1357 N Elston breathes new life into nearly a century of Chicago history. Once home to Morton Salt, its iconic roofline stood as a city landmark for generations. After its closure, R2 and LJC reimagined the site through detailed analysis of community needs, market trends, and its vast potential. LJC conducted visioning, detailed tenant analysis, evaluated community needs, market trends, and the site’s potential, evaluating and reimagining the potential of the historical infrastructure. The team worked with the City of Chicago, carefully balanced zoning, historic preservation, and community goals to honor the building’s industrial legacy while embracing the future, all while preserving its iconic sign. Today, Bluestar nurtures this vision, hosting robust programming including concerts, dining, yoga, and markets. Now known as the Salt Shed, the development stands as a powerful symbol of transformation, where a forgotten relic is now a thriving part of Chicago’s future.

The nearly century old warehouse presented several challenges, beginning with its iconic slow slung roofline and deep connection to Chicago’s industrial identity and riverside access. Preserving this identity while adapting it to serve a radically different purpose required LJC to embark on detailed site and historical studies. Another hurdle was determining the best use for the space. This involved rigorous tenant analysis and community engagement process to align the sites potential with local needs. Reimagining the building prioritized blending the old and new. The design retained key elements of the iconic, historic building with its distinctive roofline while introducing modern interventions to accommodate its new function. The buildings core and shell were re-engineered to support performance and gathering spaces, integrating historical authenticity with modern uses and their acoustical needs.  

The buildings themselves posed challenges with mixed construction types that do not meet modern definitions. The steel structure was compromised after being exposed to salt for decades and underwent significant analysis to determine the best path forward for restoration.

No recordable injuries occurred.

The transformation of 1357 N Elston from a historic industrial warehouse into a dynamic cultural hub has had a profound impact on the community, embodying principles of inclusion, accessibility, and cultural celebration. By preserving its industrial heritage while reimagining its purpose, the project revitalizes the site and strengthens its connection to the people of Chicago. From the outset, the project was driven by a commitment to meet the needs and aspirations of the local community. The design process included intense visioning sessions with stakeholders, fostering an inclusive dialogue that prioritized community input. This collaborative approach ensured the project would serve as a meaningful space for Chicagoans, reflecting their values and cultural identity. The project’s riverside location and innovative design enhance accessibility and connectivity, both physically and socially. The reimagined riverside access invites the public to interact with the space in new ways, creating a welcoming environment for both residents and visitors.

Ahead of its centennial year in 2030, Shedd Aquarium unveiled a strategic plan, the Centennial Commitment, to accelerate its mission and prepare the iconic institution for the next 100 years of service. The plan includes an ambitious Experience Evolution, that will restore the aquarium’s historic architecture, modernize the experience for guests, upgrade life support technology and create more expansive, realistic habitats for animals. Split into phases, Phase 2 of the project involved creating an enhanced entry experience and circulation sequence and reimagined exhibits highlighting diverse aquatic ecosystems. Close collaboration between the aquarium, the design team, the contractor and trades was crucial to safely and successfully bringing this monumental vision to life. The impacts of this project will be felt for generations, thanks to the job opportunities it created, the tourism dollars it will generate and how it has made aquatic life and science more accessible to Chicagoans.

Master Planning:

Shedd’s Experience Evolution began in 2018 with an extensive research and master planning process aimed at redefining the visitor experience while maintaining a deep commitment to animal care. A multidisciplinary planning team – including experts in human-factors design, exhibit design, and architecture – crafted a visitor-focused, actionable plan. As the project progressed, the design team expanded to include 18 specialist firms, necessitating collaboration at every stage.

Meeting Visitors Where They Arrive:

Research revealed that 85% of visitors approach Shedd from the south, prompting the creation of a new entry plaza for a seamless, accessible arrival experience. The landscaped plaza and lightweight trellis unify the outdoor space while preserving sightlines to the historic 1930s building and incorporating wave-like motifs. Pavilion roofs are delicately positioned to maintain views, with materials selected to complement the Georgia White Marble of the original structure. In keeping with historic preservation guidelines, the design balances compatibility with distinction.

