$50M Redo Starts on Chicago’s Pittsfield Center

The landmark Pittsfield Center in Chicago is being redeveloped for $50 million and will be partly used as residences for students of downtown universities.

Two leases for approximately 350 beds have been signed: Roosevelt University will lease four floors, and Robert Morris College will lease three floors. About 147,500 sq ft of the 392,647-sq-ft building will be affected.

Located at 55 E. Washington St., the 38-story Pittsfield Center was briefly Chicago’s tallest building when it was completed in 1927.

The student housing market is popular with investors, who rely on rising college enrollments to increase demand for residences. Because downtown Chicago is home to more than 52,000 college students, demand for beds is strong.

Several sample room configurations have been created to provide 10-ft-ceilings; central HVAC; operable windows; and redone bathroom and kitchen finishes.

Named a Chicago architectural landmark in 2002, the Pittsfield was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. The building combines Art Deco and Gothic detailing and was a response to Chicago’s 1923 zoning ordinance that encouraged skyscrapers be designed with setbacks. The interior features a five-story atrium embellished by marble, brass and carvings in the Spanish Gothic style.

Skokie-based The Alter Group is the developer on the project, Hoffman Estates-based Leopardo Cos. is the contractor and Chicago-based KLLM is the architect.

54-Story Apartment Starts in Chicago

Construction has started on Streeter Place, a 54-story apartment in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood.

The building at 355 E. Ohio is the second phase of a two-building complex being developed by Chicago-based Golub & Co. LLC on behalf of owners OGM Investors II LLC.

When complete in November 2009 it will feature 480 apartments and 402-space parking garage. Its 12-story base includes approximately 10,000 sq ft of retail and amenities. The base is capped by an outdoor terrace with a swimming pool and extensive landscaping.

The building’s curved exterior will feature green tinted curtain wall glass to complement the adjacent first-phase building, The Streeter, at 345 E. Ohio St. When completed, Streeter Place will feature a pocket park. A private drive separating the two towers will provide access to both buildings.

Among the many challenges of the job will be working in a tight site in a busy neighborhood with significant amounts of residential and tourist traffic.

The contractor is Chicago-based James McHugh Construction Co., and the architect is Chicago-based Solomon Cordwell Buenz and Associates.

2-Building Assisted Living Facility Planned for Suburban Romeoville

Plans were recently announced for the Midwest Senior Living in southwest suburban Romeoville, a two-building, 348-unit complex is situated on a 29-acre site.

The first building will be a three-story, 360,430-sq-ft residential building comprised of 121 independent and 150 assisted living units complete with below grade parking for 115 vehicles. The second building will be a 47,414-sq-ft, 77-unit residential building that will house the development’s Memory Care residences.

The exterior of the buildings will be constructed of masonry and plank siding. Each building will offers a variety of one- and two-bedroom configurations.

The facility will offer residents a salon, parlor/game room, therapy pool, fitness and wellness center, commercial kitchen and several multi-purpose and activity rooms. The project is expected to be done in fall 2009.

Rosemont-based McShane Construction Corp. is the contractor, and Milwaukee-based Eppstein Uhen Architects Inc. is the designer.

Two Projects Honored By Public Works Group

Two Chicago area projects were recently awarded American Public Works Association Project of the Year Awards by its local chapter.

The New Lenox Village Hall was awarded the honored for projects between $10 and $100 Million. Also, the Village of Arlington Heights Fire Station No. 1 was recognized for structures between $2 and $10 Million.

Construction Industry Viewpoint: Green Building is ‘Good’

Construction industry stakeholders are increasingly recognizing green building capabilities as “good” and being a necessary part of a firm’s best practices, a report finds.

Moreover, green building is no longer a niche sector, and three major trends are pushing green building to the forefront of the construction industry.

The findings were released in the 2008 U.S. Construction Overview, a report on construction trends done annually by Raleigh, N.C.-based FMI Corp., a consultant and investment banker. It also provides a forecast.

Green nonresidential construction put-in-place was $13.4 billion in 2006, and rose nearly 60% by 2008, to $21.2 billion, of all nonresidential construction, FMI found.

The growth in green construction has created a shift in perception among owners and the architectural and engineering communities. Construction industry stakeholders have embraced the green movement and sustainable design for its energy savings, worker productivity increases and positive public perception, the report says.

In 2008, the three largest segments for nonresidential construction green building office, education and health care will account for more than 80% of total nonresidential green construction. Other segments such as lodging and commercial are also experiencing green construction growth, with a 20 percent gain expected from 2007 to 2008.

Three major trends are pushing green building to the forefront of the construction industry’s consciousness:

Government Initiatives: As the largest owner and operator of buildings, the federal government has the ability to exert tremendous influence over the construction industry. In the first five months of 2007, more than 100 green building bills were introduced at the state level. Many states have adopted sustainability requirements for all of their new government-funded construction projects.

Governments have also implemented economic incentives in the form of tax rebates and credits, density bonuses and other policies such as expedited permitting and approval for green projects.

Residential Demand: The heightened level of interest in sustainability within the residential construction sector has contributed to green construction’s movement into the mainstream. While demand for traditional residential construction is slowing down, the green housing and materials markets are expanding.

Homeowners are increasing their investment in sustainable housing due to improved economic paybacks resulting from high energy prices and their growing sensitivity to environmental concerns. According to the Overview, the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Conference in April 2007 found that green building and remodeling is experiencing a level of demand that exceeds the current supply of qualified firms.

Green Materials: Green materials and building products are becoming more popular due to the upward trend in the green construction market. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable about their health and the environment. In addition, distribution outlets for green materials are improving.

“Green building will continue to grow,” says Rick Dutmer, consulting group manager for FMI. “It is not a question of whether your firm should invest in understanding the green sustainable trend and how to produce sustainable projects, it’s how much should you invest and how fast.”

Missouri College to Get Science Facility

Ground was broken on a $15.4 million project for East Central College in Union, Mo., about 20 mi southwest of St. Louis.

The three-story, 51,800-sq-ft facility will be the home of the college’s Nursing, Health and Science departments. The building will include laboratories, lecture halls, classrooms, computer labs and offices.

O’Fallon-based Paric is serving as construction manager, and St. Louis-based Hastings + Chivetta is the architect. The project is expected to be complete in December.