News & Media
The Future Built podcast features interviews with industry leaders who are disrupting the way we think, the way we design and the way we build. Powered by Skender.

Skender Named to Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies” for 2019
Skender, a vertically integrated design, construction and manufacturing firm based in Chicago, has been named to Fast Company’s “World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2019,” the publication announced today. This year, more than three dozen editors, reporters and contributors sought out the most notable innovations of the year in 35 industries and across every region of… Read More

Skender Launches ‘Future Built’ Podcast Featuring Conversations with Industry Innovators
First Episodes Discuss Sterling Bay’s Lincoln Yards and the Architecture of Tomorrow Skender announces today the launch of Future Built, a podcast featuring conversations with business leaders who are disrupting the way we think, the way we design and the way we build. On Future Built, Skender executives and experts will interview industry luminaries about… Read More

Skender Continues to Expand Manufacturing Team
Skender today announced the appointment of two manufacturing industry veterans with more than 35 years of combined experience. The two new hires are the latest additions to the Skender manufacturing leadership team. Skender’s advanced manufacturing facility in southwest Chicago produces modular components that Skender constructs into multifamily, healthcare and commercial buildings. Scott Massa has joined… Read More

Master Planning in Focus: Discussing the Lincoln Yards Plan with Sterling Bay’s Andy Gloor
Lincoln Yards is Sterling Bay’s ambitious riverfront development of formerly industrial land between Bucktown and Lincoln Park. Sterling Bay Managing Principal Andy Gloor and Skender President Justin Brown sit down together to preview the Lincoln Yards project, sharing insights into:
What’s special about the Lincoln Yards location
What considerations go into creating a master plan
Why this project is meaningful to Andy
And much more
About Andy Gloor
Andy Gloor is the Managing Principal of Sterling Bay, a fully-integrated, owner/operator real estate investment and development company based in Chicago. Since joining the firm in 2002, Andy has grown the business to over 200 professionals. He led Sterling Bay to pioneer the urban model of innovation districts in Chicago and anchor its developments with top companies.
Under Andy’s leadership, Sterling Bay, over the last decade alone, has acquired or developed a diverse portfolio of 55 properties totaling $3.6 billion and currently owns 12 million square feet of assets including Prudential Plaza, a 2.3 million square foot marquee office complex, and 600 W Chicago, a 1.6 million square foot creative office property anchored by Groupon.
Prior to joining the company, Andy was a Managing Director at Insignia/ESG where he completed over five million square feet of commercial real estate transactions. He earned a BA in Political Science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is a licensed Managing Broker in Illinois. Andy is actively involved with Misericordia, a local Chicago organization supporting persons with developmental disabilities. He also sits on the board of Cara, a Chicago non-profit helping to break the cycle of homelessness.
Learn more about Lincoln Yards here.
Read More

Do Legacy Construction Companies Have the Inside Track on Modular Building?
Fresh-faced, tech-oriented startups get most of the attention in the modular-building world, but despite their “it” factor, they’re still startups. Is there a market share in modular just waiting for companies with the approach and know-how that come with legacy experience? Chicago-based legacy construction company Skender has been researching modular construction for years and is now getting… Read More

Office Wellness Has To Begin Long Before Move-In
Articles on office wellness are filled with tips and tricks on how to plan corporate outings, the benefits of yoga or whether to offer pretzels or fruit. While wellness initiatives like these may increase job satisfaction somewhat, many fail to address one sticking point. Employees can’t just be happy while exercising at a company-subsidized gym or having… Read More

Skender Hires Stacy Scopano as Chief Technology Officer
Skender, a vertically integrated design, construction and manufacturing firm based in Chicago, today announced it has hired Stacy Scopano as chief technology officer. Scopano will be charged with ensuring Skender is continually evolving its technological capabilities and integrating industry-leading innovations across the company. Scopano’s new role will also include oversight of the advanced manufacturing technology… Read More

Is Chicago Still an Architectural Leader?
Chicago has long been known as a global leader in architecture. From the birth of the skyscraper in the late 19th century through the development of modernism in the 1960s by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and others, Chicago has led the way on redefining the way buildings are made.
But is Chicago still producing work that is architecturally relevant? Skender’s Director of Residential Architecture, Angela Spadoni, sits down with Doug Farr to chat about the past, present, and future of architecture in Chicago. Doug is the founding principal and president of Chicago-based Farr Associates Architecture and Urban Design. He is also author of Sustainable Nation: Urban Design Patterns for the Future, a guidebook for people working to create impactful, decarbonized communities. Doug shares his thoughts on where Chicago is now and what architects everywhere can do to bring their work into the 21st century.
About Doug Farr
Doug Farr is the founding principal and president of Farr Associates Architecture and Urban Design, a Chicago-based firm of optimistic architects and urban designers who plan and design lovable, aspirational buildings and places. He is a published author who lectures widely on the topics of urbanism and sustainability. A native Detroiter, Doug was the founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-ND Core Committee and has served on the boards of urban sustainability organizations including the Congress for New Urbanism, Bioregional, EcoDistricts, and Elevate Energy.
Doug is the author of Sustainable Urbanism, an urban planning best-seller, with a new follow-up, Sustainable Nation: Urban Design Patterns for the Future. To implement the ideas found in Sustainable Nation, he launched The Pattern Project in 2018, a Farr Associates initiative to accelerate change and promote decarbonization strategies. In 2017, Planetizen readers named him one of “the 100 most influential urbanists of all time.”
Read More