Inside the south entry hall, a handcrafted plaster wave wall extends the plaza’s trellis motif, creating an immersive aquatic aesthetic in a beautiful interplay of light and form. To create a seamless arrival pathway from this south entry to the Grand Hall, a double-height space – requiring bracing of the load bearing perimeter masonry wall to facilitate the floor slab removal – was created. Enhanced circulation strategies include a new escalator, stairs, and ramped hallway along with renovations to existing elevators. Most guests will begin their visit by moving through the entry sequence to the Grand Hall, while others may choose to start their experience traveling up the ramped hallway to the Oceanarium or down the elevators to Wild Reef. A variety of concrete and steel reinforcing techniques were applied to increase the structural capacity of the existing framing along these various travel paths. Additional updates to the entry hall include a new art installation, “The Once and Forever Lake Michigan,” alongside an elegant information desk. Marble was harvested from a pre-existing stair and used to encase a new portal into the Grand Hall, emphasizing a commitment to preservation.

Designing with History:

The historic 1930s octagonal footprint of Shedd Aquarium features a rectilinear column grid supported by a hybrid structural system: concrete framing at lower levels transitions to steel framing encased in concrete fireproofing at the main floor and roof, with a five-wythe load-bearing masonry wall forming the building’s perimeter. The structure rests on composite wood and concrete piles. Over its nearly 100-year history, multiple renovations in the 1970s, 1990s, and 2000s altered the original structure. The Experience Evolution project pushed beyond these rectilinear boundaries, introducing organic, curvilinear habitats to match Shedd’s innovative vision.

One of the most striking transformations is the Wonder of Water exhibit in the iconic rotunda. Repurposing the steel framing of a historic exhibit (originally it was called the Tropical Pool and was recessed into the floor of the rotunda), the team engineered two curved, concrete habitats to rise out of the main floor, creating a one-story, pavilion-like structure within the historic surroundings. The two 11-foot-tall acrylic tanks each hold 28,000 gallons of water, showcasing freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, including live corals, 5,000 fish, and over 50 plant species. Ingenious engineering keeps the infrastructure hidden, blending design and functionality seamlessly.

Renovations to the Amazon Rising exhibit expanded habitats for the arapaima and anaconda, encouraging natural behaviors like diving and foraging. This area required structural updates to both 1930s and 2000s-era construction, with the design team carefully analyzing material properties from each era to develop reinforcement details.

Delivering the Vision:

Throughout construction, Shedd has remained open and available for Chicagoans and tourists to explore—a logistical feat requiring precise coordination to maintain animal life support systems, visitor pathways, and operational back-of-house spaces. Every phase prioritizes visitor access and uninterrupted experiences. The Experience Evolution exemplifies the blending of historic preservation and innovation, ensuring this Beaux-Arts icon continues to inspire generations to come.

Marrying Old with New:

Before any construction work began, the GC’s Virtual Construction team spent two years planning and scanning the nearly century-old, landmarked building with a goal to identify existing structure and piping infrastructure to minimize unforeseen conditions during the replacement of life support system (LSS) piping, electrical, and mechanical systems necessary to modernize the habitats. Within the original 1920s building footprint, multiple decades of renovations incorporated numerous building materials and differing structural systems, adding a layer of complexity to an already intricate project.

Extensive MEP and BIM coordination was completed to connect the eras of upgraded systems and plan for the new systems, while identifying existing systems needing to remain operational. Equipment replacement was a logistical challenge as shutdowns had to be coordinated so live operations, aquatic life, and the overall visitor experience were not affected while new systems were installed.

A new fire-sprinkler system designed to meet local code requirements was also installed to provide coverage for the entire building. In the historic Kovler Hall, the sprinkler heads had to be concealed in the original plaster ceilings without damaging the ornamental sea-life designs. The sprinkler coverage extended into the historic barrel vault ceilings, the center rotunda, and all animal habitats and back-of-house spaces, each area presenting unique challenges. Due to limitations of material used adjacent to animal habitats, all piping had to be copper.

A Clear Vision for the Acrylic Installation:

A crucial piece of the reimagined exhibit space was the acrylic for the new habitats. Large, custom pieces manufactured in Houston were designed for the three main habitat upgrades in Phase 2 of the project. One piece of acrylic was 32 feet long and weighed 5,500 pounds.

Before arrival, meticulous planning to coordinate the logistics to transfer these pieces of acrylic off truck beds and into the historic building was completed. Floors had to be reinforced along the travel path and large openings had to be created to bring the pieces in and maneuver them to the habitats – all while maintaining the historic integrity of the building.

