HNTB provided architectural, structural, traction power, communications, train control, mechanical and environmental mitigation support services for the Wilson Transfer Station Design project. With an estimated construction value of more than $100 million, the station was a key component of the $1 billion Red Line rehabilitation program, which rebuilt deteriorated track sections, replaced or repaired aging stations, and installed new power systems to improve performance.

Wilson Station, a major transfer point on the Red Line serving nearly 2 million passengers annually, now features a fully restored 1923 Gerber Building. This beaux arts-style structure, once the primary entrance to the station and a contributing element to Chicago’s Uptown Historic District, was renovated for commercial use. Originally designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900s, the Gerber Building’s restoration preserved its historic character while modernizing its functionality.

The completed project modernized Wilson Station with new tracks, platforms, and ADA-compliant accessibility. HNTB’s smart station design incorporated high-performance materials—including granite, concrete platforms, polycarbonate canopies, and LED lighting—to minimize life-cycle costs over the next 50 to 80 years. Construction was successfully executed while maintaining three-track operations, overcoming one of the project’s most significant logistical challenges.