Chicago Public Schools, Wilma Rudolph Learning Center

RTM provided civil engineering services for the redevelopment of the playground and adjacent walks at the historic Wilma Rudolph Learning Center located at 1628 Washington Street in Chicago. Scope included improvements for a new 2,300-square-foot poured-in-place rubber surface playground with subsurface drainage, surrounded by a sidewalk, and adjacent ramp and stair replacement. Civil design included the subsurface drainage system and connection to an on-site sewer. The on-site ADA parking spaces and signage were reviewed for compliance with ADA standards and any deficiencies were corrected.

The school originally opened in 1908 as Chicago’s first public school exclusively for children with disabilities. It had interior ramps for wheelchairs to access all floors, including the roof, which contained the playground. Today, the school still serves as a facility for elementary age children with disabilities. The new playground is entirely accessible and includes the district’s only swing made for children in wheelchairs.