Neuropsychiatric Institute facade restoration project nears completion

The Neuropsychiatric Institute on the west side of campus is an 85-year-old facility rich with Chicago, architectural and scientific history. To renew this important campus building, UIC initiated a complete facade restoration in 2019. Construction began in November 2022 and is expected to be completed in August.

The restoration plan included the installation of new roofs and windows, replacing brick and limestone, tuck pointing and ADA improvements around the building. Due to its historical importance, the restoration was required to meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Structures.

The Neuropsychiatric Institute site was originally home to the Chicago National League Ball Club from 1893-1915. This was the site of the first intra-city world series game between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. In 1916, the site was sold to the state of Illinois to develop a research and education hospital that has become part of the country’s largest medical district.

The facility was built in 1940-41 under supervising architect C. Herrick Hammond. Designed in the art deco style, its purpose was to support the university’s advancement of neuropsychiatric research. To convey that mission, the building design reflected the anatomy of the human brain, with two towers that represent its right and left hemispheres and a central entry representing the brain’s corpus callosum to link the towers. Art deco bas-relief sculptures of brain sections and spinal vertebrae were also integrated into the building’s exterior cladding. Over the building’s west entrance, a prominent bas-relief sculpture centered around the silhouette of a brain identifies leading scientists of the day in the growing field of study, including Alois Alzheimer and Elim Kraepelin — German psychiatrists and colleagues whose collaboration led to the first published case of “presenile dementia,” later known as Alzheimer’s disease.

Because the building is fully occupied, special care was needed during construction, and multiple phases were planned to minimize disruption to building occupants. Construction hours and noise-generating activities were adjusted and carefully monitored so patient care could be scheduled accordingly.

The project focused on four areas:

• ADA improvements
• Energy efficiency
• Masonry improvements
• Front entrance stair reconstruction

To improve ADA access, the pathway to the building’s courtyard entry doors was removed, regraded and replaced to create an accessible slope. Handrails were added to each side of the ramp. In addition, the sidewalk on the building’s north side was removed and replaced with a sloped ramp so a step at the door could be removed. Damaged concrete sidewalks around the perimeter of the building were also replaced.

To make the building more energy efficient, a comprehensive plan was made to address existing building-envelope air and water leaks. This included replacing roofs and installing insulation with an R-30 value. A green roof was also created at grade level on the building’s south side.

All building windows were replaced with thermally broken, high-performing aluminum windows that replicated the building’s historic features with applied mullions. Other window enhancements include low-e glazing with a high sound-transmission class, low u-value and low solar heat-gain coefficient. New blinds were also installed for glare control and to reduce heat gain.

Neuropsychiatric Institute brick, limestone and terra cotta masonry elements were inspected and replaced if damaged. Three courses of brick were removed at every floor so the original embedded steel that holds up the brick could be inspected for deterioration. All steel was either cleaned and recoated or replaced if there was significant structural loss. After all the masonry was restored, the entire building was cleaned and tuck pointed.

To meet current egress codes, the monumental granite stairs at the east entry are being reconstructed to extend the landing immediately outside the front door. Handrails are being replaced, door operators are being updated and the historic art deco aluminum storefront is being restored. The storefront will be cleaned, missing cast aluminum elements are being replaced, lighting is modernized, double doors are being replaced and new insulated glass is being installed in the decorative sidelights.

When construction is completed in July, the university’s investment in the Neuropsychiatric Institute facility will ensure it is a safe, structurally sound historic campus building that can continue to serve the community for years to come.

— Sherry Krsticevic, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services