1. The Napleton Automotive Group had been canvassing the city of Chicago for their ideal location for a new Porsche dealership for years. The auto group eventually landed on a vacated urban grocery store due to its location equidistant from both of Chicago’s primary train stations.

2. Located within Presidential Towers, the interior build-out was the first Porsche dealership in the United States completed in their current Generation 5 prototype.

3. Inspired by Porsche’s vehicle design, the striking exterior creates an inviting and eye-catching atmosphere at the entrance. Passers-by see the vehicles at first glance, before even entering the Porsche Center, and feel welcome to step inside.

4. Hundreds of hours of preconstruction were invested to determine the best approach to transform the existing grocery store with low ceilings into a dealership whose brand exemplifies a clear, clean structure and minimalist design.

5. The project was successful not only from a design and construction perspective but also in terms of community engagement. Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) and Community Outreach goals were implemented and achieved.

The Napleton Porsche Chicago dealership is located within Presidential Towers in a space previously occupied by a Walmart Neighborhood Market. The future of Porsche dealerships focuses on a customer-centric approach with a transparent and inviting atmosphere. The existing building did not exude these characteristics, so the project team embarked upon a fast-paced transformation to make Napleton and Porsche’s vision a reality.

An extensive preconstruction effort among ICI, RC Bowman Architecture, Porsche’s designers, Presidential Towers representatives and the engineering team was required to rework the existing structural, MEP and HVAC systems. The process culminated in a dealership that is full of light with a clear, clean structure and minimalistic design to showcase the vehicles.

The signature element of the new facade is the entrance portal which required street and sidewalk closures for installation. Despite these complexities, the project was completed without incident.

The former Walmart Neighborhood Market space had to be reworked literally from floor to ceiling to achieve Porsche’s Generation 5 concept of open, light-filled spaces with minimal disruption to the showcasing of vehicles. The existing space was not zoned or designed for this use.

The deck space inherited by Napleton Automotive Group was inadequate for the brand’s desired aesthetic. During preconstruction, ICI coordinated closely with Porsche’s proprietary vendors, the engineering team and HVAC and MEP contractors to layout the ductwork in 4D computer modeling software to identify and troubleshoot potential conflicts. Large portions of the existing ductwork had to be creatively relocated and/or reworked to achieve the intended aesthetic.

The structural slab within the existing space varied in depth between 10” to 16” and had massive amounts of steel reinforcement due to its location within the 49-story Presidential Towers development. Plans called for the addition of restrooms as well as floor drains and plumbing for the service department. Each of these elements required trenching into the existing concrete. ICI worked alongside Presidential Towers’ structural engineers and the plumbing contractor to scan the existing floor and optimize the plumbing layouts. The procedure necessitated extensive reinforcing using couplers tied onto existing slab rebar requiring inspection and approval by city inspectors, independent testing laboratories, and Presidential Towers’ structural engineers.

Additionally, COVID-19 conditions derailed multiple material and product selections and left the design and construction team in a state of constant adaption to lead times. Overhead doors, exterior ACM panels and tile all required a fluid approach to procurement and installation. For example, the specified floor tile from Italy was enroute via barge transport and was held up indefinitely. To solve the issue and mitigate schedule delays, the team was forced to switch to air transport.

The interior build-out was successfully completed on time and now serves as a source of pride for the Napleton Automotive Group on a regional basis and Porsche on a national basis since it was the first dealership completed in their new Generation 5 prototype.

The Porsche Center has always been based on an orthogonal layout. The new concept emphasizes this orthogonal grid as its guiding design principle. The striking façade of the new Chicago location brings the formerly vacant streetscape to life and enhances the pedestrian experience.

Inspired by Porsche’s vehicle design, the open and dynamic exterior creates an inviting and eye-catching atmosphere at the entrance. The visitor sees the vehicles at first glance, even before entering the
Porsche Center and feels welcome to step inside. Throughout the showroom, digital elements display emotional and interactive content for customer-centric communication. Implementing digital elements is one of the principal pillars of the new Porsche architecture and it serves to draw pedestrians in.
The new location also had a positive impact on local Porsche customers. The dealership is situated between both of Chicago’s primary train stations. Prior to the addition of the downtown location, customers had to go to north shore or western suburbs. Customers can now drop off their car for service and take the train or utilize Napleton’s complimentary shuttle system for city transport.
In terms of impact on the local construction community, the city of Chicago outlined Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and Community Outreach participation goals for the project. The project achieved all goals.

There were zero safety occurrences on the Napleton Porsche Chicago interior build-out. The surrounding Presidential Towers development remained entirely operational throughout construction, even during work on the building’s loading dock and mechanical rooms. To accomplish this, trade contractors were constantly working during off-hours within the ceiling of operational spaces.

