New building replaces a drive-thru restaurant with an urban structure relating to both the street and its neighborhood, creating a transit-oriented development that promotes the pedestrian experience and bicycle use.

Facade design of a folded brick “Ribbon” and infill of masonry and glass directly relates to the interior use and planning of the bouldering gym and provides a step down in scale towards the adjacent residential buildings to the west.

Infill masonry is designed to emulate granite striations found in nature and often encountered by people who climb granite walls in the natural environment, expressing the use inside through the design and material choices of the façade.

Central atrium provides for abundant natural light and views of the activities on all three levels, throughout the space and to the exterior.

Windows placement, setbacks and outdoor terraces were designed to focus views to Wrigley Field’s iconic marquee.

A 4-story building containing a bouldering gym, a central atrium with floating stair allows the climbing walls and activities to be seen throughout the space. A block west of Wrigley Field, the building design recognizes the pedestrian nature of Wrigleyville. The facade is composed of a brick folded ‘ribbon’ floating above the glass retail level, infilled by a combination of textured, colored brick panels and glass. The ribbon is pushed and pulled to create outdoor terraces with views to the iconic Wrigley Field Marquee, create an entrance to the anchor tenant to the west, and helps step the building down to the residential scale of the existing buildings to the west. The textured brick at the exterior represents where the gym has climbing walls up against the exterior. The climbing wall locations were expressed with fluted columns of brick, which are inspired by granite striations found in nature and often encountered by people who climb granite walls in the natural environment.

The building was designed and constructed utilizing a steel frame with poured concrete decks. The flexibility of steel construction allowed for the unique supported masonry façade and large expanses of continuous glazing. This required a high level of coordination between the trades. The brick work consisted of multiple coursing patterns, stepping patterns and colors which required a high level of detailing and coordination with the steel frame and support systems. In addition, a fluid applied water barrier and finely detailed flashing systems were integrated into the masonry design.

The General Contactor developed a building envelope plan study to make sure all details were complete and constructable, both before the start of construction and during construction. Multiple QA / QC reviews, using digital inspection checklists and mockups, were performed throughout construction and between the trades. Due to the restrictive nature of access to the site during construction, the building was built from the rear of the site forward. The project team collaborated with neighboring property owners to construct the east and west sides of the building, safely and properly.

Detailed coordination was required between the interior construction work and finishes, the exterior walls, and the custom-made climbing structures to make sure they seamlessly worked with each other and to allow the interior use and planning to inform the exterior design as planned.

The site was the home of a Taco Bell with a drive-through. While heavily used as a place to get food before or after a Cub’s game, it was not a good neighbor. Suburban in design, the drive-thru promoted automobile use and access to the site and created a gap in the urban wall that comprises much of Wrigleyville. A highly pedestrian oriented area, pedestrians had to dodge cars entering and leaving the site. The new building, 4-stories in height, with activities on every level, promotes the pedestrian experience and bicycle use. The Taco Bell was brought back into the building on the first floor along with a Chase Bank and other retail uses to activate the sidewalk. The upper three-floors were designed specifically for the bouldering gym with the façade’s design reflecting the activities occurring within and providing visibility to those activities from the sidewalk and street. The “Ribbon” design of the façade lowered the scale along the west edge of the site to relate to the residential buildings which begin after the alley. This also created a unique entry for the bouldering gym. Much attention was spent on developing a design that would be iconic when seen from the plazas outside Wrigley Field. Conversely, the design of 1111 West Addison created many opportunities to view the iconic Wrigley Field Marquee, through window placement, angle and outdoor terraces, a symbiotic relationship between the historic and new structures.

Weekly ninety-point safety inspections were conducted throughout the course of construction. Public safety plans were implemented which included traffic control on Addison Street, pedestrian traffic control for all events at Wrigley Field and controls for the public alley and adjacent property. Building a building that close to Wrigley Field during Cub’s season required a lot of up-front planning, coordination, and implementation of specific safety measures. Items incorporated included guardrails and fall protection arrest systems, canopies, debris tarps, site fencing, site lighting, and monitored security systems.

– LEED Gold, allowing for 73% less energy usage to function compared to the average courthouse

– Standing at 10-stories tall with rain screen masonry throughout the total project, this is an extremely sustainable building through the extra steps taken that kept the environment and future in mind throughout production

– This project is a tremendous addition to the community, not only from the construction itself and the job opportunities that come with, but also by promoting a change in perception of the judicial system

– The design of this project is so profound that the architectural team, Wight & Company, received an AIA award for their design of the courthouse, stressing the uniqueness and openness that came with the plan

The new Will County Courthouse is a 10-story limestone rain screen system which is installed over a Gridworx aluminum grid system. The building features 28 courtrooms currently and will accommodate 38 courtrooms long term. We installed limestone throughout the building including the judge chambers, entryway of the building, near the escalators, and the main vestibule of the building. The exterior of the building is made up of 80,000 sq. ft. of limestone that runs off a Gridworx grid system that is 110 ft. tall. This project also required us to complete work from the substrate, including the air and vapor barrier system, grid system, insulation, and stone. The new courthouse aims to transform the public perception of justice as open and inviting as well as transparent and accessible to all in the community.

