Expanding Skills

Savvy Comes in Handy on Controversial Projects

by Paula Widholm

To the list of design finesse, financial acumen and time management skills, architects and contractors must add political savvy.

For large municipal or governmental projects that have “a real public interest or public funding, there starts to be a dynamic associated with these projects that requires the design team to bring a different level of services and in some cases skills to the project,” says William Browne Jr., president of Indianapolis-based Ratio Architects. “If it’s not brought correctly and properly, the project itself can get in trouble quickly.”

The satisfaction of delivering a controversial project successfully might outweigh the pain while it is under way, Browne says. “There’s a level of satisfaction you don’t get from projects that don’t have that testing,” he adds.

Competing Interests in Indiana

Ratio juggled multiple tasks recently in its job as lead architect on the $275-million expansion of the Indiana Convention Center set to begin construction in downtown Indianapolis early next year.

Three public entities provided input in the design: the Capital Improvement Board, a city entity appointed by the mayor that operates and manages the convention center; the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority, appointed by the governor to oversee the project on the ownership side; and the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association, a city entity responsible for leasing and marketing the convention center.

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“Those three groups had a voice at the table, from the size of the exhibit hall, to whether it should be with or without columns, to the lighting,” Browne says. “We went from week to week working through the macro to the micro over about a two-year time frame to get to a final set of documents.”

Then, an administration change after a city election led to more adjustments.

“It’s no different than when a new CEO comes,” Browne says. “It’s likely to effect change.

“Ultimately, by nature of the need of the community, we had to be cooperative during the course of the project to get to an economic decision and get the venue open for events.”

Historically, the Convention Center’s previous expansions were controlled by the city, but city proceeds weren’t enough to cover the nearly $1 billion expense of the new $720-Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center. Thus, the state was tapped for funds but in return wanted to take control of the project.

“As an architect, we had to be a facilitator,” Browne says. “We signed a contract with the state but we wanted user input from the city of Indianapolis. We were getting conflicting information. There were several entities we were beholden to.”

Decades Pass on Chicago’s Block 37

Controversy virtually defines Chicago, including its own high-profile project, Block 37.

Block 37 is the 2.75-acre plot in the Loop between the Richard J. Daley Center and the former Marshall Field’s, now Macy’s.

The spot has been vacant since the 1989, when it was razed for redevelopment. A number of development plans were put together but fell through. Starting in the early 200s, Maryland’s Mills Corp. developed the existing mixed-use project of stores, offices, restaurants, apartments and an underground Chicago Transit Authority station.

But Mills’ plans fell through were purchased in 2007 by Palatine’s Joseph Freed & Associates LLC and Chicago’s Golub & Co. They continued the project, which is set for a third-quarter 2009 opening.

Paul Fitzpatrick, senior vice president of development for Freed, says his firm’s main focus is delivering the project on time because of the public’s disappointment over previous plans that failed and high expectations.

“We keep the city aware of the issues and the progress we’re making,” Fitzpatrick says. “We’re not focusing on the rumor-mill side of the project. We’re not focusing on the hearsay, but we’re keeping people involved and up-to-date, whether it’s the city, tenants, neighbors or the alderman’s office.”

The new landmark development will feature approximately 280,000 sq ft of signature retail, dining and entertainment space within a five-story atrium (topped by a green roof providing views for the residential components) adjacent to an office media tower, owned by Golub & Co. and anchored by an interactive CBS 2 Chicago broadcasting studio.

The project has direct access from the city’s extensive pedway system and the Red and Blue Chicago Transit Authority rail lines. A residential component and hotel are also in the early planning stages.

The project will receive $42.4 million from the city from its Central Loop tax-increment financing district. Fitzpatrick says his firm is also preparing to go to the Chicago City Council to request assistance to cover the costs of building an underground CTA station that are part of plans.

“Freed was able to come in at a time when the city needed someone to lead the project,” Fitzpatrick says. “The challenges remain the same from when we purchased the project – completing the physical construction, leasing and keeping the evolution of risk mitigated.

“Our No. 1 challenge is to make sure we have it done by third quarter 2009,” he says.