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The exterior of the renovated Addison station is seen looking northwest on December 30, 2007. The elevator towers, which feature metal sculptures recreating Ron Santo's handwritten box score symbols describing the May 14, 1969 Cubs-Padres game, are a prominent feature of the facility's street elevation. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield) |
Addison
(3600N/1800W)
Addison Street, Ravenswood
Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, North Center
Service Notes:
Brown Line: Ravenswood
Accessible Station
Quick Facts:
Address: 1818-20 W. Addison Street
Established: May 18, 1907
Original Line: Northwestern Elevated Railroad, Ravenswood branch
Previous Names: Lincoln & Addison (on station signage)
Rebuilt: 2006-07
Skip-Stop Type:
Station (1949-1973)
Station (1973-1995)
Status: In Use
History:
Addison opened with the initial construction of the Ravenswood branch of the Northwestern Elevated, which was placed into service May 18, 1907. The station was designed in 1905-06 by the Northwestern Elevated's Engineering Office and overseen by Chief Engineer C.M. Mock and Consulting Engineer Charles Weston. The station was built by the Angus Brothers construction company.
An exterior view of Addison station, looking northwest on October 8, 2002. Addison station was well intact architecturally until its 2006-07 renovation. Note the largely smooth brickwork with simple brick ornamentation around the cornice, belt rail, and in the hood over the front entrance. The Tiny Lounge, a neighborhood landmark, is on the right. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield) |
The building's exterior was constructed of dark red brick and had a fairly simple design. The foundation was built of stone and concrete. The exterior walls were largely unadorned, except for simple ornamentation around the cornice, belt rail, and in the hood over the front entrance, all of which were executed in the same brick as the rest of the exterior. The doors originally had multi-pane windows.
The interior of the station was similarly modest. The interior walls were clad in glazed brick and had paving brick flooring. A large, bracketed, heavy wood beam ran across the width of the interior in the center, relating a Craftsman influence to the simple design. As built, there were two open areas on either side of the doors at the front for circulation and concessions. The interior then narrowed into the fare control array (due to the aforementioned rotogates along the exterior), which originally consisted of an agent's booth in the center flanked by turnstiles on one side and a heating stove on the other. The original ticket agent's booth was removed in the mid-1990s when the electronic farecard turnstiles were installed, replaced by a new booth on the west wall. In later years, a concession stand was permanently built into the west side of the unpaid area interior, with a rolling metal door to enclose it when it was closed.
Addison station's platforms, looking north on October 8, 2002, were typical of the Ravenswood branch elevated stations. Addison had a lot of its original platform materials still intact until 2006, including the typical Ravenswood canopies and platform railings, with flat panels alternated with thin balustrades and sunflower rosettes. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield) |
Addison featured dual side platforms, constructed of a wood deck on a steel frame. The platforms featured canopies in the center, covering the stairs from street-level. The canopies, which were typical of the 1907 Ravenswood branch stations, featured a gently arched roof with curved support columns and latticed framing. The platform railings consisted of cast iron posts supporting thin metal bars and ornamental sunflower rosettes in a geometric design alternating with flat panels, topped with an oak handrail. The canopy design would be reused first on the Chicago & Oak Park Elevated (also owned by Charles Yerkes) before becoming the standard for the "L" under the Chicago Elevated Railroads and Chicago Rapid Transit. The railing design was also reused elsewhere on the system, most notably at Clinton/Lake where it was duplicated almost exactly.
Addison became an "B" station under the skip-stop express system instituted on August 1, 1949, but changed to an "A" station on September 2, 1973 when its neighbor to the south, Paulina, was closed. Paulina, however, was reopened just a month later, probably due to political pressure, as an "A" station, creating an odd stopping pattern of two such stations in a row. The station reverted to an all-stop when A/B service was discontinued in 1995.
Addison station retained much of its original material until it was renovated in 2006-07. In addition to the original station house and canopies, a great deal of the original platform railings were also intact from the north ends of the platforms (including the original curved end pieces) to approximately over the centerline of Addison Avenue. The platform extensions at the south end had simple, modern metal railings. The platform also utilized bus shelters as windbreaks in later years.
Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project
By 2004, ridership had exploded on the Brown Line -- an 79% increase since 1979 and a 27% increase since 1998 -- that during peak periods many trains were at crush-loaded, resulting in commuters left standing on platforms unable to board the loaded trains, sometimes waiting as one or two trains passed before they were physically able to board. The problem in large part was that all Brown Line stations could only accommodate six-car trains (with the exception of Merchandise Mart, Chicago, Fullerton and Belmont, which could already hold eight-car trains), which, along with the limitations of the cab signal system, limited the line's capacity.
