Manufacturing building reimagined into UW Health Sports Factory after environmental cleanup

What once used to be a vacant manufacturing building is now a major sport tourism attraction along the Rock River in Rockford, Illinois. The 108,000-square-foot building was first home to Ward Pump, then W.F. & John Barnes manufacturing and finally Ingersoll Milling Machine. The City of Rockford owned the site when property investigations first began.

An eligibility determination matrix was prepared for the properties in the surrounding area to see if any of the buildings could be redeveloped through a United States Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Assessment Grant. Fehr Graham conducted a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment that identified contaminants on the site. We prepared a sampling and analysis plan as a baseline to identify the gravity of the problem.

The Phase II Environmental Site Assessment directed us to look for other contaminants the first analysis did not include. Asbestos, Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and lead are common at these sites, so we used methods that help us find these substances. Following the Phase II, the site was enrolled in the state's voluntary cleanup program. Fehr Graham worked with crews to remove soil containing PCB and lead. The team also pumped fluids under the building to remove cutting oil from the machinery. We also worked with the architect to design a vapor barrier

The UW Health Sports Factory is now a premier indoor sports facility featuring eight full-size basketball/volleyball courts, a bar and restaurant overlooking the river, meeting spaces and 450 parking spaces.

AT A GLANCE
» Completed PE I and II.
» Provided construction engineering.
» Performed Phase III construction services.
» Worked closely with the Illinois Department of Transportation, providing required updates.