Chicago River, burnt artifacts from the 1871 Chicago Fire, and iconic Chicago products, including Weber grills and Zenith televisions.
In addition, CHM built entirely new galleries to house the Children's and Costume and Textile exhibits. Another new exhibit displays "Treasures" -- the museum's most highly prized artifacts -- which are now strategically placed throughout the building. The renovated exhibits incorporate advanced interactive technology to more actively engage visitors. Public amenity spaces underwent extensive renovation, with the redesigned lobby enlarged and an event space constructed on the building's east side, overlooking Lincoln Park.
The plan harmonizes the building's disparate sections resulting from earlier renovations and previous building additions. The original building was completed in 1932, with major additions in 1972 and 1986.
Completion allows CHM to display many of the 22 million items in its collection that previously had never been seen by the public. The project was funded by a capital campaign, with money raised from individual, foundation, government and corporate sources.
"The Chicago History Museum's goal was to dramatically interpret Chicago as America's crossroads by entertaining, engaging and challenging visitors with a rich array of personal stories, artifacts, design elements, interactive exhibits, media presentations and technology," Clarkson said.
According to Russell Lewis, Executive Vice President & Chief Historian of the Chicago History Museum, "I give credit to The Alter Group for its successful program management ability to keep all the balls up in the air -- renovating three different buildings, but also integrating the work with architectural design and exhibit design and installation. I am certain that we could not have completed this job on time and on budget without The Alter Group. Their project team fully grasped the kind of quality and care with which the Chicago History Museum approaches projects, and helped us achieve our goals."
The architect for the renovation team was Hammond Beeby Rupert Ainge, Inc., and the exhibition designer is Patrick Gallagher & Associates.
The Alter Group program managed Chicago-based Walsh Construction, recognized as one of the nation's top 30 contractors, and which has provided more than $1 billion in new construction within the City of Chicago over the last 10 years. The family-owned firm began operations in 1898.
The Alter Group's Construction Services division provides program-management, design/build, construction management, interior construction and interior-construction services for corporate and institutional clients. Midwest Construction News ranks The Alter Group as # 13 among Illinois' top 90 contractors and # 26 among the Midwest's top 135 contractors.