Skender Completes Construction of Aspen Dental Midwest Headquarters
Skender, serving as interior construction manager, has completed construction of Aspen Dental’s new 50,000-square-foot Midwest headquarters. Aspen Dental, an East Syracuse, New York-based company that provides administrative and business support to branded dental practices, has relocated to the art deco building vacated by Sterling Bay at 1040 W. Randolph. To accommodate a practice support center… Read More

Skender Completes Interior Construction of Upwork HQ
Skender, serving as construction manager, has completed construction of Upwork’s new 34,000-square-foot Chicago headquarters. Upwork, a digital platform for freelancers, has relocated to 525 W. Van Buren from its former space at 224 N. Desplaines. To accommodate its growing, 100+ person enterprise sales team, Upwork’s interior renovation included an open café, server room, virtual reception… Read More

Skender Completes First Data Cable-Free HQ for ShopRunner
Skender, serving as interior construction manager, has completed construction of ShopRunner’s new 25,000-square-foot corporate headquarters. ShopRunner, a Chicago-based, multi-retailer e-commerce start up, has relocated to 350 N. Orleans from its former space at 350 N. LaSalle. To accommodate a newly consolidated team, ShopRunner added numerous technologically forward features to its new office space, including 100%… Read More

3 Top Trends Show Green-Building Technology on the Rise
The Johnson Controls Asia-Pacific headquarters in Shanghai, China, is one of the most sustainable corporate complexes in Asia. In the summer of 2017, the campus opened as the first building in China to earn three green certifications: LEED NC Platinum, the World Bank’s EDGE, and China’s own Green Building Design Label. Although just one example, the Johnson Controls building is indicative of a… Read More

An ambitious plan to change how we build housing
Just beyond the snowy streets and neatly packed three-flats of Chicago’s southwest side, the factory at 3348 South Pulaski appears like a low gray monolith, spanning nearly 10 normal blocks and serving as a boundary between the residential neighborhood and the city’s industrial freight hub. Inside, the Chicago general contractor Skender is setting up what amounts to an apartment… Read More

The Future of Fulton Market Lies in New Office Towers, Not Renovated Industrial Lofts
The first wave of major development in the Fulton Market neighborhood is coming to an end, but a new one is just beginning. Sterling Bay set off the development explosion when it bought 1000 West Fulton, a cold storage building that towered over the once-industrial area west of the Loop, in 2012 for $12M and by 2015… Read More

7 trends that will shape commercial construction in 2019
Is a trend really a trend if it repeats year after year? That's a valid concern in the commercial construction world. For a competitive and fragmented industry that happens to be resistant to some of the rapid evolution noted in others, participants and observers are continually seeing some of the same glacial movements take center… Read More

Skender Promotes Five to Leadership Board
Underscoring its commitment to an award-winning employee culture that fosters talent and innovation, Skender is pleased to announce five key leaders have been promoted to partner: Brian Bukowski to Project Executive and Partner. Since joining Skender in 2007, Bukowski has been integral to the growth of the firm’s interiors team, specifically in the technology sector.… Read More

Belinda Moore Promoted to Executive Director of Skender Foundation
Skender Foundation recently announced the promotion of Belinda Moore to executive director. In her new role, she is responsible for developing and implementing the foundation's vision and strategic plan. Moore has been integral to Skender Foundation’s growth since the organization’s inception in 2012, most recently serving as associate executive director since June 2017. In her… Read More

Skender starts 100,000-SF renovation for Perspectives Charter School
Skender recently started construction on the conversion of the 100,000-square-foot former Soft Sheen building at 8522 S. Lafayette in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood into a middle and high school for Perspectives Charter Schools (PCS). Read More

Skender Starts 100,000-SF Renovation for Perspectives Charter Schools
Skender recently started construction on the conversion of the 100,000-square-foot former Soft Sheen building at 8522 S. Lafayette into a middle and high school for Perspectives Charter Schools. Founded in 1997, Perspectives Charter Schools (PCS) is one of the first charter schools in Illinois. Today, PCS manages five open enrollment, tuition-free public schools serving students… Read More

