University of Chicago Ratner Athletic Center
Owner:
University of Chicago
Location:
Chicago, Illinois
Architect:
Cesar Pelli/OWP&P
Contract Value:
$39,000,000
Completion Date:
November 2003
The Gerald Ratner Athletic Center is a cable-stayed, steel and brick full featured Athletic Facility spanning 145,000 SF. Walsh provided pre-construction and construction services for this multi-faceted project that includes a sky-lit atrium, gymnasium, 50-meter competition-caliber indoor pool facility, fitness center, workout rooms, dance classrooms, locker room facilities, various conference rooms, and offices for athletics staff and physical education faculty. The gymnasium, which was built to seat between 1600 and 2000 spectators, converts into two practice facilities for basketball or volleyball when the bleachers are retracted. The exterior walls slope outward, separated from the ridged, metal roof by a band of glass. The roof, a flattened s-curve, appears to float in the air, suspended by cables attached to five masts that peak 100 feet from the ground.
