Pritzker Park: green gem in the heart of the city

For years it stood fenced and empty, a blank space in the shadows of landmarks such as the Harold Washington Library and DePaul University. But now, thanks to the talents of Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects and contractor Speedy Gonzales, Pritzker Park offers a green oasis amid Chicago’s buzzing cityscape.

The park features plazas and walkways made of pervious concrete and cast concrete walls inscribed with the words of authors and leaders from around the world. Prairie provided all mixes and aggregate for the project, which was completed in late spring, says Speedy Gonzales project manager Jim Mass.

“This was the first time we had placed pervious, but it was easier than I anticipated,” Mass says.  “We attended Prairie’s free course, which helped us know what to expect -- and we received great on-site support from the Prairie team.”

Green building is a natural priority for the Chicago Park District, owners of the new park – which made pervious surfaces an ideal choice, Mass says.

“This material channels rain and snow melt back into the groundwater without the need for swales and drains,” he notes. “It’s a good choice for the environment. And in this application, the textured surfaces are a great complement to the concrete walls with their inscriptions.”

Because pervious was added after the original project plan was approved, there were a few bumps in the road during installation.

“The material is finished with a wide roller after it’s placed, and our challenge was to work around some tight corners as well as light poles, trees and grates that had already been installed,” Mass says. “But we managed to solve those issues and complete the work on schedule.”

Visitors to the park last week included businesspeople, students from nearby DePaul and John Marshall Law School along with tourists taking in the sights and sounds of State Street.  “It’s not often you find space like this right in the city,” one woman said. “The grasses and the open lawn make me think of the prairie land that was here a long time ago. It feels calming and inspiring all at the same time.”

See how pervious concrete recharges groundwater and earns LEED credits for owners. View our live demo.

Pritzker Park – At a Glance