Navy Pier Inc., the non-profit operator of Chicago's Navy Pier, is seeking proposals from private developers to finance, construct and operate a 150- to 225-room hotel on the 30-acre property, currently Illinois' largest tourist attraction. As planned, the five-story hotel would be sited atop a two-story facility currently housing restaurant and entertainment uses. The hotel also would be sited adjacent to an existing 170,000-sq-ft exhibit hall. Pier officials at a community meeting last week indicated a hotel and other planned renovations would help transition the 98-year-old-property from a seasonal “carnival”-like attraction to a year-round venue more focused on landscaping and
JohnsonAndrew J. Johnson has been named vice president and Jeffrey J. Krusinski executive vice president with Oak Brook, Ill.-based Krusinski Construction Co. Additionally, the firm has named Gina M. Krusinski vice president and Rick Drews senior project superintendent. Related Links: ENR Midwest People Showcase ENR People Showcase Jack Sbertoli has been named senior project manager with Skokie, Ill.-based developer and contractor Missner Group. A 10-year industry veteran with extensive engineering expertise, Sbertoli is managing projects from preconstruction to completion while coordinating among clients, architects and engineers. He previously was a project manager with Missner and holds a degree in civil
The Chicago Landmarks Commission on Thursday unanimously approved plans for $575 million in additions and renovations to 100-year-old Wrigley Field, home to Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs. Plans include more outfield signage and commercial uses than a plan the commission approved in 2013. The Cubs submitted new plans to the city in May after breaking off negotiations with 15 neighborhood rooftop owners, who threatened to sue over signage included in the 2013 plan. While the earlier plan called for a pair of signs, including a jumbotron-like video board in left field, current plans feature as many seven, including a 3,990-sq-ft
Midwest construction backlogs inched upward in the first quarter, from 5.51 months to 6.16 months, but finished a distant fourth behind those of other U.S. regions, according to data compiled by Washington, D.C.-based Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). Among other factors. ABC attributes the lag to “highly constrained public budgets” in major metro markets, including Chicago and Detroit. “When Chicago and Detroit continue to stumble, that limits how much the region can recover,” says ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Chicago continues to be burdened by high tax rates and underfunded pensions. Though it is attracting capital, Detroit has one of
A county corner has determined the June 13 death of a construction worker at the Deep Rock Tunnel Connector (DRTC) site in Indianapolis was the result of a head injury. Twenty-five-year-old William Simpson died of “massive crushing blunt force traumatic injury of the head,” Alfarena Ballew, chief deputy Marion County coroner indicated Monday. Although Ballew ruled the injury an accident, it remains unclear how the incident occurred. Simpson was killed more than 250 feet below grade while working on an overnight shift for the project, an eight-mile tube utility Citizens Energy Group (CEG) is constructing eliminate raw sewage overflows. Simpson,
Utility officials say it is unclear whether the death of a construction worker at the Deep Rock Tunnel-Connector (DRTC) site in Indianapolis was the result of an accident or a medical condition. Twenty-five-year-old William Isacc Simpson died more than 250 feet below grade early Friday morning while working on an overnight shift for the project, an eight-mile tube intended to help prevent raw sewage overflows when completed in 2017. Simpson, one of eight to 10 workers excavating the tunnel when the incident occurred, was employed by a joint venture of Walnut, Calif.-based J.F. Shea Construction Co. Inc. and Omaha, Neb.-based
Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs on Tuesday unveiled new plans for renovations to Wrigley Field that will add $75 million to the project, originally budgeted at $500 million. Updated renderings were released less than a week after Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts indicated he had broken off negotiations with 15 neighborhood rooftop owners, who threatened to sue over a 5,000-sq-ft video board and other outfield signage included in original plans, approved by the city in 2013. Revised plans call for four additional signs and a second video board, which would further block views from surrounding rooftops. Rooftop owners, who have spent
Architectural billings remained mired in negative territory for a second-consecutive month in April, despite optimism that business conditions are improving, according to the American Institute of Architects Architectural Billings Index Although the national index rose from 48.8 to 49.6 from March to April, only scores above 50 denote an increase in billings. The Midwest logged a slight increase, from 46.6 to 47, for the same period. Other regions logged dramatic downturns, with the East falling from 46.8 to 42.9 and the West from 50.7 to 48.9. Only the South remained in positive territory, rising from 52.8 to 57.5 between March
TraceyTim Tracey has been promoted to director of architect-engineer SmithGroupJJR's Chicago office, which employs 60 people. Tracey, previously design director for the office, is a member of the Lean Construction Institute Chicago Community of Practice Core Group. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening the office's holistic and integrated design process. Related Links: ENR Midwest People Showcase ENR People Cameron Trefry has been promoted to regional director and Dawn Riegel to director, interior architecture and design, with architect Ware Malcomb. Both are with the firm's Chicago office. ForceChristina Force has joined the St. Louis office of architect-engineer
Most Midwest states logged increases in construction employment in April, with Illinois and Indiana showing particular improvement following a tepid start to the year, according to year-over-year data compiled by Arlington, Va.-based Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).By percentage, Michigan led the region (5,600 jobs, 4.3%), followed by Ohio (7,600 jobs, 4.2%), Missouri (4,000 jobs, 3.8%), Wisconsin (3,700 jobs, 3.8%), Illinois (5,200 jobs, 2.8%) and Indiana (-100 jobs, -0.1%).By comparison, Indiana shed 1,000 to 3,000 jobs in February and March. Job growth in Illinois was nearly flat, less than 1%, for the same period. Economists predict both states will benefit
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