Shedd Aquarium Scores A Tower Crane Permit

The City of Chicago has issued a tower crane permit for a large-scale expansion and renovation at the Shedd Aquarium. The permit application was filed on October 9 of last year, and issued on February 21. Pepper Construction is both the general contractor and concrete contractor here, so they’ll be in charge of the crane’s operation. This is the second renovation project to get a tower crane in Chicago this year, joining the Thompson Center transformation into Google offices.

Rendering of the new visitor pavilion by Valerio Dewalt Train

Rendering of The Shedd’s new entry pavilion by Valerio Dewalt Train

The Chicago Plan Commission approved design firm Valerio Dewalt Train’s  plans for the aquarium at their June 2022 meeting. The aquarium received an extensive permit in September 2023 to allow Pepper to begin work on a wide variety of  museum features. All four levels of the building were to have interior and exterior demolitions performed, updates were to be done on exhibit areas, elevators, stairways, and even skylights were mentioned. Outside, exterior work has been visible to the public as sidewalks, curbs, and landscaping is updated and renovated.

There are no other pending permits in the Chicago Data Portal using The Shedd’s address of 1200 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive in the South Loop, though a few permits for sign installations and elevator replacements were issued in 2024.

Aquariums at the central entrance. Rendering by Valerio Dewalt Train

Rendering of the Amazon exhibit by Valerio Dewalt Train

Work is expected to continue into 2030. For more information about the new experiences Shedd is creating, please see our previous coverage here.

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