The project required several permits for sidewalk and street closures. Monroe Street was shut down for a period of time for a crane to set steel trusses that supported the cantilevered ACM metal panels.

From project onset, members of the construction management team met with building engineers to coordinate material delivery times in order to achieve a safe environment (especially since there was no staging space given the urban environment). A detailed logistics plan was communicated to all stakeholders.

Safety was discussed at weekly subcontractor meetings by both the superintendent and the project manager. Additionally, ICI employs a third-party consultant, Sheffield Safety, to visit job sites unannounced multiple times throughout the duration of a construction project to ensure all safety regulations are adhered to. 19,000 man-hours went into the construction of the interior build out with zero safety incidents.

• Project: Graycor Construction served as the Project Manager for the new 60,000-square-foot, “Next Generation” RH Gallery at Oakbrook Center. In addition to retail space, the gallery features a 3,100-square-foot café, served by a 2,000-square-foot kitchen surrounded by a glass structure, and accessed by two elevators and a prominent grand staircase. The building also features 6,800 square feet of outdoor terrace space, high-end finishes, ornamental metals and framed glass, adding to the luxurious look and feel of the Gallery.

• Quality: Known as one of the most luxurious, high-end brands, RH puts the same level of quality into the design and construction of their gallery spaces. On the premise that “great architecture amplifies and renders its product and brand more valuable”, no expense was spared in the design and construction of RH Oakbrook. From the steel-framed doors and windows to the custom fountain, real stucco exterior and beyond, the intent is to ensure an unmatched feeling of luxury and quality.

• Brick & Mortar Retail: In a time when traditional brick-and-mortar shopping is declining, and conventional wisdom suggests retailers focus on e-commerce, RH is reimaging brick-and-mortar space and pushing the envelope by constructing 60,000+ square-foot, stand-alone Galleries. The new gallery spaces challenge traditional retail design and construction, using high-end finishes and providing natural light and fresh air.

• Placemaking: In recent years, RH has moved from a product-driven brand to a lifestyle brand. RH continues to innovate by creating highly immersive Design Galleries that “blur the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality.” RH is, “trying to revolutionize physical retailing by seamlessly integrating food, wine, art and design – creating environments that activate all of the senses and cannot be replicated online,” says RH Chairman and CEO Gary Friedman. The galleries are “destinations”, each one designed for the space it occupies and contains carefully curated spaces decorated with pieces from RH product lines.

• Interior Design: From the moment guests step onto the property they are met with a design aesthetic that activates the senses. Expansive loggias, artistic installations, unobstructed views, natural light and the sound of trickling fountains is just the tip of what greets you at RH Oak Brook.

The 60,000-square-foot, “Next Generation” RH Gallery at Oakbrook Center blurs the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality, redefining the shopping experience. The gallery, which is designed to feel more home than store, features a 3,100-square-foot rooftop restaurant, where patrons can dine beneath a dramatic glass-and-steel atrium amid grand chandeliers, lush olive trees and ornate fountains, connected to a beautifully landscaped garden. Patrons can also enjoy a glass of wine from the elegant wine bar while browsing artistic installations of RH product lines. RH Oak Brook, The Gallery at Oakbrook Center provides a unique and carefully curated, immersive experience that provides a destination for patrons to experience a level of unmatched luxury. The project was well-run, and housekeeping was maintained through all phases of construction. Pre-task planning along with safe execution led to an overall safe project.

From the moment guests step onto the property they are met with a design aesthetic that activates the senses. Flanked by expansive loggias, the entry courtyard is punctuated by century agave, the sound of trickling fountains, and monolithic bluestone slabs embedded in decomposed granite. Passing through a 25-foot threshold of retractable glass and steel doors, visitors will continue into the Gallery’s central hall with its soaring 14-foot ceilings. Once indoors, they will enjoy unobstructed views across the entire main level. Along the periphery, barrel-vaulted passageways lead to a classical arrangement of rooms with artistic installations featuring RH Interiors collections from internationally renowned designers, as well as one-of-a-kind antiques and artifacts from RH Chairman and CEO, Gary Friedman’s world travels.

To access the upper floors, guests will ascend a grand double floating staircase spanning nearly 40 feet. Natural light emanates from a massive skylight three floors above, while a spectacular installation of handblown Serenella Chandeliers hanging 54 feet overhead highlight a composition of gilded antique mirrors cascading down the stairwell to create an endless reflection and further illuminate the way.