Skender Advances Five to Senior Positions
In its commitment to continuous improvement and professional growth, Skender is pleased to announce the following individuals’ recent promotions to senior positions on its growing operations team: Nestor Acance to Senior Superintendent from Superintendent. Acance, who joined Skender in 2017, recently completed a 20,000-SF renovation at the Latin School of Chicago and is currently working… Read More

This May Well Be What The Future Of Construction Looks Like
Modular building has been an intriguing promise for construction companies for decades, but the industry has seen a lot of ups and downs. With its new prototype for a modular smart apartment building, Chicago firm Skender might have cracked the code. Read More

Skender chairman, Joseph Skender, to retire after 40 years
Joseph Skender, chairman of the board of directors at Chicago-based Skender, has announced his retirement and will take on the title of chairman emeritus at the design-build-manufacturing firm. Mark Skender will remain CEO and Cheryl Skender will continue as chair and president of Skender Foundation. “There’s no way I could’ve imagined what this company would… Read More

Joseph Skender Retires After 40 Years of Leadership
Today, Skender announces the retirement of Joseph Skender, Chairman of the Board of Directors. As he embarks on this new chapter of his life, this turning point allows a moment of reflection on the company’s journey from his family’s basement to one of the top construction firms in Chicago. “There’s no way I could’ve imagined… Read More

Upwork Ranked ‘Best Place to Work in Chicago’, Expands to New Office in the West…
Congrats to our friends at Upwork for being named #1 in Built In Chicago's list of Best Places to Work in 2019! We're proud to be the contractor behind your new West Loop office! Read More

Three Ways to Shatter Construction Silos and Win Efficiencies
Visionary design firm and ace construction crew: check and check. These are key personnel ingredients to a successful building process, and typically require multiple players, subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and contracts to get the job done. But what happens when you can use technological innovation and a product-based building processes to check all the boxes at… Read More

Do Legacy Construction Companies Have the Inside Track on Modular Building?
Fresh-faced, tech-oriented startups get most of the attention in the modular-building world, but despite their “it” factor, they’re still startups. Is there a market share in modular just waiting for companies with the approach and know-how that come with legacy experience? Chicago-based legacy construction company Skender has been researching modular construction for years and is… Read More

The Doctor Is in: Healthcare Is the New Retail
There was a time not long ago when you could spend a leisurely afternoon at Park Avenue and 57th Street browsing for books at the local Borders Books outlet. If you go to that location now, you’re probably there for health-related reasons. With the transition to e-commerce, it’s little surprise that Borders, like many other… Read More

Deciphering the Fine Print of Tenant Improvement Clauses
Take a close look at that “generous” tenant improvement (TI) allowance that the owner of a new building has offered. What, exactly, is covered? While the amount may be larger than that offered by the landlord of an older building, a careful analysis might reveal that you will barely break even — and you may… Read More

Rising Costs Make Pre-Construction Planning More Essential in Senior Housing
Value engineering is an accepted inevitability in construction, and it’s become increasingly important as construction costs have been on the rise in senior living. But while smart value engineering will identify the best ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality, too much value engineering can compromise the vision and integrity of a project, and cause… Read More

Skender Completes AZEK HQ in Fulton Market
Skender recently completed interior construction of the new 24,000-square-foot headquarters for The AZEK Company, which recently relocated to the Fulton Market District from suburban Skokie, IL. Read More

Skender Completes AZEK Company HQ in Fulton Market
Skender recently completed interior construction of the new 24,000-square-foot headquarters for The AZEK Company, an industry leader of premium building products previously based in Skokie, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Ohio. The AZEK Company relocated to 1330 W. Fulton in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood from its former office in Skokie to… Read More

An ambitious plan to change how we build housing
Just beyond the snowy streets and neatly packed three-flats of Chicago’s southwest side, the factory at 3348 South Pulaski appears like a low gray monolith, spanning nearly 10 normal blocks and serving as a boundary between the residential neighborhood and the city’s industrial freight hub. Inside, the Chicago general contractor Skender is setting up what… Read More

Deciphering the Fine Print of Tenant Improvement Clauses
Take a close look at that “generous” tenant improvement (TI) allowance that the owner of a new building has offered. What, exactly, is covered? While the amount may be larger than that offered by the landlord of an older building, a careful analysis might reveal that you will barely break even — and you may… Read More

Elgin Tower: Elgin’s heart beats again
A project team brings this Chicago suburb’s landmark tower back to life. Read More

