The former Union Pacific roundhouse and railyards in Evanston were located at the northern end of the line in the late 19th century, allowing for trains to be turned around and headed south toward connections in Utah, Colorado and Arizona. The complex has long held a position of prominence in the community, both for its historic value, and its potential for adaptive reuse in the current era. Strategy 5 served on a team conducting planning, architectural design, engineering, and other redevelopment steps at several levels. The firm completed a financial feasibility analysis that evaluated the potential for a mixed-use scenario including residential, retail, conference, and office space, and a separate analysis for a craft brewery operation.
The Historic Roundhouse and Railyards have returned to playing an active role in the community, hosting a number of special events, group meetings, and is currently being outfitted for a commercial brewery and brew pub restaurant.
The Evanston Roundhouse and Railyards have not only been saved, they have been carefully restored and updated with modern engineering elements to host several synergistic uses, including those deemed supportable in the market and financially feasible by Strategy 5. Uses include a commercial brewery, brew pub, conference and office space.