On the second level, visitors will discover a 9,000-square-foot exhibition space presenting RH Modern, the largest fully integrated assortment of modern furnishings, lighting, textiles and décor under one brand in the world. Contemporary art from the GENERAL PUBLIC for RH Collection – featuring nearly 200 works from acclaimed artists across the globe – are also be showcased. Level two also features the RH Interior Design Firm & Atelier, an interactive 5,000-square-foot studio providing an unprecedented level of professional design services. A rhythmic progression of glass and steel French doors with Juliet balconies line the entire perimeter of the floor, which also features two tranquil garden terraces marked by geometric topiaries, crystal and iron chandeliers and steel and cedar shade trellises.

Upon ascending a grand double floating staircase once again, guests will arrive on the third level to the Rooftop Restaurant – offering a timeless, ingredient-driven menu in a year-round, skylit garden escape beneath a dramatic atrium with retractable glass walls, sparkling chandeliers and heritage olive trees. Seamlessly extending from indoors to out, the restaurant opens onto a beautifully landscaped park. Influenced by the great classical gardens of Europe, this immersive destination features a series of intimate RH Outdoor lounge spaces defined by a layered composition of sculptural evergreens and the sound of trickling fountains. Situated just off the grand staircase on level three, a striking Wine Bar presents carefully curated wine and champagne selections from around the world for visitors to enjoy in the Rooftop Park or while exploring the rest of the Gallery.

In retail, a construction partner’s ability to manage, in addition to build, can make all the difference. Graycor’s commitment to ensuring the highest standard of quality on all projects comes from the top of our organization. To meet our clients’ demands for superior quality, Graycor implements a Quality Program that is based on proactive, preventive, efficient and effective systematic approaches.

Three important quality practices that were applied during construction of the RH Oakbrook included pre-installation meetings, material verification and in-place inspections/rolling punch list. Pre-installation meetings enabled Graycor to review project specific details and shop drawings with the subcontractors, including the onsite foreman, prior to beginning work. Material verification enabled Graycor and our subcontractors to review material deliveries against approved submittals to ensure the correct products were installed. In-place inspections/rolling punch list enabled Graycor to review work as it was completed to confirm all details were accurate and minimized “comeback” work at final punch. This included multiple meetings with manufacturer representatives to ensure proper installation of critical products, such as the waterproofing and stucco systems.

In addition, Graycor continues to invest in our Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities as an instrumental component to ensure quality building system installations by visualizing projects, detecting clashes with building systems, and helping our trade partners prefabricate and install their scopes of work. By leveraging the VDC process to build the building virtually first with BIM 3D models, our teams are improving project efficiencies as issues are identified and resolved before they are experienced in the field. RH Oakbrook provided an opportunity to utilize our VDC/BIM process due to minimal space between floors for MEP installation. Graycor’s VDC department worked with our trade partner’s (including Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Fire Protection and Kitchen) models to coordinate the in-wall and above ceiling spaces. Our combined field teams received coordinated models delivered to the project site via Revizto’s mobile tablet interface. This also provided for additional quality control by providing our superintendent the ability to compare the model with what was being installed in the field. This process ensured building systems were installed more easily and accurately in the field with minimal issues ahead of schedule.

Exterior finishes were equally as important to RH in achieving the desired design aesthetic. The building envelope features a charcoal-grey Venetian plaster, which due to the project schedule needed to be applied during the cold winter months. To provide the client with the high-quality finish they expected, it was necessary to tent and heat the entire exterior of the building for the plaster finish to adhere and cure properly. Manufacturer representatives were onsite several times during this process to help ensure utmost quality. In addition, the use of high-quality steel-framed glass windows and doors throughout the building required an extended lead time of 26 weeks. The window and door openings were constructed to allow installation later in the schedule but required additional testing and inspections to ensure the building was flashed properly and would be watertight, since the windows and doors would be installed after interior finishes were installed.

RH Oak Brook, The Gallery at Oakbrook Center provides a unique and carefully curated, immersive experience that blurs the lines between residential and retail, indoors and outdoors, home and hospitality, adding to the established allure of Oakbrook Center. It provides a destination for patrons to experience a level of unmatched luxury.

The Gallery at Oakbrook Center features one of RH’s newest elements, an Interior Design Firm & Atelier featuring state-of-the-art technology, in which clients – residential, contract and trade – receive an unprecedented level of service while interacting with professional designers who can help reimagine one room or an entire home.

The Gallery also provides a place to appreciate contemporary art from the GENERAL PUBLIC for RH Collection – featuring nearly 200 works from acclaimed artists across the globe. Longtime art collector, Portia de Rossi, founded GENERAL PUBLIC to bring good art to more people. Her company’s groundbreaking 3-D technology makes that possible by redefining the limits of printing – capturing every nuance of brushwork, texture and technique to authentically reveal the artist’s hand.

