Historic Vautravers Building Relocation

Chicago, IL / August 2021

Vautravers Building ready to begin inserting steel beams

Basement excavated and ready in Vautravers Building

Vautravers Building with first layer of lifting steel

Vautravers supporting steel being set in place

Vautravers Building with roll beams and steel ready to go

Jackng machine in use for Vautravers Building move

Vautravers Building set to roll forward over steel beams

XY skates lined up under the Vautravers Building

Push-pull rams used to slide the Vautravers Building

Workers stack crib for the Vautravers Building

Aeriel view of the Vautravers Building slid forward from rail tracks

Aerial view of Vautravers Building in final position

House & Building Moving

Chicago, IL / August 2021

The Vautravers Building was built in Chicago in 1894, just a few years before the installation of the Chicago Transit red and purple commuter rail lines. The rail lines had to be built around the Vautravers Building, slowing the trains and lengthening commuter times. When the CTA began an extensive rail system modernization, they hired Wolfe House Movers to slide the 55×70′, 840-ton building sideways 30′ and back 4′, allowing them to straighten and expand the tracks. Wolfe used several layers of steel beams, unified jacking machines, X/Y skates, and push-pull rams to support the building and safely and efficiently slide it to the new location on the site.

Specs

Triple-Brick, 3-Story Building

Weighed 840 Tons

Slid 30' West and 4' South for Rail Line Construction

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