Design and Construction Report staff writer
Northwestern University in Chicago has awarded $133 million in contracts to minority- and women-owned businesses, advancing toward its goal of 35% minority contracting, officials announced at a recent Evanston M/W/D/EBE (Minority, Women, Disadvantaged, and Evanston Business Enterprises) Development Committee meeting.
Funds include $27 million directed to local enterprises, including Continental Electric, Ozinga, and Illinois Masonry.
Designed by HNTB and Perkins&Will to be the “most accessible in college football,” the project broke ground in July. design for the new Ryan Field Redevelopment project. Existing ADA requirements will be doubled, according to HNTB’s project page.
Turner Construction is leading its construction and expects the stadium to be ready in time for the 2026 season. Thornton Tomasetti is providing structural design and construction engineering services for the redevelopment, which is targeting a LEED Gold certification.
“Northwestern has committed to ensuring that 35% of all subcontracting for the Ryan Field project goes to minority- and women-owned businesses, prioritizing Evanston-based companies,” said Burns. “We’re monitoring their progress closely and appreciate the consistent updates and proactive engagement.
“This partnership has proven effective, and we look forward to the benefits this project will bring to our community,” said Alderman Bobby Burns.
University officials highlighted that its spending with minority contractors constitutes 35% of the total $382 million in contracts awarded thus far. Northwestern aims to sustain this target throughout the completion of the new Ryan Field, with total spending on local, minority- and women-owned businesses projected to exceed $200 million.
“It’s essential for both the Ryan Family and Northwestern to ensure that the Ryan Field project leaves a legacy of economic empowerment for historically marginalized communities in Evanston,” said Pat Ryan Jr. of the Ryan Foundation, which is funding the majority of the project. “When we proposed this initiative, we made firm commitments to the community, and we intend to uphold them.
“The positive momentum we are announcing today demonstrates the tangible impact we are making.”
The overall stadium rebuild is expected to yield:
- Over $659 million in economic impact for Evanston
- $208 million in contracts for local, women, and minority-owned businesses
- More than $12 million in direct fees to the City
- $11 million in permit-related fees
- $1.5 million in indirect tax revenue
- Over 2,900 jobs during the construction phase
“We take pride in the strong partnerships we’ve established, which position us to meet our commitments to local and minority contractors,” said Dave Davis, Northwestern’s executive director of Neighborhood and Community Relations. “This generational investment is already making a meaningful impact, and we look forward to achieving our goals through these collaborations. We appreciate the committee’s ongoing support as we fulfill our promises.”
