Plan to renovate Pullman’s historic 1880 factory building is moving forward

After asking the public to weigh-in on possible scenarios to preserve and adapt the historic Pullman Factory building, the National Park Service and partner Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives have begun the process to overhaul the architectural gateway 200-acre Pullman National Monument site.

The team has officially invited architects to submit qualifications to design and construct a new visitor center to be located on the first floor of the 1880 Clock Tower and Administration Building. Meanwhile, a separate request was issued for site design and engineering for the remainder of the former factory complex.

Once completed, the updated facility will serve as an “interpretive center” for guests arriving at Pullman National Monument as well as house National Park Service operations.

National Park Service

“We envision the Visitor Center and Clock Tower as being the heart of the community as it becomes the entry and focal point for more than 300,000 anticipated annual visitors,” said Kathleen Schneider, Superintendent of the Pullman National Monument, via press release.

The Clock Tower and Administration Building was the focal point of George M. Pullman’s grandiose and meticulously-planned 19th century industrial town. The structure was purchased by the State as part of the Illinois Pullman State Historic Site in 1991 before it sustained damage from an arsonists fire in 1998. Requiring $3.4 million to stabilize, the tower and its clock were rebuilt in 2005. In 2015, President Barack Obama declared Pullman Chicago’s first—and so far only—National Monument

The newly issued requests for qualifications are due Tuesday, April 11 with more information available here.

• National Park Service seeks public input on development of historic Pullman Factory site [Curbed Chicago]
• Pullman National Monument — Request for Qualifications [Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives]
• Looking Back at Pullman, Chicago's First National Monument [Curbed Chicago]