California Blue Line Elevated Station
Rehabilitation and accessibility upgrades to a historic elevated passenger station.
The California Elevated Station is one of the oldest stations along the Blue Line and has served the Logan Square neighborhood since its construction in 1895.
JLK is providing ongoing Transportation and Historic Preservation architectural design services to CTA for an All Stations Acccessibility Program (ASAP) project. The project involves accessibility upgrades including modifications to the existing egress stairs, additional egress, and two new elevators. To achieve this, the project also involves design for additional structure to support a wider elevator platform, modifications to the historic steel platform canopies, and provision of a new electrical room.
Previously, as the lead Historic Preservation Architect, JLK completed full-service design and construction administration of the station’s rehabilitation. JLK conducted archival research, reviewed historic photographs and original drawings, and completed field surveys to determine existing conditions and appropriate treatments. JLK also coordinated with the State Historic Preservation Office and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, and ensured that the project conformed with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
At the station building, the project included brick and terra cotta masonry restoration (including cleaning, repointing, and selective replacement in-kind), in-kind wood window replacement, in-kind door replacement with accessibility upgrades, roof replacement, interior woodwork and cement plaster restoration, lighting upgrades, modern turnstiles, and finish upgrades throughout staff areas. At track level, the project included refinishing of the original railings, replication of the original railings where not present, modification of existing light fixtures for LED functionality and replication of historic light fixtures where not present, and new wood platform decking and warning surface striping was provided.
Opened in 1895, today’s California Blue Line Station is the oldest along the former “Metropolitan ‘L'”s Northwest Branch. The station house is of a typical design seen at former Metropolitan L stops throughout the city. Designed by the engineering staff of the company, the red pressed brick and terra cotta clad structures are influenced by the popular Queen Anne and Romanesque architectural styles of the era. Similarly, the canopies and railings at track level are of typical design for Metropolitan Company stations.
The California Elevated Station is one of the oldest stations along the Blue Line and has served the Logan Square neighborhood since its construction in 1895.
JLK is providing ongoing Transportation and Historic Preservation architectural design services to CTA for an All Stations Acccessibility Program (ASAP) project. The project involves accessibility upgrades including modifications to the existing egress stairs, additional egress, and two new elevators. To achieve this, the project also involves design for additional structure to support a wider elevator platform, modifications to the historic steel platform canopies, and provision of a new electrical room.
Previously, as the lead Historic Preservation Architect, JLK completed full-service design and construction administration of the station’s rehabilitation. JLK conducted archival research, reviewed historic photographs and original drawings, and completed field surveys to determine existing conditions and appropriate treatments. JLK also coordinated with the State Historic Preservation Office and the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, and ensured that the project conformed with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
At the station building, the project included brick and terra cotta masonry restoration (including cleaning, repointing, and selective replacement in-kind), in-kind wood window replacement, in-kind door replacement with accessibility upgrades, roof replacement, interior woodwork and cement plaster restoration, lighting upgrades, modern turnstiles, and finish upgrades throughout staff areas. At track level, the project included refinishing of the original railings, replication of the original railings where not present, modification of existing light fixtures for LED functionality and replication of historic light fixtures where not present, and new wood platform decking and warning surface striping was provided.
Opened in 1895, today’s California Blue Line Station is the oldest along the former “Metropolitan ‘L'”s Northwest Branch. The station house is of a typical design seen at former Metropolitan L stops throughout the city. Designed by the engineering staff of the company, the red pressed brick and terra cotta clad structures are influenced by the popular Queen Anne and Romanesque architectural styles of the era. Similarly, the canopies and railings at track level are of typical design for Metropolitan Company stations.
Sensitive additions and alterations to a historic structure are necessary to achieve accessibility.
