Professional sports teams across the nation are continuing to establish arena districts for the convenience of athletes and fans, complete with restaurants and bars to provide a destination for an enhanced entertainment experience. With the recent expansion of the Chicago Bulls partnership with Advocate Health Care, the Advocate Center was constructed in September 2014. The $25 million practice facility and front-office headquarters is located on Madison Avenue, across the street from the United Center, the team’s home court since 1994. As both organizations share a passion for philanthropy, a significant component of the expanded partnership will be a focus on improving the community and helping those in need.

Seeking to upgrade amenities and provide Chicago Bulls players a more conveniently located practice facility, their new 60,000 square foot training center houses two full-size basketball courts, expanded locker rooms with therapeutic whirlpools, a video and media room, and an updated weight room. The second floor contains an 11,300 square foot green roof terrace, executive offices, conference rooms and a perched cardio room.

The Advocate Center is part of more than $400 million in public and private investment in Chicago’s Near West Side. Located in the 27th ward, the Advocate Center was designed to play a key role in achieving the Chicago Bulls number one goal – winning championships – while also having an impact on the redevelopment efforts for the Near West Side neighborhood.

The Advocate Center, considered a “basketball palace” by some league officials, features state of the art weight training and other amenities for athletes while delivering eye-catching architecture and further development of the city’s gentrifying West Loop Corridor. The west side of the facility has a “saw-toothed façade” featuring architectural metal panels, glazing, and wood while the north side features glass walls to allow Bulls fans to view six NBA championship banners that hang from the building’s rafters.

The second floor of the Advocate Center features an 11,300 square foot green roof, boasting American Hydrotech Garden Roof® and Ultimate Assembly® technology. More than 1,800 square feet of Hanover Architectural pavers and regional media were used to deliver sustainable benefits and on the spacious amenity deck. Supplied by Lake Street Supply, Christy Webber Landscapes installed various FRP fiberglass planters from Tournesol Siteworks for the rooftop amenity space. The lightweight fiberglass pots, in dimensions of 72″ squares, 120″x30″x30″, 96″x30″x30″, and 72″x30″x30″ rectangles, frame the outdoor seating area and highlight the attractive outdoor recreation space.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony on September 12, 2014 George Heinlein, Senior Principal of 360 Architecture (now part of HOK) commented, “It has been an honor to continue our work with the Bulls organization on this exciting project. Their forward-thinking approach and appreciation for design has resulted in a world-class facility for the players and staff. The Advocate Center will provide improved synergies for the team and further integrate them into the heart of the downtown community,” (NBA, 2014).