As a result, the CTA decided to plan for the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project, the largest capital improvement project undertaken by the CTA at the time (surpassing even the Douglas Renovation Project, which was the largest up to that point). The main objectives of the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project are to expand the line's overall ridership capacity by lengthening station platforms to accommodate eight rather than six-car trains, rehabilitate rail infrastructure and stations, provide for station enhancements to meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and upgrade or replace traction power, signal and communication equipment. By far, the largest part of the Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project was the station renovations. Of the Brown Line's 19 stations, only one (Merchandise Mart) was not touched at all due to its modern construction (1988) and ability to berth eight-car trains.
On April 13, 2004, the CTA announced that it had officially received a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). However, in May 2004, CTA received construction bids for the project that substantially exceeded the budget. As such, the Chicago Transit Board voted on June 9, 2004 to reorganize the project into several discrete pieces to help attract more competitive construction bids. Station renovation work was modified and grouped into five separate packages according to location to help reduce the overall cost of station construction. Addison station was grouped with Damen, Montrose, and Irving Park in a bid package, all of which were designed by the same consultant, Earth Tech, Inc. Station designs were also revised to reduce costs. Most changes concentrated on non-customer areas such as reducing the size of janitor closets, employee restrooms, electrical rooms and communication rooms. Other areas that were studied for cost reduction were standardizing common station elements, the use of less expensive materials, canopy designs and coverage, and temporary station closures to provide contractors better access to the sites.
The Damen/Montrose/Irving Park/Addison contract was the fourth of the reorganized station packages to be bid out. At the July 20, 2006 board meeting, a $58 million contract for the renovation of these stations was awarded to James McHugh Construction.
Following contract approval, the construction contractor prepared and submitted a construction plan to CTA for approval. CTA held a community meeting to provide further construction details and timelines for the work.
Station Design
The contract included construction of a new, modern station house, extension of the platforms to accommodate 8-car trains, and installation of elevators for ADA accessibility. The new expanded station facility featured an increased number of turnstiles and farecard vending machines.
Artist's rendering of the design for the renovated Addison station. A new masonry station house with glass panels and prominent elevator towers replaced the 1907 entrance. Brown Line-standard railings and lights are visible at platform level above. For a larger view, click here. (Image provided courtesy of the Chicago Transit Authority) |
The dual elevator towers are prominent features of the facility when viewed from the street. The towers are clad in glazed brick on their sides (east and west elevations) and backs (south elevation), with the brick facing wrapping around the corners to frame the front elevation. The front elevation is clad in white metal panels. The sides of the elevator towers facing away from the platforms feature three long, thin dark green vents.
The elevator towers also feature original artwork created by artist Gregory Gomez. The east and west elevations of the elevator tower to the outbound platform and the east elevation of the inbound tower are decorated with pin-mounted metal sculptures recreating game announcer and retired Chicago Cub Ron Santo's handwritten box score symbols describing the May 14, 1969 game between the Cubs and the San Diego Padres. The Cubs won this game, in which treasured Chicago sports icon Ernie Banks figured prominently, with a score of 3 to 2. To foster a sense of ownership and identity within each station and the surrounding community, the CTA partnered with the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs to install public art at all 18 renovated Brown Line stations. Public art for each station in the project was a requirement of the Full Funding Grant Agreement and is part of the overall project budget.
The interior has a largely open plan. A Customer Assistant booth is located in the middle of the interior, with a row of turnstiles to the west and a pair of exit rotogates to the east separating the unpaid and paid areas. The farecard vending machines are located on the south wall between the front doors. The walls are clad in white square tiles, while the floor is cast concrete (except under the turnstiles, where it is granite tiles).
A set of stairs and an elevator provide access from the paid area to each platform. As previously described, the elevators are in the front of the station while the stairways ascend to the platforms from the rear of the station house. The stairways to the platforms are enclosed in a white-painted steel grille system of thin bars punctuated by ornamental sunflower rosettes divided by a heavy tubular steel framework. Although the design of the grilles are meant to evoke the original station's railings and stairway grilles, they are new construction. The rosettes, however, are reused from the original facility.
The dual platforms were renovated with new decking, railings, lighting, signage, and other fixtures. The existing original canopies were retained and refurbished, stripped of decades of paint, repainted dark brown, and topped with new corrugated metal arched roofs. The new railings are a standard design for the rebuilt Brown Line elevated stations, with thick tubular top and bottom horizontal members with rectangular panels with a grid pattern cut out. The railings and light poles, as well as the other new metalwork, are hot-dipped galvanized steel. The light poles are integrated into the railing posts. The platforms are finished with windbreaks integrated into the railing system with the glass panels protected by metal grilles matching the railings. New benches with sandboxes integrated into them dot the platform, posts with projecting horizontal arms for A/V signs (to be installed later) are suspended over the platforms, and Transit Information panels are posted near the elevators.
