Construction update from the Central Street Consortium

Activity at the new Ryan Field is shifting gears, with demolition now complete and construction ramping up. The new stadium will begin taking shape by the end of the year, and in the meantime, the Central Street Consortium is hard at work preparing the ground and foundations to support the new, world class stadium.

Mass excavation activities will continue throughout the summer, as crews work to lower the field level. Installation of earth retention sheeting also has resumed and will continue for about two weeks. Residents can expect an increase in noise and vibration during this period. Deep foundation work and caisson installation also continues this month.

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, including weekly updates on construction milestones.

Photo credit: Central Street Consortium/June 3, 2024

Demolition of Ryan Field is now complete. Crews will be excavating the site for the next several months, preparing foundations for the new stadium and field.

Ramping up dust control efforts

Photo credit: Central Street Consortium

The Central Street Consortium continues to ramp up dust control efforts. Crews built an undercarriage and wheel wash station to clean trucks before they leave the site, and a pressure washing station has been set up to wash all truck wheels, regardless of the level of dirt. The Central Street Consortium also added another water truck on the site, upgraded street sweeping equipment, increased the use of water trucks and misters, and built stone roads through the site to reduce dirt tracking on truck wheels. Read more about dust mitigation efforts in Frequently Asked Questions.

Demolition on camera

Photo credit: Central Street Consortium

Four months have passed since work on Ryan Field ramped up — demolishing the entire stadium and hauling away concrete, steel and debris. When the press box came down late in May, the construction crew achieved a major milestone, and operations shifted fully from tear down to new build. Along the way, crew members have captured photos from the ground and the air to document the process. View the photo gallery.

Why an Earth Retention System is important for the new Ryan Field

The Earth Retention System (ERS) facilitates construction below the grade level. The Central Street Consortium is using this system to lower the field level of the stadium below grade, which presents many benefits to the surrounding community including:

• Decreasing the overall height of the stadium

• Incorporating a below grade loading dock to facilitate efficient truck deliveries

• Controlling the level of field sound emitted to the community

• Allowing the new Ryan Field to be the most accessible college football stadium in the country by establishing the main concourse access at grade level

How it’s built

The ERS comprises steel sheeting and soil anchors. The sheeting is installed through two methods: hammering or vibrating sheets into the ground. In order to minimize the effects to the surrounding neighborhood, the Central Street Consortium is utilizing the vibration method. Soil anchors are installed by drilling into the soil at an angle, inserting cable anchors and placing grout to secure them.

ERS installation is progressing according to schedule and is expected to be completed in mid-June. Northwestern and the Central Street Consortium continue to monitor vibrations caused by construction activities to ensure levels do not exceed limits, protecting the surrounding environment and structures. To date, vibration levels have been well below allowable limits.

Meet the team

Construction projects require a talented team, all working together to achieve a common goal. We want you to meet our Central Street Consortium team! Through of a series of videos, we will introduce some of the team members working to bring the Ryan Field Stadium to life. This month, catch up with technical engineer Chris and project manager Griffin!

Follow the Central Street Consortium on Instagram @centralstreetconsortium for project updates, community events and more.

Join us for office hours

The Central Street Consortium invites you to come and visit us during our office hours at the CSC Resource Center at 1910 Greenwood Ave. in Evanston. A member of our team is available daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to chat about special programs, construction career opportunities, or to learn more about your business.

Events

What it takes to become a carpenter
June 26, 3:00 PM
Interested in learning more about what it takes to become a carpenter? Join our team and the Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council as they share more information about the program and the application process. To indicate your interest in attending, email Zola Stewart, zstewart@tcco.com.