WJE PROJECTS
Soldier Field Stadium
CLIENT |
SMG and Chicago Park District |
LOCATION |
Chicago, IL |
Historic Concrete Repair and Structural Engineering Consulting
WJE first became involved at Soldier Field in 1970 when the Chicago Bears relocated from Wrigley Field to Soldier Field. Since then, WJE has consulted to the Chicago Park District and stadium management (SMG) almost every year regarding issues surrounding structural performance and needed structural repairs. Highlights of this work are listed below.
BACKGROUND
Soldier Field was originally constructed in 1925-26 and dedicated in honor of the soldiers of World War I. The colonnades were constructed of precast and cast-in-place concrete formulated to resemble granite. The concourses and grandstands were constructed of reinforced structural concrete. The original concrete has experienced deterioration over the years due primarily to corrosion of the embedded reinforcing steel from chlorides and carbonation. The stadium underwent a major rehabilitation in 2002-2003 in which the historic perimeter of the stadium was retained, but the interior was replaced with a new stadium structure.
SOLUTION
1970: Structural investigation and load testing of original stands
1976–80: Development and design of strengthening system for original seating bowl that allowed use for twenty plus years
1990–date: Design and implementation of major shotcrete repair programs for overhead concrete, roughly every five years
2001–02: Investigation of methods to slow deterioration of overhead concrete in colonnades and concourses; cathodic protection design and field trials of various corrosion mitigation systems; life-cycle cost analysis
2003–04: Consulting to new stadium design team on rehabilitation of historic coffered ceilings of colonnades
2004–date: Load ratings of existing structure for changes in use, new equipment, unusual stages or vehicle loads, signage, etc.
2004–date: Evaluations and repair initiatives undertaken as needed, including facade concrete repairs, expansion joint repair/replacement, horseshoe promenade slab repairs, parking garage inspections and repairs, and davit testing
2008–10: Investigation and repair design for split-out failures of double-tee beam stems in north parking garage
2006–date: Annual close-up inspections of overhead concrete in public areas of colonnades and concourses
2017–date: Annual close-up inspections and repairs for historic cast stone facade; cast stone repairs in phased approach
Annually: Annual structural inspections of stadium since 1970 and structural repair designs for conditions identified
RELATED INFORMATION
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Deterioration of older reinforced concrete structures is commonly caused by one or more of four... MORE >Articles | Lessons in Galvanic Cathodic Protection Technology from Soldier Field and the Franklin Avenue Bridge -
When the integrity or condition of a structure is in question, clients rely on us for answers MORE >Services | Structural Engineering -
Arne P. Johnson, PrincipalWJE Northbrook MORE >People | Arne P. Johnson, Principal