The Shedd Aquarium is situated on Chicago’s lakefront in the heart of the museum campus. Navigating pedestrian traffic and a narrow delivery driveway with large semi-trucks to unload the acrylic as close as possible to the enlarged opening in the historic building was a tedious process. Once in place, rigging equipment was waiting to move the acrylic onto wheeled beds so it could be positioned and then lifted to the main floor, where a perfectly calculated opening had been cut to allow access and delivery to the waiting habitats.

Solid Solution for Extensive Concrete Work:

The concrete scope involved constructing one-of-a-kind structures from the ground up within the confines of an existing century-old building. Maintaining clear and constant communication in the field and with the structural engineer and architect allowed the team to quickly adapt and adjust to the numerous unforeseen conditions encountered.

Seismic design considerations for the new concrete structures were incorporated to meet the requirements of the current Chicago Building Code. Additionally, the concrete design for the new habitats necessitated implementation of ACI 350: Code Requirements for Environmental Engineering Concrete Structures. Close collaboration between the contractor, structural engineer, and architect was crucial both during the design process and during construction to work through unique conditions such as tie-ins between the new and existing structure and at non-traditional lap conditions due to multi-radii shaped walls.

Complex geometry of each habitat’s structure also required extensive coordination with the acrylic manufacturer for the concrete rebate to meet the structural loads imposed by the water while maintaining a watertight seal to contain the water. Minimal tolerances permitted by the acrylic demanded accuracy and precise design models to be translated into formwork and concrete.

Innovative construction methods, such as the use of pumps to deliver concrete without direct access to the building, necessitated careful planning and double handling of materials to ensure nothing was damaged. The construction team adhered to stringent safety precautions and quality controls, ensuring the final product met specifications with concrete strength tested and monitored throughout. Special attention was given to curing processes and formwork, using higher-quality plywood and ensuring no air bubbles or honeycombing, contributing to a more durable, watertight finish for the water retaining structures.

Despite some challenges and the need for modifications, the team’s ability to adapt and collaborate resulted in unique, high-quality concrete structures designed to last for the next 100 years. More than a technical achievement, this project was a collaborative learning experience that unified the team, elevating the standard for future work.

1 Recordable (Employee was treated for eye irritation that occurred while walking to his car)

0 Lost Time

Before construction even began, the aquarium used its decades of experience to build a cohesive strategy to temporarily relocate animals from their habitats to environments behind the scenes, where they could continue to receive quality care while their new habitats were constructed. Once complete, the animals were safely returned to the new exhibits, that were designed to encourage and bring forward more of their incredible behaviors and adaptations.

Shedd Aquarium is a vital portal to nature, sitting in an incredibly and increasingly urbanized city. Bridging the gap between people and nature is a crucial way for Shedd to provide environmental education to the public, advance conservation and engage the public on ways to protect our shared blue planet. The aquarium’s Experience Evolution helps to make these services more accessible in several ways. First – it makes the aquarium more physically accessible to folks with strollers or mobility devices. Second – new dual-language interpretive removes a barrier to learning for Spanish-speaking audiences, who represent a large population of Chicago. Third – the aquarium worked with community members to test new interactives that engage guests’ senses and present new and more inclusive ways to explore the aquatic world. Shedd and partners are immensely proud of how these improvements will greatly augment experience and learning outcomes for our community.

As mentioned above, throughout the design and planning process, Shedd Aquarium and partners worked with communities to inform improvements to the aquarium’s experience accessibility. This included everything from making the aquarium easier to traverse and explore, transforming the educational signage to welcome more non-English speakers, and installing interactives that provide ways for guests of all ability levels to connect with nature.

At the same time, Shedd Aquarium also diligently self-imposed MBE/WBE goals to the project, ensuring that the aquarium was doing its part as an employer to ensure that the job opportunities this project generated were equitably awarded. This includes goals of achieving 26 percent and 6 percent MBE/WBE vendors, awarding at least a quarter of total onsite labor work to a combined minority and female workforce, and ensuring at least three percent of the total onsite combined laborers and/or non-trade work hours are with community residents with preference given to those who reside in Chicago’s 4th Ward and the surrounding neighborhoods of Douglas, Grand Boulevard, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Museum Campus, North Kenwood, Oakland and the South Loop.