Healthcare Developers Need Flexibility to Succeed
The world of healthcare real estate has experienced more profound change in the past few years than perhaps any other sector. Along with advances in medical technology, the transformation of healthcare delivery by the introduction of Obamacare has led providers to demand different types of facilities. And that means opportunities for developers and investors, if… Read More

Rising Costs Make Pre-Construction Planning More Essential in Senior Housing
Value engineering is an accepted inevitability in construction, and it’s become increasingly important as construction costs have been on the rise in senior living. But while smart value engineering will identify the best ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality, too much value engineering can compromise the vision and integrity of a project, and cause… Read More

Skender Celebrates Unveiling of Modular Smart Apartment Prototype
CHICAGO (Nov. 27, 2018) – Smart phones roll off the factory assembly line—and now, smart apartments. Skender’s vision for a modular building process has reached a milestone: an actual smart apartment module prototype is complete and on-display, featuring Google Home technology systems throughout its structure. The prototype is an early version of the apartment units… Read More

Skender Foundation Adds Two New Board Members
Today Skender Foundation announced two new appointments, Jared Funk and Tim Swanson, to its board of directors. Jared Funk is vice president at Lenox Advisors and his involvement with Skender Foundation dates back to 2013 when he joined the Builders' Board, a subcommittee of Skender Foundation comprised of young, driven professionals with a passion for… Read More

Skender and BuiltWorlds Release “Going Lean: Toward Waste-free Building” Report
Nearly half of the nearly 2.2 billion annual tons of solid waste projected by year 2025 is generated on the construction job site. Today, a new report from Skender and BuiltWorlds offers “Going Lean: Toward Waste-free Building.” The 10-page research report, available for download here, is a resource filled with waste-reducing possibilities using lean construction… Read More

Skender Expands Strategic Accounts Team
Skender today announced that Michelle Levy has joined Skender as strategic account manager. Levy spent the last six years as an urban retail brokerage associate and office/industrial researcher for CBRE. She previously specialized in urban retail tenant and landlord representation, and consulted for numerous restaurants and small eateries in downtown Chicago. Levy’s background in real… Read More

Skender begins interior construction for Vital Proteins’ new Fulton Market HQ
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently launched the interior renovation of the future 40,000-square-foot headquarters of Vital Proteins, a private retailer of health supplement products. Vital Proteins is assuming full occupancy of the four-story 939 W. Fulton Street, one block from Google’s Midwest headquarters in Chicago’s lively Fulton Market neighborhood. Read More

Skender Starts Interior Construction of New Vital Proteins HQ in Fulton Market
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently launched the interior renovation of the future 40,000-square-foot headquarters of Vital Proteins, a fast-growing private retailer of health supplement products. Vital Proteins is assuming full occupancy of the four-story 939 W. Fulton Street, one block from Google’s Midwest headquarters in Chicago’s lively Fulton Market neighborhood. As sole tenant, Vital… Read More

Skender Boosts Modular Initiative with Two New Hires
Skender is bolstering its modular component operations with the addition of two manufacturing industry veterans to its team. Dan Conley has joined Skender as director of manufacturing operations, while Mike Mulrooney has come aboard as director of engineering. Read More

Skender Continues to Expand Manufacturing Team
Skender today announced the appointment of two manufacturing industry veterans with a combined 65 years of experience. The two new hires are the latest additions to the Skender manufacturing leadership team. Skender’s advanced manufacturing facility in southwest Chicago produces modular components that Skender constructs into multifamily, healthcare and commercial buildings. Dan Conley has joined Skender… Read More

Skender’s Annual Volunteer Day Draws Highest Turnout Yet
On Saturday, October 13, nearly 100 volunteers gathered at Skender’s new manufacturing facility for the firm’s annual Volunteer Day. Volunteers built wood wall panels for two homes that will be delivered to families in need via Skender’s partners for the event, Appalachia Service Project and Solid Rock Carpenters. The volunteers wrote messages of hope on… Read More

Sprout Social Maintains Rapid Growth With A Sleek And On-Trend Office Space
After previously completing its 7th-floor space in Chicago’s Citadel Center, the rapidly growing social media management company wanted their office environment to be an investment in their people. In adding more amenity spaces that catered to their needs, Sprout called on their general contractor, Skender, and architect, Partners by Design to create a 64,000-square-foot open,… Read More

Skender employees take part in volunteer day
On Saturday, October 13, nearly 100 volunteers gathered at Skender’s new manufacturing facility for the firm’s annual volunteer day. Volunteers built wood wall panels for two homes that will be delivered to families in need via Skender’s partners for the event, Appalachia Service Project and Solid Rock Carpenters. Read More

