Cantigny Park, Project New Leaf – Phase 1

The Featherstone Difference

Featherstone managed numerous discreet projects Cantigny undertook to provide a superior visitor experience for their over 400,000 annual guests. This transformation included fabulous display gardens; the Green Garden, the Octagon Garden, North and South Scallop Garden, the South Grove, Rock Garden, the Alee, and Prairie View Garden. We also renovated The Fountain Plaza, Visitor Center, Pump House, World Trade Center Exhibit, and the grounds of the First Division Museum and Memorials. Major renovations and new construction of sub-surface water and site utilities and civil infrastructure and vertical improvements included, storm water management, roads and lighted pathways, kiosks, ponds, a playground and picnic pavilion, parking area, gathering plaza, patios, lawns, and restrooms. 

Initially hired to validate the conceptual budget as provided by the internationally renowned firm of Sasaki, Featherstone’s experience signaled that estimate was not comprehensive to build out the master plan. The client questioned Featherstone’s cost opinion, as it doubled the projected budget, and requested a line-item comparison from the two firms. Having no financial skin in the game, hence no need to inflate numbers, Featherstone took a positive and collaborative approach to this exercise. The designer and owner were won over by Featherstone’s spot-on experience building great gardens and accurate cost opinion. With realistic numbers established, both owner and designer insisted Featherstone become part of the design effort. They further became convinced that our construction delivery model was required to manage all the proposed specialty trades. Another great project where Featherstone was hired for the estimate and kept on the team for their expertise in construction management and specialty land development.