This project involved the installation of a Gridworx aluminum grid system for rain screen masonry. This construction was included for the purpose of ensuring longevity for the building itself. Sustainable efforts were taken throughout the construction process including the addition of solar array, rainwater harvesting for irrigation, and radiant heating and cooling systems.

The new design of the courthouse works to change the way the the public may view or perceive the justice system. By changing the preconceived notion that some might have when it comes to the justice system, it can potentially lead to more people wanting to enter into the court systems as a professional later in life. Furthermore, the addition of more courtrooms will allow more trials to run which in turn leads to conclusions reached faster than they otherwise would have. Through the construction of the building itself, largely due to the generous use of glass throughout the building itself, it provides a sense of transparency into the world that is the judicial system.

Throughout the construction of the project, there were no reportable lost time accidents on our scope of work.

• Design-build 12-story cast-in-place core and shell office building totaling 125,000 gross-square-feet that includes the use of unique and selective exterior material elements, an amenity deck with a focus on greenery and creative tenant use areas, and the implementation of Post-COVID technology for a safer building for tenants. The building is LEED certified.

• The project used self-rising concrete core form system for the cast-in-place concrete structure that accommodated the fast schedule. The project used HDO plywood for the exposed decks and walls which allows for a smooth and high level finish of the concrete. Three column capitals near the middle of the floor plan were designed on all office floors to mimic the old factory and warehouse columns seen in the West Loop.

• Implemented a beautiful ornate design for the vertical mullions and slab edge covers with large panes of glass that maximum the amount of light to the office spaces. The decision was made to thicken the outerlite glass to 5/16” to help provide maximum flatness.

• Prodema Wood Paneling was used to cover the stair and elevator core walls as well as provide a façade to help conceal the parking garage levels along Peoria Street with a unique undulating arrangement. These panels introduced warmth and texture to the building façade.

• Various measures have been taken to prevent spread of germs and viruses, including using Toe-To-Go Elevator call button system in both hallways and inside the cabs. The building is the first one to use this technology in the US. Other health and safety measures include: touchless entry system and card readers, PaintShield Microbicidal Paint on washroom walls, and using AirPHX air filtering system inside the lobby and office floors in addition to using MERV 14 filters.

This 12-story boutique office consists of retail/lobby space on floor 1, parking on floors 2-4, core and shell offices on floors 5-12 and a rooftop amenity deck. From the street, one’s eyes gaze to the wood cladding on the south core wall that subtly wraps around the building, creating a playful pattern.

The intricate design of the mullions reflect the area’s industrial past while large glass panes invite in natural light. Office floor plates are 10,000 SF with planning flexibility and access to cantilevered balconies. A dramatic double height space on the top office floor was created by sloping part of the post-tension concrete roof slab 21 degrees, providing a unique space. These design elements provide the building a strong geometrical presence.

The Pandemic had the team quickly pivot to include features that reduce the spread of viruses and create a safer office space. This leading-edge technology has made Fulton East Chicago’s first Post-COVID workplace.

It was identified early on and throughout the project, that mockups were required for certain design elements of the building to keep the ownership informed of what to expect and also identify any potential issues. The ownership and design-build team were very involved throughout the installation of the Proderma wood panels on the exterior. Any minor misalignments were pointed out immediately and fixed by Anning Johnson, who was a very collaborative subcontractor. A field trip was taken to the shop to layout all wood panels for color selection by the Owner and architect.

The mockups were used for the lobby space as well. A tight and sloping concrete ceiling, the ramp to the garage above, was cladded with MDF stepped panels and the mockup helped the team in identifying limitations and risks and helped improve the design.

The project is located in an Enterprise Opportunity Zone and received tax incentives to stimulate economic growth in the neighborhood. The Owner and Clayco set MWBE participation goals and were able to achieve 5% WBE and 19% MBE participation on the project. To show our appreciation for these subcontractors’ dedication during the COVID-19 Pandemic, lunches and gift cards from various neighboring restaurants were provided.

Fulton East was built with a limited number of onsite parking spaces due to the close proximity to public transportation. The CTA Green Line Morgan station is a short 0.2 mile walk from the building and two Metra stations are within one mile distance from the office building. The ease of access to public transportation for city and suburban residents to get to Fulton East encourages future tenants to leave their cars at home.

