Construction update from the Central Street Consortium

Demolition at Ryan Field is nearly complete, with the final pieces of the existing structure set to come down by the beginning of May. Nearby residents may experience an increase in noise and vibrations in the next week as crews demolish the remaining concrete structures, begin stripping pavement in the east parking lot and remove the earth retention test sheeting. Additionally, exterior demolition of the press box will begin next week, with a crane on site to bring down equipment.

Utility work affecting parking on Central Street will be completed by Sunday, April 14. In the meantime, the City of Evanston has made parking available in municipal lot 64, located in Ryan Field’s west lot at Central Street and Ashland Avenue, through Monday, April 15. Fiber infrastructure work also continues, with a scheduled completion date of Sunday, April 14.

Shifting gears 

Toward the end of this month, activities will shift from demolition to construction. The change in focus is likely to produce less noise but bring an increase in the number of trucks on site. Drivers will be reminded to stick to approved routes and avoid idling and queuing off site.

Construction field office trailers will be delivered to the site by mid-April as construction ramps up. The first steps already will be visible next week, as crews begin constructing the stone entrances and installing new gates. Excavation work also will begin toward the end of the month, and installation of the earth retention system and deep foundations will begin in early to mid-May. Additional information about these activities will be shared in coming weeks.

Questions or concerns?

Northwestern and the Central Street Consortium, in coordination with the City of Evanston, are committed to maintaining a responsive and robust channel of communication with the community throughout the process to Rebuild Ryan Field. Visit the Ryan Field website to explore several ways to ask questions and stay informed about upcoming milestones.

Photo taken April 8 by the Central Street Consortium

Northwestern football ‘staying home’ with temporary enhancements to the Lanny and Sharon Martin facility on lakefront

Northwestern’s football team will play a majority of its games this season at the Lanny and Sharon Martin athletics facility near Lake Michigan on the Evanston campus, keeping the team close to home as it seeks to build on its bowl-winning 2023 season.

With views of the lake, North Campus and downtown Chicago, the temporary structure Northwestern will build at the Martin athletics facility will provide a stunning backdrop for the 2024 and 2025 seasons, bridging the gap between the old Ryan Field and the new state-of-the-art stadium, scheduled to open in 2026.

Read more about the temporary facility.

Central Street Consortium hosts community engagement lunches

Photo courtesy of Construction Career Information Session

With the support of The Trade Collective, the Central Street Consortium’s community engagement team is now hosting regular engagement sessions at 1910 Greenwood St. in Evanston. Events include weekly lunch meetings with representatives from the Central Street Consortium, Northwestern University and the Trade Collective to foster industry collaboration on workforce opportunities.

The Trade Collective is an Evanston-based project that aims to bridge the gap between education and employment by connecting students with trade opportunities. Their vision is to create a vibrant community where students are inspired to pursue fulfilling trade careers that meet local job market demands.

Connect with us

Local businesses and organizations are invited to schedule one-on-one sessions with the Central Street Consortium’s community engagement manager, Zola Stewart, by emailing zstewart@tcco.com.

We’re on Instagram!

Follow the Central Street Consortium on Instagram for progress photos, construction updates and community engagement opportunities.