Skender completes independent living facility rehabilitation
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently completed a 50,000-square-foot full-building rehabilitation of Lake Merritt Apartments, an affordable housing development located at 1417 1st Avenue in Oakland, California. The four-story independent living facility is owned by Preservation Partners, a privately-held real estate company (and repeat Skender client) that specializes in the rehabilitation and permanent preservation of… Read More

Skender Completes Independent Living Facility Rehabilitation in Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. (October 23, 2018) – Skender, serving as general contractor, recently completed a 50,000-square-foot full-building rehabilitation of Lake Merritt Apartments, an affordable housing development located at 1417 1st Avenue in Oakland, California. The four-story independent living facility is owned by Preservation Partners, a privately-held real estate company (and repeat Skender client) that specializes in… Read More

Three Ways to Shatter Construction Silos and Win Efficiencies
Visionary design firm and ace construction crew: check and check. These are key personnel ingredients to a successful building process, and typically require multiple players, subcontractors, consultants, vendors, and contracts to get the job done. But what happens when you can use technological innovation and a product-based building processes to check all the boxes at… Read More

Skender breaks ground on 85k SF training center addition for Laborers’ Union
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently started construction of a 55,000-square-foot steel structure addition and 30,000-square-foot office renovation to the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Chicagoland Laborers’ District Council Training and Apprentice Fund Training Center. Read More

Skender Starts 85,000-SF Training Center Addition and Renovation for Chicagoland Laborers’ Union
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently started construction of a 55,000-square-foot steel structure addition and 30,000-square-foot office renovation to the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) Chicagoland Laborers’ District Council Training and Apprentice Fund Training Center. Located at 5700 W. Homer, the training center is seeking to expand its existing facility to accommodate more… Read More

Angela Spadoni Joins Skender
Angela Spadoni, AIA, has joined Skender as director of residential architecture, where she will oversee multifamily design projects, including the design of housing modules produced in Skender’s new Chicago manufacturing facility. Read More

Multifamily Design Expert Angela Spadoni Joins Skender as Director of Residential Architecture
Angela Spadoni, AIA, has joined Skender as director of residential architecture, where she will oversee multifamily design projects, including the design of housing modules produced in Skender’s new Chicago manufacturing facility. With more than 10 years of international and domestic experience, Spadoni brings to Skender an impressive background in multifamily, condominium, retail and high-rise design.… Read More

Top 10 ways to build smarter
As material and labor prices escalate every day, building process economics are playing an increasingly critical role in every project. Firms involved in the commercial building process across the industry must look for innovative ways to deliver high-quality projects while stemming the tide of rising costs. Collaboration, transparency and waste reduction are key to an… Read More

5 ‘Giant’ Trends Poised to Change the Face of Construction
As the Building Design+Construction editorial team wrapped up work on the 42nd annual Giants 300 report in late June, a number of intriguing industry trends and themes bubbled to the surface. Some are new to us, others simply confirmed our original notions. The Giants 300 report agglomerates financial data and business dealings from the nation’s… Read More

Skender Adds AZEK Company HQ to Fulton Market Portfolio
Skender recently started interior construction of the 24,000-square-foot headquarters for The AZEK Company, a Skokie-based industry leader of premium building products with manufacturing facilities in Scranton, PA and Wilmington, OH. The AZEK Company is relocating from its current offices in Skokie to accommodate the business’s rapid growth and future needs. Once complete, the third-floor open-plan… Read More

Skender Starts Work on Independent Living Facility Rehabilitation
Skender, serving as construction manager, has started work on the full-building rehabilitation of Westmont I-Care, an affordable housing development located at 501 North Cass Avenue in Westmont, Illinois. The five-story independent living facility is owned by Preservation Partners, a privately-held real estate company (and repeat Skender client) that specializes in the rehabilitation and permanent preservation… Read More

Confronting the challenge of affordable housing
Financing for and development of affordable housing has long been a critical issue in the U.S. In Chicago, over 440,000 households pay more than half of their income on housing, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. While the need hasn’t gone away, creating workforce housing continues to be a challenge. From sourcing… Read More

Skender Completes 225K-SF Restack for HERE’s Americas HQ
Skender recently completed a 225,000-square-foot restack for location intelligence provider HERE Technologies at 475 N. Randolph St. Amsterdam-based HERE recently designated the Chicago office, now totaling more than 275,000 square feet, as the company’s Americas headquarters. Read More

Skender Completes 225,000-SF Restack Project for HERE Technologies’ New Americas HQ
Skender recently completed a 225,000-SF restack project for HERE Technologies' new Americas HQ in Chicago's Boeing Building. Read More

