Construction Starts on 60-Story Elysian Hotel

Construction is under way on the 60-story Elysian Hotel and Private Residences at 11 E. Walton St. in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.

The $245 million tower will offer 188 hotel suites, on floors seven through 26, with studios from $480,000 and one-bedroom suites from $640,000. Above these suites, the property comprises 51 private residences, limited to two per floor, ranging in size from 3,400 to 12,000 sq. ft., including full-floor homes and penthouses. Prices for these residences begin at $2.5 million.

Chicago-based Golub & Co. is the project manager, and its principals are investors in the project. Chicago's Lucien Lagrange Architects is designing the core and shell, while Chicago-based Simeone Deary Design Group is creating the interiors. Chicago-based James McHugh Construction Co. is serving as general contractor.

Redo, New Building Involved In St. Louis' Park Pacific

A $135 million condominium project in St. Louis, the Park Pacific, has started.

The redevelopment at 210 N. 13th St. consists of two components: the renovation of the existing, 22-story Missouri Pacific Building into the Parkside and the construction of a contemporary building known as the Cityside.

The existing building was constructed in 1928, and the 470,000-sq.-ft. building was home to the Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. and later the Union Pacific Railroad Co., until the latter began the relocation of its offices to Omaha, Neb., in 2004.

Currently vacant, the building will feature a mix of uses. The basement, first floors and annex will be used as a mix of retail and restaurant space, while it is expected that floors 2-4 will be used as office space. The upper floors of
Parkside will be converted to premier residential spaces, offering 30 apartments and 140 condominiums.

Cityside consists of the construction of a 14-story, 75,000-sq.-ft. structure with a mix of residential and commercial space and a parking garage with approximately 730 spaces. The ground floor is projected to be 13,700 sq. ft. of retail or restaurant space, and the construction of 42 condominium units on the upper floors.

The units range from the $190,000s to $1.5 million and will be open for residents to move in by fall 2008 (Parkside) and winter 2009 (Cityside).

The St. Louis-based Lawrence Group is the developer.

Exelon Build-Out Aims for LEED

The build-out of Exelon's corporate headquarters in downtown Chicago is targeting certification under the LEED for Commercial Interiors program by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

The 250,000-sq.-ft. project in the Chase Tower at 10 S. Dearborn St. is slated for completion in February.

Exelon's headquarters will include in-house departments for communications, corporate security, finance, human resources, information technology, legal services, and treasury as well as other administrative functions.

Project highlights include executive offices, fitness center, conference center, general open office space and information technology infrastructure.

The Special Projects Division in the local office of New York-based Turner Construction Co. is providing the construction management. Chicago-based Interior Space International as the interior design architect, and Chicago-based Environmental Systems Design Inc. as the MEP engineer.

Memorial Hospital of South Bend to Grow

Ground was recently broken for the $79.4 million expansion of Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Participants in the groundbreaking ceremony used oversized scalpels to turn the ground where the facility will be built. Plans call for the building to be complete in fall 2009.

The addition and renovation positions Memorial Hospital for a 53 percent increase in surgical cases, increasing the number of operating rooms from 15 to 22. Recovery rooms will increase from 18 to 27, and pre-surgical beds will increase from 8 to 15. The hospital currently performs nearly 14,000 surgeries a year.

Along with a surgery center, the multi-phase project also includes a new sterile processing center, a new main entrance, energy center and a receiving dock.

The additional space will result in up to 45 new clinical jobs as well as the 300 construction-related jobs that will be required over the next three years.

The brick, limestone and glass exterior mirrors the existing hospital campus.

The new main entrance canopy makes a positive first impression that is enhanced by the new lobby spaces, which include a registration area and other support areas. The new construction also will include a new café and gift shop.

The hospital's last renovation project was in 1980. This project is the largest expansion in the hospital's 112-year history.

St. Louis Chivvis Project To Revive Riverfront Area

The Chivvis Development project on South Fourth Street in St. Louis' Chouteau's Landing District will involve the rehabbing of 10 dilapidated mixed-use buildings into 190,000 sq. ft. of commercial, retail and loft-style office space.

The $18 million project, which includes buildings at 744-904 South Fourth Street, is scheduled to be completed by late 2007.

St. Louis-based Riverfront Environmental is providing environmental consulting services including: environmental due diligence, environmental assessment, asbestos/lead inspections, remedial design and oversight.

Boldt, Smith Named Finalists for Ethics

The Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin has announced that two firms in commercial construction are among the 12 finalists in its prestigious 2006 Torch Awards for Business Ethics and Integrity.

The Appleton-based Boldt Co. offers consulting, construction and maintenance solutions throughout the United States. Thomas Boldt is the CEO.

Brookfield-based R.A. Smith & Associates Inc. provides civil engineering, planning, surveying, landscape architecture, GIS and 3D visualization. Richard Smith is the president.

The organizations were judged on demonstrated excellence in ethical practices, service excellence, reputation, honest advertising, peer recognition, management practices and employee training in ethical behavior.

The finalists were judged by a statewide, independent panel of 11 business ethics experts.

Retail, Restaurants Planned For Former Esquire Site

Chicago-based M Development, owner of the Esquire Theater on Oak Street, has announced that it is planning to replace the theater with one or more new buildings in keeping with Oak Street's prevailing architecture and character.

The tenants will include retailers and restaurants.

Situated between Michigan Avenue and State Street and between Bellevue and Walton, Oak Street is home to fashion boutiques and high-end personal service providers including well-known beauty salons and spas.

Hilltop Plaza To Get Facelift

A $32 million redevelopment of Hilltop Plaza shopping center in Bridgeton, Mo., is aimed at creating a vibrant retail center.

The 325,000-sq.-ft. shopping center that fronts St. Charles Rock Road just north of Interstate 70 will add a Lowe's home improvement store to anchor a lineup of existing stores and space for additional retailers.

Additionally, the existing PetSmart will be razed and replaced by the chain's new format store which includes a veterinary clinic.

Sports Authority, Kmart and CompUSA will remain in their current locations and be improved. Sports Authority will undergo an interior remodel and gain a new entrance and signage. Kmart and CompUSA will have their parking lots upgraded. All three stores will remain open throughout renovation.