Fulton East received LEED certification for the project’s reduced urban heat island effect by installing reflective roofing + 2,925 SQFT vegetated space on the amenity deck, and locating all building parking under cover. The project also achieved 79% baseline reduction in outdoor water use via effective irrigation methods, and 31% baseline reduction in indoor water use via low flush/flow fixtures, and achieved maximum points in the Low Emitting Materials credit- occupant health was a priority in the material selection.

A strong and healthy safety culture was present throughout the project despite the many challenges the project team faced daily. The project site was adjacent to a busy street in Fulton Market, surrounded by buildings on three sides and adjacent to narrow alleyways. Post-tension cables were used during construction and there were no incidents of objects falling off or striking post-tension cables. In addition, the site stayed active during the COVID-19 Pandemic and daily operations ran so safely that the job site had no shut downs and no reported cases of the virus.

• The 50,000 sf building is the first permanent Theatre-in-the-Round in Chicago and is also the center of Steppenwolf’s robust young adult education program.

• The combination of the theatre-in-the-round, the angled orientation of the theatre oval to the street, the need to connect each floor of the building to the adjacent existing building, and the overall architecture of the space, created a very geometrically-complex building.

• The latest 3-D technology was deployed to design, coordinate, and construct the building.

• The team utilized unconventional materials and systems in unique ways to effectively solve the challenges that the building geometry and the theatre space presented.

• The interaction of the structure, glass-fiber-reinforced panels, skylight, and glass wall systems creates stunning common spaces and brings natural light into every room in the building.

Transformative buildings begin with great leadership and great vision. Steppenwolf’s leaders and trustees chose a bold path and created an atmosphere of trust and appreciation that was infectious and brought the best out of the entire project team. Creativity and collaboration were necessary at every step of design and construction, to ensure that an exciting building representing Steppenwolf’s values could be built on an extraordinarily tight budget. Steppenwolf, ASGG, Charcoal Blue, TT, ESD, Mor Lights, and Norcon collaborated on every design decision, from the structure to the finishes, to ensure budget, performance, and constructability could be maintained. The entire building was modeled and extensively coordinated in 3-D, and sophisticated layout equipment was used effectively on site to meet the exacting tolerances that the interaction of materials demanded.

The creative architecture, the acoustic demands of a theatre, and the technical systems needed to produce world-class sound, lighting, and sets all demand next-level attention to detail. The team created a culture of going well-beyond normal expectations of effort in the submittal and coordination stage of the project. All of the subcontractor shop drawings were modeled in 3-D, incorporated into the project model, and reviewed extensively. Regular meetings were set up with key subcontractors and consultants for various elements of the building to resolve challenges and ensure tolerances were being met. Coordination of the complex envelope was started early to allow for the iterations of adjustments needed in this process.

Most theatre buildings are made of structural steel and metal deck, which is typically less expensive than a concrete structure. At the outset of design, the team made the decision to design a concrete structure, due to the complex geometry. Steel is economical when there is a cadence of similar connections and optimized spans. This building had none of that. The concrete structure allowed for placing columns in optimal locations, minimizing beams, easily cantilevering the slab where necessary, and generally creating the flexibility to mold the structure to the needs of the other elements of the building. This played an important role in the ability to coordinate the interactions of all of the materials on the project.
Concrete also allows the columns and undersides of decks to be exposed, which is an aesthetic that ties into the raw character of Steppenwolf and their plays.

The women and men on site that are holding the instruments and tools need to have similar attention to detail and buy-in for what needs to be accomplished. In many cases, key individuals were hand picked based on past experience working with them. Norcon’s field superintendent effectively used the 3-D model, continuously cross-checked it, and lead the layout and control process on site to ensure that tolerances were not compromised. This was critical and there were no conflicts with the structure on the entire project.

Other typical means of quality control, such as mock-ups, shop visits, and on-site testing were extensively used. In addition, every ceiling and wall was photographed with a 360 degree camera prior to closing them up and these images are embedded in the final model.

Since 1974, Steppenwolf Theatre Company has brought the community together through performances and workshops for all ages that inspire creativity and inclusivity. The Steppenwolf Theater Expansion Project resembles a new era for the organization, where they can inspire the community on a whole new level. The new building not only brings the opportunity to explore theatre-in-the-round and increase the number and variety of plays that will be produced, it is also the new hub of Steppenwolf For Young Adults, their arts education program that provides opportunities for hundreds of teenagers to explore theatre.

Although not required by any funding sources, Steppenwolf and Norcon set goals for the project that would reflect the inclusivity that is an integral part of Steppenwolf’s mission. Both contracting goals and worker-hour goals were set. Those goals were exceeded and included contracting 34% of the work to minority-owned and women-owned businesses, and performing nearly 50% of the work on site with people of color and women.