In a variable climate like Chicago and its suburbs, RH Oakbrook offers year-round alfresco dining in a skylit garden escape beneath a dramatic atrium with retractable glass walls. The striking wine bar features 40 wines by the glass from around the world, as well as limited production offerings from some of Napa Valley’s most renowned small vintners, otherwise inaccessible to local residents.

Whether visitors are there to design a space in their home, purchase luxurious home products, appreciate contemporary art or to dine under the stars, RH Oak Brook offers something for everyone.

At Graycor, our Safety and Health Management System is the core-value in our business philosophy and culture. It is not an “add-on program” but an integral part of the way we do business. Anchored by our Safety and Health Manual and implemented by our construction professionals, this system involves every employee and subcontractor, from our Chief Executive Officer to the newest tradesperson reporting to work on one of our project sites. For this specific project, Graycor developed a comprehensive, site-specific safety plan and safety training was required of every employee on site. Daily safety meetings and bi-weekly safety audits were also conducted.

RH Oak Brook, The Gallery at Oakbrook Center project was well-run, and housekeeping was maintained through all phases of construction. Pre-task planning along with safe execution led to an overall safe project. The project had a lost time rate of 0.00 and one minor recordable incident. The recordable was a sprained knee after a worker slipped slightly on wet metal deck.

In a mission to continuously improve Graycor’s overall safety program, three additional initiatives were implemented on the RH Oak Brook project – Our Brothers’ Keeper, Good Catch and Subcontractor of the Month. Our Brothers’ Keeper shifts the focus from traditional construction jobsite ‘safety cop’ mentality to a coaching and positive reinforcement mentality. To create a positive safety culture on our projects, we ask our craft workers to take a more active role in keeping their coworkers out of harm’s way by stopping unsafe acts through corrective, rather than disciplinary, action. While discipline remains a part of any safety program, workers who actively engage in Our Brothers’ Keeper remove discipline from daily discussion because they are helping each other work safely. Our Brothers’ Keeper is augmented by the Good Catch program, which is based on a reward system. When craft workers identify and help correct unsafe acts and/or conditions, they may be rewarded with a gift card or earn an opportunity to win prizes through a raffle system. The objective is to positively reinforce safe work practices. Instead of having a few individuals enforcing safe practices, there may now be hundreds of people working together to enforce and build the culture of safety. In addition, one subcontractor each month was recognized as Subcontractor of the Month for not only adhering and contributing to Graycor’s safety regulations, but also their own safety practices.

• As the first tenant in the Old Post Office, the largest historical redevelopment in the United State, the Walgreens Chicago Office contributes to a revitalized economy in the immediate neighborhood which features local and national restaurants and cafes, many with a view of the Chicago River.

• The 200,000 SF workspace was to create a city-scale environment aligned with Walgreens own history; from the company’s humble start, developing a few stores on the south side of Chicago, to the global leader it is today.

• Taking inspiration from renowned architect, Daniel Burnham, and his City Plan for Chicago, we created a Chicago-inspired design that focuses on a communal city center with neighborhoods stemming outward to provide individual workstations and amenities.

• Our teams worked side-by-side to create a connected, cohesive, and branded experience throughout the multi-level space while preserving the historic nature of the building.

• As safety remained top of mind throughout the project, we are proud to report 0 recordable injuries, 0 OSHA D.A.R.T. (Days Away, Restricted, Transfer) rate and 0 OSHA T.R.I.R (Total, Recordable, Incident Rate).

The Walgreens Old Post Office is a story of revitalization. One of the chief reasons that the historic Old Post Office had sat vacant for two decades was the challenge to solve the massive floor plates, originally designed for mail sorting, and not ideal for other uses. Our project turns the challenge into an asset. By understanding how an individual can relate to a city around them, the design conceptualized a work environment based on the idea of a city plan. We built features to define smaller neighborhoods that stitch communities together, and provide a more human scale.

To keep some of the historical features intact, special care was taken during construction, prioritizing safety along the way.

Walgreens Old Post Office is key to making this renewed building a destination and energizing its variety of uses beyond the office, from dining to fitness and recreation. Simply put, the success of the Walgreens workplace unlocks the potential for this ambitious adaptive reuse project.

