Submitted by Northwestern University

Northwestern University has selected a partnership between Turner Construction and Walsh Construction (Turner-Walsh), leaders in the construction industry, as its construction manager for the redevelopment of Ryan Field.

Architect’s rendering of proposed new Ryan Field, to replace Northwestern University’s current stadium. Credit: Northwestern University

The University plans to submit its Planned Development Application to the City of Evanston in April, with hearings at the Land Use Commission and City Council over the coming months. The stadium project has targeted 35% of its total subcontracted spending to be local, minority-owned and woman-owned businesses, with priority given to businesses and individuals located in Evanston. 

The University and Turner-Walsh will host an initial community outreach session at 10 a.m. April 5 at the Wilson Club in Welsh Ryan Arena on Northwestern’s campus. The session will introduce the project’s leadership team, including key leaders from the university and Turner-Walsh, and will focus on the opportunities for local contractors and businesses.

It also will provide information on bidding processes and timelines, workforce training and planning and other strategies Turner-Walsh will be using to partner with the local business community in alignment with Northwestern’s commitments to local businesses and underrepresented communities. This session will be the first in a series designed to connect local businesses to the opportunities offered by the project.

“We are looking forward to the opportunity to work with the Turner-Walsh team to deliver such a transformational project for Northwestern and the City of Evanston,” said Luke Figora, vice president for operations for Northwestern University. “These two firms have an unmatched track record of success that includes a strong commitment to local workforce development.”

“Northwestern remains committed to creating economic opportunities for minority-owned, woman-owned and local Evanston businesses,” Figora said. “We want to enable Turner-Walsh to start the efforts they’ve committed to, while we work through the final stages of approval with the city.”

Unrelated to the redevelopment of Ryan Field, Northwestern is undertaking a set of maintenance projects on its Central Street athletics campus. The university and its construction managers are hosting an information session specific to the bid packages for those projects at the Wilson Club in Welsh Ryan Arena on Wednesday, March 29, at 10 a.m.

Bid package opportunities will include:

  • Mechanical/HVAC/controls
  • Electric and low voltage
  • General trades (demolition, interior finishes, concrete, drywall, miscellaneous metals)
  • Plumbing
  • Fire protection  

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  1. Mr. Figora, either you know something we don’t know–but have every right to know–or you’ve drunk too much purple Kool-Aid, when you talk about working through “the final stages of approval with the city.” You’re not even at stage one! And what will you do if you reach the “final stages” of DISAPPROVAL? Meanwhile, there are many Evanston residents who are the final stages of becoming thoroughly disgusted by NU’s brazen snow job to shove a “transformational” project down our throats.

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  2. Neither the stadium project nor the zoning changes that Northwestern has demanded (which would create havoc in the surrounding communities) have been reviewed – much less approved – by the city. More than 1,000 community residents have already signed a petition against Northwestern’s plans. Yet the university announces its ‘construction manager.’ I would be astonished – except that secrecy and entitlement have characterized Northwestern’s approach to this project from the start.

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    1. Agreeing with Mr. Rosati. This is a project that has not been approved — and should not be approved. Most residents of this area are against their entire plan.

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