When the Coronavirus pandemic hit, one third of the way into construction of the project, the performing arts industry was greatly affected, and the future of theatres was in question. Steppenwolf’s leadership never wavered. They not only chose to press on with construction, but they did not pause to implement pandemic-related changes that others were considering. Instead, they chose to make the building the beacon for the return to theatre in Chicago.

Simply put, there were 160,000 hours worked on the site with no lost-time incidents and only two visits to a clinic.
A theatre under construction has numerous hazards that other buildings do not. There were structural openings throughout the theatre and lobby spaces, some with four-story drops. We used 1800 lf of Switchrail and field-built numerous other guardrails. Trusses spanning 125 feet had to be set and welded in place. Numerous types of lifts were required to set the grid level and the catwalks from three stories below.
Site-specific and activity-specific safety plans were created and implemented, dedicated safety meetings were regularly held, and safety was driven and reinforced by the project team on a constant basis.
A tower-crane was used to construct the building, rather than placing cranes in the street. This was a premium that the team decided early would be necessary for public safety, minimizing shut-downs of Halsted street and maintaining full use of this artery for pedestrian, bike, and vehicle traffic.

The new center provides Chicago’s young LGBTQ community with access to comprehensive social and medical services

The 18,000 sq. ft., five-story structure quadruples the program’s physical footprint and supports expanded outreach for one of the most vulnerable populations

The design leverages the timeless use of masonry to express the client’s identity while connecting with the surrounding neighborhood

The interior spaces welcome individuals with an environment that is vibrant, energetic and promotes acceptance

Specialty areas including café, clinic services, pharmacy, classrooms, and daily drop-in center provide therapeutic spaces and essential services

Howard Brown Health’s new 18,000 sq. ft. Broadway Youth Center (BYC) provides a home for Chicago’s young LGBTQ+ community to access comprehensive social and medical services in spaces that are safe, welcoming and dignified.

BYC had outgrown its previous home, a single-story storefront on Chicago’s North Side. The new, five-story structure quadruples the program’s physical footprint, allowing BYC to expand its social service programs and provide increased healthcare capacity. The new facility acknowledges that each person who enters is on a unique journey and supports them with an environment where they can receive support services comfortably and experience acceptance. Spaces are designed to be warm, welcoming, and safe for young people to express themselves.

A beacon of acceptance, empowerment and wellness, BYC’s new building celebrates the diversity of the community while providing invaluable community resources, regardless of one’s ability to pay.

As the organization’s first new building, it was important for the project to weave the values and identities of Howard Brown Health and the communities it serves, into the fabric of the structure.

The combination of materials celebrates unique voices coming together in the spirit of community and collective purpose. The façade’s timeless use of masonry expresses the client’s identity while connecting with the surrounding neighborhood. At the outermost layer, a patchwork of large masonry panels with varying shades of brick color and coursing wrap the building reminiscent of a quilt, while glazing elements promote a welcoming atmosphere and offer a sense of warmth and wellness.

For 17 years, Broadway Youth Center has served as a central gathering point for Chicago’s LGBTQ+ youth experiencing housing insecurity, poverty and limited access to healthcare services. Nearly
85% of patrons live at or below the federal poverty line ($12,760 in 2020) with limited social, emotional or financial support.

The new, permanent location has two dedicated floors for clinical and behavioral health services, including an onsite lab and pharmacy, greatly expanding BYC’s clinical capacity. Additionally, the new facility has twice the space for basic needs, social support and cultural programing including a dance and movement studio, computer classroom, and expanded shower and laundry facilities. While the former BYC location served more than 2,500 youth annually, the new location will allow social and cultural programming for up to 4,500 participants, and clinical services for as many as 6,000 patients annually.

BYC offers acceptance and empowerment for a marginalized and underserved community. Their new facility is an invaluable community resource providing medical, social and mental wellness services, regardless of one’s ability to pay.

Located on the hip of an elevated train track and near a busy intersection, B&A’s approach to safety was augmented to address these additional challenges.

B&A’s safety department was involved during preconstruction process to research issues and develop and implement advanced mitigations. Each trade partner was required to participate in a preconstruction kickoff meeting prior to beginning their scope of work and B&A’s safety department was involved with weekly foreman meetings to reinforce policies and procedures. B&A’s project team coordinated closely with CTA to plan the work near the red line tracks. The team created a special approach for all work in the ‘zone of influence’ adjacent to the El track. This allowed cranes safe access to the site and the placement of scaffolding to install windows and brickwork without incident.

To underscore the importance of and our commitment to safety, B&A held our annual CAGC Safety Stand Down event at this project.