Botany Pond Restoration | University of Chicago
The Botany Pond at the University of Chicago was experiencing multiple challenges, including leaks and water quality issues. As part of the University’s Capital Projects Program, the pond’s restoration was recognized as exigent as it is one of the most recognizable and cherished destinations on campus. Cotter provided project management services to oversee the successful completion of the Botany Pond restoration and played an instrumental role in coordinating the safe removal of the wildlife, sediment removal and other enabling efforts to facilitate the project. The project consisted of two phases, with phase one addressing safely removing and relocating wildlife present at the pond, draining the water, removing the sediment, cleaning the pond walls and base, assessing the pond structure, and developing restoration recommendations.
The construction phase repaired the pond’s concrete basin and installed a new filtration system. Due to the uniqueness of this project, there were many challenges. Cotter conducted due diligence by engaging other entities in the Chicagoland area that had completed or were in the process of completing similar pond restoration efforts to understand the project challenges and identify potential design resources. Cotter sequenced enabling activities with the wildlife hibernations periods in mind to ensure that they were not disrupted. Cotter has managed this delicate process by identifying wildlife rehabilitation consultants that have expertise in protecting and monitoring wildlife. Additionally, Cotter played a large role in making sure that key university biology faculty members were kept up to date with critical path items starting in planning and continuing through construction to ensure that their input was captured regarding biological and environmental design features. The pond successfully reopened to the public in October 2024, and wildlife reintroduction to the pond is scheduled to take place in the spring and summer of 2025.
Chicago, IL
Location
2024
Project completion