TERRA Engineering, Ltd.

With the fall semester in full swing, we are proud to showcase #TeamTERRA’s work on the University of Chicago's Main Quadrangle. Our team provided civil/site development and electrical engineering services with the scope including stormwater management, new paving and site lighting. This project enhances the campus environment, ensuring a safe and functional space for students and staff.

Yesterday, #TeamTERRA celebrated the dedication of the new athletic field at UChicago Charter Woodlawn Campus! This project, completed in collaboration with University of Chicago and Wight & Company, offers students and the Woodlawn community a welcoming, safe environment to play, exercise, and connect. By transforming this area, our team helped create a hub for athletic and recreational activities that energizes the neighborhood. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a spirited pep rally and homecoming football game, uniting the campus and community for an exciting day.

We are excited to share that Botany Pond at the University of Chicago has officially reopened after an extensive restoration effort! As the prime consultant, TERRA helped manage a multi-phase project beginning in 2022 with debris removal, pond wall and bridge repair, and wildlife relocation. The pond’s eco-friendly innovations include wetland filtration and enhanced wildlife areas, while preserving the pond’s historical significance. Within the courtyard, there is new planting, site lighting, and accessible seating areas. The natural filtration system supports aquatic life and improves water clarity, ensuring this beloved campus feature thrives for future generations. Click the link below to read more about this project!

The extension of Freedom Parkway to Cummings Lane is officially open! Following Tuesday morning’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, motorists began using the new roadway, marking the completion of a $6.6 million project that has been in development since the early 2000s. TERRA provided transportation engineering services in conjunction with traffic, site/civil engineering, landscape architecture and surveying services for this long-anticipated project. The new extension will alleviate traffic congestion near major stores like Walmart and Menards, while opening the door for future industrial and urban village development. The design features a bioswale, shared-use path, signalized intersections, storm sewer systems and landscaping – blending sustainability with community growth. We’re excited to see this project enhance Washington’s roadway network and support its future development!

On Saturday, October 5, #TeamTERRA participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides 5K, an annual event at Soldier Field dedicated to the cause of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Despite last year’s rainy outcome, our TERRA volunteers showed up bright and early to hand out bold pinwheels and encourage attendees to sign the Wall of Hope to commemorate the day. Surrounded by over 7,000 walkers, 440 survivors and 140 volunteers, the day was a meaningful reminder of the strength and unity in the fight against breast cancer.

#TeamTERRA attended the annual Arab American Association of Engineers & Architects (AAAEA) Illinois Chapter event last week, celebrating 25 years of their scholarship program! This initiative provides financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in engineering, architecture or computer science. We’re proud to engage with organizations that champion the growth and success of emerging professionals in these fields.

Last week, #TeamTERRA proudly attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Cicero's first fully disability-accessible playground, the Phil Fuentes Ability Park. This project is a tribute to local businessman Phil Fuentes, celebrating his incredible achievements and perseverance. TERRA provided landscape architecture, site development, electrical engineering and surveying services to help bring this vision to life. The park's design incorporated input from United Cerebral Palsy Seguin of Greater Chicago, as well as the special education departments of Cicero School Districts 201 and 99, Morton College and local leaders to ensure the park serves the community in the best way possible.

We are beyond excited to share the completion of the new athletic field at the University of Chicago Charter School! This collaborative effort between University of Chicago, TERRA Engineering, and Wight & Company has transformed the campus and community, providing a wide range of athletic and recreational opportunities.    The dedication and hard work of the team have truly brought this vision to life, and we are proud to see the positive impact this project has already had on the students. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this project a success!

#teamTERRA enjoyed its second year volunteering with Urban Rivers and cleaning up the north branch channel of the Chicago River on kayaks yesterday morning! 🛶 We were happy to support and play a part in Urban Rivers mission of “Transforming Urban Waterways into Wildlife Sanctuaries”.

We're excited to share the new agricultural complex at Heartland Community College, developed from our 2020 masterplan in collaboration with Legat Architects. This project, located west of the main campus, serves as a hub for the College's expanding agriculture programs and opened fall of 2023. The complex is designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding farmland and includes innovative features like stormwater rain gardens, native planting, rooftop photovoltaic array, passive solar, geothermal and demonstration plot gardens to achieve Net-Zero energy.