Auxiliary exits are provided from each platform. The auxiliary exit from the inbound platform leads to the south side of Addison Street, while the auxiliary exit from the outbound platform leads to the corner of Patterson and Lincoln, one block north of the station. The auxiliary exit stairs are enclosed by the same decorative white-painted metal grilles as the stairs from the station house. Egress is provided by stainless steel exit rotogates at platform level.
The former location of Addison station, under reconstruction, is seen looking northwest on December 31, 2006. Note that the canopies have been striped down to the bare structure for refurbishment and the station house has been removed. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield) |
Station Renovation Work
Addison station closed at 3am, Saturday, December 2, 2006 for renovation, the same day as Montrose station two stops north. The station temporarily closed for 12 months while construction crews worked to upgrade and extend platforms, rebuild the station house and make the station accessible to customers with disabilities. Consistent with the CTA's pledge that no two consecutive stations would be closed at the same time on weekdays, the adjacent stations -- Paulina and Irving Park -- remained open during the temporary closure of Addison station so customers may continue to use it to access Brown Line service. In addition to the neighboring stations, alternate service was also available from several area bus routes.
Work at Addison began almost immediately after the station closed. During December 2006, the station house and platform decking were completely demolished. Many of the platform stringers were also removed for replacement. The platform canopies were also disassembled, with the roofing removed and the structure stripped down to the frame. During winter, the canopies were refurbished and primed.
The decking having been stripped and the original platform stringers refurbished, new joists are being installed as flagmen protect the contractors from passing trains as they work on May 23, 2007. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield) |
During summer 2007, work began on installing various surfaces and fittings. Work on the station house masonry -- first heavy cinder block walls, then finished face brick cladding on the exterior -- began in late June and continued into August. Installation of the galvanized steel railings on both platforms also began in late June and continued into July. Wood decking began to be applied to both platforms in early July and continued for several weeks as the structure for different sections of the platforms were completed. Work to build the two auxiliary exits -- to the corner of Lincoln and Patterson from the northbound platform and to the south side of Addison Street, opposite the station house, from the southbound platform -- began in mid-July. Work on the auxiliary exits proceeded over several months. The stairs were prefabricated and the last section was not lifted into place until early autumn. July also saw work begin on the installation of the elevator systems and equipment.
The steel frames for the elevator towers have been erected, new platform stringers installed, and masonry is beginning to be applied to the new station house structure in this July 27, 2007 view looking northwest. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield) |
During autumn 2007, work continued on all parts of the new station. Station house construction progressed, with work on the framing and masonry continuing. By September, the face brick on the station house and elevators was largely complete. By October, the vent louvers on the elevator towers were installed, as were the metal panels on the elevator towers and station house cornice. Work was underway at that point on installing the windows and storefront system on the front of the station house.
Installation of elevator equipment was performed during autumn. Work also continued on railing installation and refurbishment of the original platform canopies. By October, the canopies were painted and had new corrugated roofs installed. The stairs from the station house to the platforms were also installed during October and November, as were platform light fixtures and speakers. During Fall, the new steelwork was painted.
A stainless steel Customer Assistant's booth, whose design is standard for the renovated Brown Line stations, stands in the middle of the new Addison station's interior, seen looking west in the unpaid area on December 16, 2007. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield) |
Addison station reopened at 4am, Monday, December 3, 2007. CTA President Ron Huberman, 47th Ward Alderman Eugene Schulter, 11th District State Representative John Fritchey and 6th District State Senator John Cullerton gathered at the Addison station to mark the reopening of the station at a press conference that morning. With the new elevators in operation on opening day, Addison became the 80th of the CTA's 144 station to become accessible, with other ADA-compliant features including an accessible turnstile, tactile platform edging, gap fillers, TTY telephones and Braille signs.
At the same time Addison reopened, the Irving Park station closed for renovations for up to one year. Modest work continued at Addison station after the reopening, as the contractor completed various punchlist work.
The Brown Line Capacity Expansion Project Full Funding Grant Agreement with the federal government requires that the CTA complete the entire project by the end of 2009.
Addison station's renovated dual side platforms, with their Brown Line-standard galvanized steel railings, masonry and metal-clad elevator towers, and refurbished 1907-vintage canopies, are seen looking north on December 30, 2007. For a larger view, click here. (Photo by Graham Garfield) |
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