Shedd and partners are proudly on track to meet nearly all our self-imposed MBE/WBE goals. We are emboldened by this success, and will continue to hold itself to these goals as this project continues into future phases.

Located in Chicago’s South Side Grand Crossing neighborhood, Art in Motion transforms a 120,000-square-foot industrial facility into a vibrant charter high school fostering creativity and innovation. The school offers programs in visual arts, music, digital media, dance, creative agency, and literary arts.

At its core is “Main Street,” a central spine connecting all spaces, including three internal courtyards that bring natural light into the building and extend its theater, visual arts, and dance programs. Traditional academic spaces like seminar rooms and “huddle” areas are seamlessly integrated with specialized creative facilities, including a performance venue, recording and broadcast studios, two dance labs, and visual/digital arts labs.

Outside, a former loading dock has been reimagined as a landscaped entry plaza, providing a welcoming space for students to gather, enjoy recreation, or host outdoor performances.

At Art in Motion, creativity transcends the confines of traditional classrooms, infusing every corner, hallway, and courtyard. Here, art flows freely, enriching the environment and inspiring everyone who passes through.

One of the central challenges in creating this dynamic space was transforming a 120,000-square-foot industrial building—originally constructed as an ice plant in 1917 and later repurposed as a paper factory—into a vibrant hub for creativity and learning. The building’s original grid-like structure, while functional, was rigid and deprived of natural light, requiring innovative design strategies to introduce light, variety, and human-scaled spaces.

To address these challenges, the design employs a strategy of addition through subtraction: selectively removing portions of the structure to carve out three courtyards that bring daylight, greenery (in a future phase), and fresh air into the heart of the building. These courtyards are more than just sources of light; they become central landmarks for orientation, gathering, and connection, serving as extensions of adjacent creative programs. For instance, the theater arts, visual arts, and dance studios open directly onto these courtyards, enabling a seamless integration of indoor and outdoor learning, where art can extend and evolve in these open spaces.

Students are immersed in the building’s rich history and inspired by its creative transformation from the moment they enter through a reimagined loading dock and a landscaped, multifunctional entry plaza (planned for future development). This plaza provides a welcoming space for student entry, outdoor performances, and informal gatherings. Inside, the industrial character of the building is celebrated, with exposed steel structures and soaring 19-foot ceilings offering a striking backdrop to the newly introduced, human-scaled interior volumes.

The design is anchored by “Main Street,” a central circulation spine that connects academic spaces—such as seminar rooms and small group “huddle” areas—with specialized creative arts spaces, including performance venues, recording and broadcast studios, a dance lab, and a visual arts lab. This thoughtfully organized spine fosters both collaboration and individual exploration.

Art in Motion epitomizes the harmonious integration of the creative arts with academic excellence, providing a vibrant, student-centered environment. Designed to inspire students—primarily from historically marginalized communities—the school fosters growth, creativity, and transformation, preparing students to embrace their full potential.

The construction of the project was planned in two distinct phases. The first phase focused on exterior masonry restoration and the replacement of the roof’s metal decking, joists, and membrane. This approach aimed to expedite the permitting process and establish a weather-tight enclosure, eliminating the need for costly winter conditions. The second phase encompassed interior construction and site improvements. However, the first phase experienced delays due to extensive structural deterioration of the metal decking, the need for structural reinforcements to meet building code requirements, and an expanded scope of masonry restoration.

Challenges for project completion were further compounded by escalating construction costs due to COVID-19 and unforeseen site conditions. Critical components, including the electrical switchgear, light fixtures, lighting controls, rooftop units, skylight, structural steel, metal decking, roof insulation, and membrane, were all impacted. To mitigate these challenges, the design and construction team implemented numerous adjustments to specifications and construction sequencing, striving to minimize disruptions and manage the escalating costs.

The project experienced one (1) recorded safety incident. An electrician fell five (5) feet at an open stair. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) were called by the site superintendent and provided medical assistance to the injured individual.

Throughout the construction process, there were no COVID-19 outbreaks on-site. All necessary COVID-19 protocols aligned with City of Chicago regulations and CDC guidelines were strictly implemented by the contractor. These measures included mandatory mask-wearing for all site personnel and visitors, regular monitoring of personnel body temperatures by the site superintendent, and the provision of additional portable restrooms with bi-weekly cleaning. Hand sanitizers were made readily available, and the contractor enforced a six-foot social distancing rule during periods of heightened COVID-19 precautions.

