100 years after the grand opening of Chicago’s Navy Pier in 1916, the iconic landmark required serious remodeling to help sustain the location and bring it into the 21st century. The centennial vision of Navy Pier focused on renovating, updating, and restoring the native landscape on which Chicago is built on. The Sustainability Advisory Group of Chicago set a goal to transform the pier and cut down on water and energy usage. One idea decided upon was to incorporate reclaimed rainwater to water the entire 50-acre pier. Saving water and maximizing efficiency were top priorities for Navy Pier’s 30- year Sustainable Master Plan. This initiative aims to help the site reduce its environmental footprint and have a positive impact on rebuilding Chicago’s natural landscape.

Throughout the mid-2010s, Halloran and Yauch Irrigation Systems installed a highly sophisticated drip system that keeps Navy Pier blooming all summer long. Additionally, another system was installed at the Welcome Pavilion and Polk Brothers Park, which reside just before the entrance to Navy Pier. This second system keeps the 13-acre grass turf vibrant for all to enjoy. Today in 2026, nearly 9 million people visit the attraction each year, meaning the irrigation system needs to withstand heavy foot traffic during the seasons of high visitors.

Navy Pier's intricate drip irrigation system was strategically designed to harvest rainwater while ensuring that the system could operate throughout the entire boardwalk. Part of the renovation included adding room for landscape areas to hold native plants and wildflowers. All the plants at Navy Pier are native to Illinois and locally sourced from nearby nurseries. To meet the city’s sustainability goals, Halloran and Yauch had to be tedious when installing the irrigation system.

Permeable concrete was strategically placed throughout the venue to harvest and filter rainwater to feed into the underground cistern. The reclaimed water process was divided into two separate basins. The first basin is used for water detention, while the second basin is used for rainwater harvesting. The reclaimed water collected is stored inside the tank until it is needed, when the irrigation system is programmed to run.

One key aspect needed to save water efficiently was the moisture meters that were tactically installed to read the level of water in the soil / substrate. These moisture sensors act as a pivotal element in the system’s engineering. They allow reports to be sent to the controller, which then allows the system to adjust and precisely emit just the right amount of water.

Better yet, the entire irrigation system can be controlled remotely via a mobile device. This gives Navy Pier’s maintenance team complete access and control to the system whenever, wherever.

This smart irrigation system helped reduce watering time by boosting efficiency, which in return helped save costs for the pier. The system also allowed the maintenance team to see a significant decline in their energy consumption compared to pre-renovation. Halloran and Yauch was able to help Navy Pier surpass their goals by successfully implementing a new standard for sustainability while decreasing the pier's energy and water usage.

Since the centennial renovation, Navy Pier has won numerous awards over the years for its modern innovation. We are excited to see Navy Pier to continue becoming more sustainable in the upcoming years, and are honored to make monumental strides within the irrigation industry to help promote sustainability for our beloved city of Chicago.

Editor’s Note: If you miss the fireworks this 4th of July; Don’t forget that Navy Pier hosts weekly firework shows every Wednesday at 9pm & Saturdays at 10pm during the summer months!