Skender Completes 225,000-SF Restack Project for HERE Technologies’ New Americas HQ
Skender recently completed interior construction of the 225,000-square-foot office space for HERE Technologies, the leading location intelligence and open location platform company, at 425 West Randolph Street. HERE Technologies recently designated the Chicago office, now totaling more than 275,000 square feet, as the company’s Americas headquarters. Throughout eight floors of the Boeing Building, the HERE… Read More

Skender Starts Work on Independent Living Facility Rehabilitation
Skender, serving as construction manager, has started work on the full-building rehabilitation of Arboretum West Apartments, an affordable housing development located in Lombard, Illinois. The two-story independent living facility is owned by Over the Rainbow Association (OTR), an Illinois nonprofit organization dedicated to providing affordable, barrier-free housing solutions for people with physical disabilities. All 14… Read More

The Hidden Costs of Open Ceilings
Open ceilings are a signature element of most contemporary office designs because of the spaciousness and casual, cool vibe they add to a space. Many decision-makers also assume open ceilings are less expensive than drop ceiling because they use less materials, labor, and time. But, do those assumptions play out in reality? A 2008 study of retail… Read More

7 Myths Surrounding Hotel Conversions and Renovations
“Conversions, renovations, and franchise affiliation changes, oh my!”—this doesn’t have to be your theme song if you find yourself embarking on a hotel repositioning effort. It’s important to be aware of the myths surrounding hotel conversion projects to dispense with some of the headaches that plague others who are not in the know. Myth 1: “To… Read More

The future of the ambulatory surgery centers and acuity levels
Offering the one-two punch of cost savings and convenience, ASCs are increasingly becoming the venue of choice for both physicians and patients. Few would argue that the healthcare landscape is rapidly evolving. Today’s healthcare consumer has become far more engaged, not only demanding a greater level of personalization and convenience in their healthcare experience, but… Read More

Skender Partners with Solid Rock Carpenters for Annual Volunteer Day
Skender’s annual employee volunteer day will take on new importance this year as Framing Day—a day to volunteer locally and build housing to then be shipped in modules to where it is needed most. Through a partnership with Solid Rock Carpenters, the day will benefit the Appalachia Service Project and take place on Saturday, October… Read More

Skender Wraps Up Work on Flex Lab for Loyola
Skender has completed the construction of Loyola University Chicago’s new 10,000-square-foot engineering science flex laboratory. The new single-story building is intended to provide open space, movable furniture and equipment, and a collaborative environment for the university’s engineering science program. Along with meeting the needs of engineering and other STEM students at Loyola, the new facility… Read More

Skender Named a San Francisco Bay Area Best and Brightest Company to Work For
Skender was recently named as one of San Francisco Bay Area’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For by the National Association for Business Resources (NABR). The award recognizes companies that excel at employee relations, use innovation to motivate employees, implement creative compensation programs and more. An independent research firm evaluates each company’s entry based… Read More

Skender Completes Loyola University Chicago Engineering Science Flex Laboratory
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has completed the construction of Loyola University Chicago’s new 10,000-square-foot engineering science flex laboratory located near the intersection of North Broadway and Sheridan Road. The mission of the new single-story building is to provide open space, movable furniture and equipment, and a collaborative environment for the… Read More

Skender’s Healthcare Portfolio Growing as Firm Completes Several Projects for Major Chicago Health System
Skender’s healthcare team has won construction management assignments for several projects throughout Chicago. Among the projects recently started or nearing completion: NM Immediate Care Clinic (West Loop, Chicago) – 5,500-SF build-out in new core and shell building at 171 N. Aberdeen featuring six exam rooms, an x-ray room, infusion treatment areas, laboratory space, staff lounge and… Read More

Successful in San Francisco
We’ve been hard at work in San Francisco for nearly 10 years. From tech giants to healthcare start-ups and everything between, we’re revolutionizing the industry one square-foot at a time. Check out more of our collaborations at skender.com/sanfrancisco Read More

Skender’s Healthcare Portfolio Growing as Firm Completes Several Projects for Major Chicago Health System
Skender’s healthcare team has won construction management assignments for several projects throughout Chicago. Among the projects recently started or nearing completion: Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care Clinic (West Loop, Chicago) – 5,500-SF build-out in new core and shell building at 171 N. Aberdeen featuring six exam rooms, an x-ray room, infusion treatment areas, laboratory space, staff… Read More

Skender Ranks Among Nation’s Top 130 Contractors
Skender ranked among the top 130 construction firms in the U.S., according to a report compiled by Building Design+Construction magazine. As part of the publication’s 2018 Giants 300 Report, which ranks U.S. building contractors by annual revenue, Skender earned the No. 80 spot with 2017 revenues of $400 million. Building Design+Construction also ranks U.S. contractors… Read More

