Work is progressing on the 1060 Project — the expansion and restoration of Chicago’s historic Wrigley Field. Steel framing is taking shape for the new, six-story Triangle Building adjacent to the ballpark. Once completed, the building will house the Cubs' new clubhouse and offices, as well as an open-air plaza and retail space.
Updates to the century-old stadium also included an expansion of the outfield bleachers and new video boards, which debuted this summer. Lenex Steel of Indianapolis (an AISC member/certified fabricator) was the steel fabricator for the renovation of the outfield bleachers. According to Lenex, the update to this national historic landmark was done with architectural care in order to preserve the feel and nostalgia of the bleacher experience while dramatically increasing traffic flow and practicality. Most of the steel came from supplier Steel Dynamics, Inc. (an AISC member); the beams and long products were shipped from its Jeffersonville, Ind. facility directly to Lenex for fabrication or directly to the site. The erector, Danny’s Construction of Shakopee, Minn. (an AISC member and certified erector) received and installed large pieces of structural steel with tight tolerances nearly every day. Overall, 880 tons of steel were installed in the outfield.
All phases of the 1060 project are expected to be finished by the opening of the 2018 MLB season.
(Photo at right: Steel beams installed in the left bleachers at Wrigley Field earlier this year.)