The Pullman National Historical Park in Chicago, established in 1880, is a National Historic Landmark and a designated Chicago Landmark. The site includes the Administration Building; the North Factory Building; and the Rear Erecting Shop, which was part of the historical Pullman Palace Car Co.
Significant to U.S. history, the site stands as a reminder of the railroad-car production company and the company town that housed its workers. The Pullman Palace Car Co. shaped the future of railroad travel and influenced the relationship between management and labor force.
A fire occurred at the site in 1998, causing serious damage. Parts of the buildings were stabilized, but the site’s overall deterioration, especially that of the Rear Erecting Shop, needed to be addressed to return it to its original condition.
As a subconsultant to Bailey Edward, Hanson provided structural engineering for the project’s assessment phase, including a site investigation, a structural analysis, a narrative report of findings and concept sketches to support the findings and recommendations for stabilizing the Pullman Rear Erecting Shop structure. Hanson used a 3-D analysis model to formulate stabilization recommendations.
“These buildings tell the story of an important era in our history,” said Assistant Vice President and Project Manager Gary Clack, P.E., S.E., Hanson’s project manager for the structural assessment. “Despite their extensive deterioration, they are instrumental in telling that story.”
As part of the assessment, Hanson conducted structural surveys of the building’s trusses, lintels and masonry piers; developed performance criteria for new roof purlins and wood decking; and, with the architect, developed conceptual-level design criteria for new light monitors to match the historic roof profile. Hanson also prepared structural details for high-priority repairs to structurally deficient facility components.
A general contractor who specializes in refurbishing historical structures executed the high-priority repairs, completing them in August 2025.