Seventh Annual Summer Eclipse Raises $380,000 for Local Charities
Skender Foundation hosted its annual fundraiser, Summer Eclipse, on Thursday, July 19 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. A total of $380,000 was raised in one night by sponsors and more than 500 event attendees. Of that, $30,000 will be donated to The Bridge Teen Center while the balance will be dispersed to other… Read More

Skender Completes Prezi’s 3-story, 20,000-SQFT Office in San Francisco
Skender, serving as general contractor, has completed the renovation of Prezi’s three-floor, 20,000-square-foot office suite in San Francisco’s growing SoMa (South of Market) District. Skender completed the renovations for this innovative presentation software technology company in partnership with architect Gensler. Read More

Skender Completes Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Development on Chicago’s South Side
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, recently completed Woodlawn Station, a transit-oriented affordable housing development in Chicago, Illinois. Located just under the Cottage Grove Green Line CTA terminus station in Chicago South Side neighborhood Woodlawn, the mixed-use development features a main building that contains 55 units and two additional nearby buildings containing… Read More

Skender completes affordable TOD on Chicago’s South Side
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, recently completed Woodlawn Station, a transit-oriented affordable housing development in Chicago. Located just under the Cottage Grove Green Line CTA terminus station in Chicago South Side neighborhood Woodlawn, the mixed-use development features a main building that contains 55 units and two additional nearby buildings containing 12… Read More

Skender Completes Prezi’s 3-story Office Renovation in San Francisco
Skender, serving as general contractor, has completed the renovation of Prezi’s three-floor, 20,000-square-foot office suite in San Francisco’s growing SoMa (South of Market) District. Skender completed the renovations for this innovative presentation software technology company in partnership with architect Gensler. Similar to many tech firms, Prezi searched for a new home within the competitive San… Read More

Elgin Tower Building Wins Preservation Award
The recent rehabilitation of the Tower Building in Elgin is being recognized with "one of the most prestigious preservation awards in the state," as one Elgin historic preservation planner put it. The 1929, 15-story former office building at 100 E. Chicago St. reopened in late January after being converted into 44 apartments. It is the… Read More

Skender Completes Interior Construction of New 207,000-square-foot C.H. Robinson Office in Chicago’s Lincoln Yards Development
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently completed interior construction of a new, 207,000-square-foot office for C.H. Robinson, a Fortune 500 third-party logistics and supply chain management provider. The office, located at 1515 W. Webster, is the first riverfront property in Sterling Bay’s Lincoln Yards development, a contender for the Amazon HQ2 bid. C.H. Robinson relocated… Read More

Contractor plans factory-built apartment project in West Loop
Skender, a Chicago contractor, is taking a big step into the modular construction business, leasing factory space on the Southwest Side where as many as 100 people will build apartments and hotel rooms to be snapped together on construction sites. Skender has hired a leader to run its new modular unit and is moving ahead… Read More

Skender Announces New Advanced Manufacturing Facility for Modular Building, Creates 100 New Jobs on Chicago’s Southwest Side
New Skender Manufacturing president, Peter Murray, announces production start and first modular project, a six-story multifamily building in West Loop CHICAGO (July 26, 2018) – Today, Chicago-based Skender announced the creation of 100 new jobs in the City of Chicago, made possible with the opening of the new Skender advanced manufacturing facility, and the hiring… Read More

Skender breaks ground on senior lifestyle assisted living in Northbrook
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has broken ground on North Shore Place, a Senior Lifestyle-owned assisted living facility located in Northbrook, Illinois. This marks the second new construction project Skender has completed for Senior Lifestyle on this property after a 175,000-square foot, five-story, 157-unit assisted living facility located adjacent to current construction. Read More

Skender Breaks Ground on Senior Lifestyle Assisted Living Facility in Northbrook, IL
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has broken ground on North Shore Place, a Senior Lifestyle-owned assisted living facility located in Northbrook, Illinois. This marks the second new construction project Skender has completed for Senior Lifestyle on this property; the first a 175,000-square foot, five-story, 157-unit assisted living facility located adjacent to… Read More

Skender Hires Two Industry Veterans
Skender is pleased to welcome to its team two industry veterans who have a combined 55 years of experience in the construction industry. Jerry Winchester has joined Skender as Senior Project Manager. With nearly 25 years of construction experience, Jerry Winchester brings large-scale healthcare, luxury hotel, higher education and multifamily project experience to Skender. He… Read More

7 Ideas for Containing Construction Costs
Though the real estate industry has seen a development rebound over the past decade, rising construction costs are weighing down the buoyant market. The persistent skilled labor shortage makes staffing and maintaining sites expensive. Materials are pricier, and now tariffs on steel, aluminum and lumber imports may only make the problem worse. At the same… Read More