The project required extensive coordination with multiple agencies and utilities, including the City of Chicago Department of Buildings, the City of Chicago Department of Water Management, I-DOT, ComEd, People’s Gas, Comcast, and AT&T.

Art in Motion plays a pivotal role in empowering students from historically marginalized backgrounds by providing a creative, inclusive, and transformative learning environment that fosters academic, artistic, and personal growth.

Scott Frauenheim, CEO of Distinctive Schools shared, “Art in Motion’s expansion is another step in the right direction for the future of education and the city of Chicago. By focusing on schools as equity-focused community hubs, we will give students, families and partners access to the innovative and arts integrated academic, health care and social services that they need to not just cope, but rather to thrive.”

Art In Motion Creative Arts School (AIM) is a tuition-free, 7th-12th grade public charter school located in the South Shore community serving students from 60 Chicago communities. AIM provides each student with opportunities to achieve their fullest academic, artistic, and human potential through the values of Community, Creativity, Love, and Excellence. The goal of Art In Motion is to create diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. They support all learners to be engaged, curious and to achieve their full potential. Their students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers and collaborative leaders.

AIM was born out of a community collaboration – including founding partners New Life Covenant Southeast Church and Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known as Common – that sought to provide integrated full school arts programming for students on the south side of Chicago. AIM opened in the Fall of 2019 to serve students in 7th and 8th grades, and has added an additional grade level each year. In June 2024, they celebrated their first class of high school graduates with students admitted to schools such as Juilliard and Savannah College of Art & Design; Howard, Hampton and Dillard Universities; Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois Universities and Roosevelt University.

As a charter school, AIM has the autonomy to create a unique learning environment that weaves artistic literacy into core academics and social emotional learning and teaches students to leverage art as communication, personal realization, culture, history, and a path to a sustainable career. In addition to core academics, enrichment is fully embedded in AIM’s model and includes courses in vocal and instrumental music, literary arts, media arts, dance and visual arts. AIM also has the flexibility to meet student needs and interest through choice programs such as AIM Studio afterschool programming and sports offerings.

AIM’s student objectives are aligned to IL Learning Standards for the Arts (which are adapted from the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards) goals and are designed to cultivate artistic literacy & identity. Additionally, AIM serves as a demonstration site for the federal Department of Education Race, Equity, Arts and Cultural History Grant. This project is developing a national model for arts learning and arts integration in U.S. schools and offers three major categories of focus over time, Professional Development for Culturally Relevant Arts integration, Summer Institute and Artists in Residence for our students and staff. This focus empowers our educators in core academic content areas to develop, build, practice and implement culturally relevant arts integration practices.

AIM is managed and operated by Distinctive Schools (DS), a non-profit School Management Organization with a focus on innovation, culture and equity. DS was founded knowing all children deserve a rigorous public education regardless of zip code; teachers know best what children need to thrive and grow and should have a strong voice in a school; families are essential in creating a love of lifelong learning and supporting the whole child; and finally, communities can be transformed by the presence of an excellent school. AIM’s educational philosophy, which strives to prepare capable, high-achieving, future-ready students, intentionally combines rigorous learning with personalized, student centered learning, social emotional learning, and an equitable experience for every student.

1) Preserving History and Identity: Repurposing a building built in 1917 as an ice plant and paper cup factory into a vibrant school reinforces the history of place and maintains the urban fabric. Art In Motion has become a neighborhood asset employing staff from the community and educating neighborhood students.

2) Enhance community connections: AIM was born out of a community collaboration – including founding partners New Life Covenant Southeast Church, Alderwoman Michelle Harris, and Lonnie Rashid Lynn, known as Common – that sought to provide integrated full school arts programming for students on the south side of Chicago.

3) Economic Development: Re-development of a vacant building and underutilized site in a community space for gathering and education.

4) Arts, Culture and Entertainment: Exterior landscaped plaza and sport court as a space as an “arts hub” for community gathering and outdoor performances by local and international arts.

5) Empowering Students: Art in Motion is the only arts focused public school on the south side of Chicago. Art in Motion provides a creative, inclusive, and transformative learning environment that supports academic, artistic, and personal growth for students from historically marginalized backgrounds.