The office spans multiple levels and buildings of the Old Post Office development, with construction and design elements that create a connected, cohesive, and branded experience. Some of the unique construction features of the project include:

• A signature staircase grand staircase and forum, which serve as a center point and connection for three levels. The forum space offers wood stadium seating, blackened metal finishes, an audiovisual projection wall, custom graphics, architectural guard rails, and a fire shutter. In total, three new stairs were furnished and installed as part of the project.

• Taller, more communal spaces are positioned around a central core to form the city center. Stemming out from the city center are zones for individual workstations, within each neighborhood. These neighborhoods anchor individuals within the city, and each retains its own identity. Stretching from the city center outwards in the plan, each is the community beacon for group socialization. This beacon is an activated threshold and a place of transition. Individuals utilize these transitional community spaces as buffer zones between individual work and larger group work. Then placed are Town Centers which bookend the neighborhoods. Town centers take the form of huddle rooms, break areas, and smaller conference rooms. The main artery of circulation is the Gateway, a diagonal travel path that breaks the rigid city grid and connects all spaces across the massive floor plate. It culminates in the Forum, a grand stair hub that ties all people and floors together. A secondary connector called the Plaza connects all neighborhoods in a unified, informal way.

• Specialty rooms such as labs, a photo studio, and user experience rooms with observation areas are strategically separated and insulated from testing rooms by one-way glass.

• “Pod” construction utilized throughout the levels allow passage of natural light between ceiling and structural deck where MEP infrastructure was routed.

Special care was taken with preservation of historical details, including restoration and cleaning of masonry walls and concrete walls; wire brushing, sanding and sealing existing corten steel columns and walls; and furnishing new corten steel cladding that was weathered to match. Additionally, we sourced mosaic tile that is unique to the building and obsolete.

A phased approach to the project, allowed one half of level 4S to be completed in an accelerated 16-week timeframe to meet the client’s need to relocate a team of employees.

Walgreens was the first tenant to commit to moving into Chicago’s historic Old Post Office Building, which had been sitting vacant since 1996. This new workplace was a shift for this large iconic corporation to move downtown and be a part of this prominent historical revitalization to provide jobs and stimulate economic activity.

Downtown Chicago is a highly walkable area accessible by bicycle and public transportation, but the area around the Old Post Office was disconnected from that dynamism and life. The vast, unused building was a void, and it cut off connection. The revitalization of the building creates opportunities for people to re-engage with this corner of the city, and it expands the dynamic networks and street life that make a downtown buzz. The Old Post Office, and the presence of Walgreens, has been a catalyst for new developments in the surrounding area of Chicago. This project contributes to a revitalized economy as a dining destination for occupants and downtown workers, featuring restaurants and cafes with views of the Chicago River.

The building itself offers perks to occupants in 80,000 square feet of amenity space, including a bar with billiards and bocce, a gym with a boxing ring, and ample comfortable seating for after-work lounging and interaction. The building also features a four-acre “rooftop park” with spectacular city views.

The process itself involved the coordination of architects, designers, construction professionals, tradespeople and other workers, totaling in the hundreds, a testament to the vision and skill of the design and construction industry in Chicago.

Skender’s approach to prioritizing safety along with production and quality achieved exceptional results in project outcome and safety standards. During approximately 128,000 man hours, Skender and its subcontractors achieved a perfect safety record, with 0 recordable injuries, 0 OSHA D.A.R.T. (Days Away, Restricted, Transfer) rate and 0 OSHA T.R.I.R (Total, Recordable, Incident Rate).

-Cohesive, branded 4 floor office HQ
-Triangular floor plates required unique design approaches to create open, sleek, inviting space

Transforming 80,000 SF at Triangle Plaza for Komatsu’s North America Headquarters, Partners by Design created a sleek, inviting space with a mix of private offices, workstations and cozy collaborative nooks. Komatsu’s new headquarters features a four-floor renovation, interconnecting stair, executive offices, conference rooms, collaboration space, training rooms and cafe. Custom millwork is gracefully mixed with abstract wall coverings. Spark, a Chicago-based environmental branding company and sister company of Partners by Design, worked with the design team and client to transform hallways, expansive walls, and elevator corridors to integrate the brand and story throughout the office.

Partners by Design worked with Power Construction to achieve a proactive approach that led to the early procurement of long lead time items and was vital to the success of meeting the project’s completion goal.

Komatsu relocated from the Western suburbs to Chicago. The impact on the community that is externally focused by this relocation allowed Komatsu’s North American HQ to become a magnet for recruiting and retaining the brightest talents from the Chicago market. The impact to Komatsu’s internal office community was in the creation of a new type of office environment focused on collaboration and wellbeing byu creating a culture that will empower employees.

The Power Construction team did an excellent job in ensuring the project delivery with an issue-free project site with a clean safety record