Henry Crown Field House Windows, Masonry, and Lighting
- Preservation Architecture
- Education
- Building Envelope
The full restoration of the Crown Fieldhouse facade was prompted by deteriorated and aesthetically unappealing Kalwall window panels that were part of a 1979 second-floor addition to the fieldhouse. McGuire Igleski designed a new system to replace the windows, including a new structural curtain wall system to match the appearance of the original steel windows. A total of 64 new, sports-grade windows increased the natural lighting and significantly improved the visibility in the fieldhouse. The historic masonry exterior was cleared of ivy, cleaned, repaired, and repointed in full. To emphasize the rejuvenated facade, the historic exterior light fixtures were restored, and new facade lighting was installed to contribute to evening and night activities around the campus.
Photos: McGuire Igleski & Associates
Chicago, Illinois
The University of Chicago
64,200 square feet
The fieldhouse was designed by Holabird & Root in the Collegiate Gothic style and constructed in 1931. The original design seated approximately 7,000 people and was described as the finest, and one of the largest, field houses in the country. The fieldhouse is now a full-time intermural facility and the location of indoor varsity competitions.