Case Study: Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority relocates a 1,020-ton historic landmark with Thornton Tomasetti

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority relocates a 1,020-ton landmark with Thornton Tomasetti

The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) faced the challenge of preserving the historic Harriet F. Rees House, a Chicago landmark, which was in the path of a new entertainment complex development. The MPEA engaged Thornton Tomasetti to provide building renewal and project management services for the complex task of relocating the massive 1,020-ton structure to a new site one block away.

Thornton Tomasetti managed the project, which included assembling the project team, developing the budget and schedule, and obtaining necessary approvals. The firm oversaw the move, which involved lifting the main house onto dollies to roll it down the street and placing it on a new foundation. Despite challenges like a narrower lot and inclement weather, Thornton Tomasetti successfully completed the relocation of one of the heaviest residential buildings ever moved in the United States, preserving a vital piece of Chicago's architectural history.

Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority