Construction update from the Central Street Consortium

Several key activities will take place during the month of August. Deep foundations and the earth retention soil anchor drilling is scheduled to be completed this month. Underground utilities installation is set to begin, while the concrete foundation installation will continue into September. Mass excavation work also will continue into September, along with earth retention system bracing and testing. 

Your questions, answered

Northwestern hosted a virtual meeting July 23 to provide updates on the Rebuild Ryan Field project and answer questions from Evanston residents and neighbors. The following summarizes information shared at that meeting and provides additional context around key topics.

Dust mitigation 

The University and the Central Street Consortium received several questions about pollution, dust and diesel fumes. We have taken significant measures to manage dust and minimize environmental concerns, including operating misters onsite, running water trucks and installing stone roads to minimize dust. The crew also operates street sweepers throughout the day, and recently acquired a second sweeper to mitigate dust on truck routes. A truck washing station was installed, and additional personnel now spray down and inspect each truck to ensure that vehicles are clean before exiting the site. View more information about dust mitigation in the FAQ section of the Rebuild Ryan Field website.

The CSC team is exploring partnerships with local car washes to provide vouchers to neighbors who live in close proximity to the project. Nearby residents who would like more information about the program may submit a request online. A member of the CSC staff will follow up as details are finalized.

Truck traffic 

Northwestern and the Central Street Consortium are aware of concerns regarding trucks. Crews are working closely with foremen and drivers to ensure strict adherence to covering mandates, approved truck routes and all other regulations governing truck traffic near the construction site. Non-compliance will result in immediate removal from the work site, and repeat offenders will be permanently barred from the project.  

Careful consideration was taken while determining the designated construction truck route for the project. Northwestern, the Central Street Consortium and the City of Evanston looked at roadway capacity, bridge loading, limiting overhead clearances, residential areas and nearby businesses prior to the establishment of the route. Stadium construction truck traffic is limited to: Golf Road and Emerson Street between Crawford and Sherman Avenues; Sherman Avenue between Emerson and Central Streets; Central Street between Sherman and Ashland Avenues.  View the route map approved as part of the Construction Management Plan.

Trucks involved in the Ryan Field project are now demarcated by a purple dot in the upper left corner of the windshield. View more information about approved truck routes and procedures in the FAQ section of the Rebuild Ryan Field website.

Pest and rodent control

Northwestern is committed to working with the City of Evanston to address pest control concerns in the construction area. As part of CSC’s pest control plan, a licensed pest control company is actively managing the site to benefit the entire surrounding community. The company is using traps and bait stations and regularly monitoring pest activity at the construction site. 

Additionally, the City conducts regular rodent walks and meetings with the environmental health team to identify areas of concern and determine necessary treatment measures. They use heat maps to highlight areas with the highest activity and employ treatment plans that involve, among other measures, the use of CO2 to treat identified rodent burrows. Read more about the City’s rodent control efforts on the City of Evanston website.

Additional questions or concerns?

To report issues or concerns related to the project, use the City of Evanston’s 311 system. When possible, photos of the issue may help representatives address your inquiry. Construction-related inquiries will be routed to representatives of the Central Street Consortium for a response. 

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, including weekly construction updates. Stay up-to-date on all Evanston events and construction projects — including the current project at Independence Park —  on the City of Evanston website.

Photo credit: Central Street Consortium/Aug. 5, 2024

Work continues to prepare foundations for the new Ryan Field.

Community resources available during construction

Photo taken July 17, 2024 at CSC event with representatives from the local electricians union

As part of our effort to minimize the impact of construction work and give back to the community throughout the build, Northwestern and the Central Street Consortium have several resources available to stadium neighbors and Evanston residents.

Vehicle washing vouchers for nearby residents

The CSC team is exploring partnerships with local car washes to provide vouchers to neighbors who live in close proximity to the project. Nearby residents who would like more information about the program may submit a request online. A member of the CSC staff will follow up as details are finalized.

Coworking space available to stadium neighbors

We understand the noise profile of the project can be distracting at times. To continue to strengthen its partnership with our neighbors, Northwestern’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Relations, has secured space at the Office Depot/Office Max located at 2722 Green Bay Rd. in Evanston for any neighbor who needs a quiet space to work. For more information, please contact Shayla Butler at shayla.butler@northwestern.edu.

Career and community events

The Central Street Consortium regularly hosts events to engage the Evanston community in the project to rebuild Ryan Field and to learn more about careers in the construction industry. Browse upcoming events, and view presentation materials from past events at RebuildRyanField.com.

Meet us for office hours

The Central Street Consortium is available for office hours. Meet with a CSC representative at 1910 Greenwood Ave. in Evanston on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A member of the team is available to chat about special programs and construction career opportunities and to learn more about local businesses. Following the Labor Day holiday, CSC will expand office hours to include additional hours at a location near the project site. More information will be shared on the Rebuild Ryan Field website and in next month’s newsletter.

Northwestern’s new lakefront facility will open soon

Construction is well underway to get the expanded Lanny and Sharon Martin Stadium ready for football game days. Construction of the temporary structure is expected to be completed by mid-August. Learn more about how game days at the new facility will affect access to the lakefront on Northwestern's campus.

Follow us on Instagram

Follow the Central Street Consortium on Instagram @centralstreetconsortium to see the job site through the eyes of the construction crew. Meet the team, find project updates, community events and more.

Upcoming events

'Kits, 'Cats and Kids Block Party
September 5, 4:30 PM
Evanston Township High School’s Lazier Field at 2285 Church St. --- Northwestern Athletics and Recreation welcomes back an annual favorite, the 'Kits, 'Cats and Kids Block Party, to Evanston. The event is free and open to all. This year’s block party features inflatables, free refreshments, activity booths, music, guest speakers and more! Evanston food truck favorites will be present with food available for purchase.