The Chicago Bears have announced plans for a 162,500ft² expansion to its Halas Hall training facility that will double the size of its existing site.
The project, led by HOK, will provide the NFL team’s players, coaches and staff with greater space and state-of-the-art resources for training and performance at the 38-acre complex the team has been at since 1997.
The expansion will feature 13,000ft² of indoor turf space for training and walkthroughs, as well as a 133 x 26ft video projection wall to review game tape and a dedicated virtual-reality room for players to train with the latest in technology.
Giving training an upgrade, there will be an expanded weight room, with an additional 2,000ft² for athletes, while recovery space will double in size, with its sports medicine space four times larger than present and featuring a hydrotherapy pool.
Players will also be provided with a new 3,250ft² lounge and a locker room expansion that will open up 1,200ft² of space.
Coaches and front-office staff will also benefit from the expansion and will get meeting rooms and a draft room that are doubled in capacity, as well as 50% larger offices.
“The improvements being made at Halas Hall through this development project further exemplify the commitment the organization has to investing in the success of our football operations and making the Bears a premier destination,” said president and CEO Ted Phillips.
“Not only will this project double the size of our first-class facility, it will also allow for many enhanced amenities incorporating state-of-the-art technology and ensure room for future growth. We are both proud and excited to see this project moving forward after months of input and support from our leadership team and the partners involved, especially the City of Lake Forest and HOK.”
The project is scheduled to break ground in March 2018 and is expected to be completed by August 2019, with Mortenson Construction listed as the general contractor.
November 22, 2017
Written by James Billington