Hyatt House – Planning the Project
An inside glimpse at a portion of the significant collaboration and planning that went into the new 14-story, 167,000-SF Hyatt House Hotel – developed by Sterling Bay and designed by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects. Read More

Skender breaks ground on new laboratory at Loyola University Chicago
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has broken ground on Loyola University Chicago’s new 10,000-square-foot engineering science flex laboratory located near the intersection of North Broadway and Sheridan Road. Read More

Skender Releases “101 Ways to Build Smarter” eBook, Featuring Ideas to Offset Rapidly Escalating Construction Prices
Construction costs have been consistently rising just when the industry can least afford it. Today, a new report from Skender offers "101 Ways to Build Smarter." The 18-page eBook, available for download at www.skender.com/buildsmarter/, is a resource filled with quality-enhancing and value-optimizing possibilities for building owners, developers, architects, brokers, contractors, corporate real estate and workplace… Read More

Skender Breaks Ground on Loyola University Chicago Engineering Science Flex Laboratory
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has broken ground on Loyola University Chicago’s new 10,000-square-foot engineering science flex laboratory located near the intersection of North Broadway and Sheridan Road. The mission of the new single-story building is to provide open space, movable furniture and equipment, and a collaborative environment for the engineering… Read More

The future of healthcare design and construction? It’s factory made.
What if we could make patient care better and more accessible by applying intelligent design and manufacturing principles to build healthcare spaces? Rising costs and complexity across healthcare and construction have made it more challenging to enhance patient experiences through new healthcare facilities. One solution: deliver customization via intelligent design. Technological advancements make it possible… Read More

Skender Completes Interior Construction of National Law Firm’s 121,000-Square-Foot Headquarters in Chicago
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently completed interior construction of the 121,000-square-foot headquarters for national law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP at 151 N. Franklin Street in Chicago’s West Loop. The building is a newly constructed 35-story office tower that will soon be known as CNA Center when CNA moves in from its current headquarters… Read More

Skender Ranks Among Top U.S. Contractors, Climbs 26 Spots on National List
Skender ranked among the top U.S. contractors, according to Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine’s recently published list of the largest contractors by revenue. Ranked at No. 208 out of 400 U.S.-based contractors, Skender moved up 26 spots from last year’s spot with 2017 revenues of $400 million. Some of Skender’s prominent projects in 2017 included the… Read More

Skender Named as a Best Place to Work in Illinois for Tenth Consecutive Year
Skender was recently named as one of the 2018 Best Places to Work in Illinois. Established in 2006, the awards program is facilitated by Daily Herald Business Ledger in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), MRA-The Management Association, Illinois Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Advocacy Council. This statewide program is… Read More

Skender Completes Clinic for Major Chicago Health System
Skender, serving as general contractor, completed the 17,000-square-foot interior build-out of a health care clinic for a major Chicago health system. Located on the first floor of the building, the new clinic included the expansion of the existing imaging department with a new Siemens 3TMRI, Rad/Flouro Machine, and relocated Carestream Rad. Skender built out an… Read More

Skender Launches Interior Construction for 207,000-SF Chicago Office
Skender has begun interior construction on a 207,000-square-foot office in Lincoln Park, Ill., which will serve as the new Chicagoland home of C.H. Robinson. Developed by Sterling Bay, the property is within the first Sterling Bay riverfront property in its Lincoln Yards development, which also happens to be a contender for the Amazon HQ2 bid.… Read More

5 Ways To Make Affordable Housing Development Feasible
U.S. cities continue to swell in population. But for people looking to live in urban areas, limited affordable options are the new normal. The U.S. needs an additional 4.6 million apartments to meet demand by 2030, the National Multifamily Housing Council and the National Apartment Association estimate. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines affordability as… Read More

Skender Receives City of Elgin’s Mayor’s Award for Historic Preservation of 15-story Elgin Tower Building
Skender, along with St. Louis-based Webster Design and owner Capstone Development Group, received the William Stickling Memorial Award at the 28th annual Mayor’s Awards Presentation honoring outstanding contributors to Elgin’s heritage. The award recipients were selected by the Elgin Heritage Commission and Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin based on the project team’s dedicated efforts to… Read More

Skender Breaks Ground on 14-Story Hyatt House Hotel in Chicago’s Fulton Market
Construction firm Skender has broken ground on a 14-story Hyatt House hotel in Chicago’s Fulton Market district. The 167,000-square-foot, 200-room development is located at 105 N. May St. The Hyatt House will be the first hotel in the Fulton Market district to cater to extended-stay corporate travelers. Amenities will include an indoor pool, green roof,… Read More

Skender Starts Interior Construction of new 207,000-SF C.H. Robinson Office in Chicago’s Lincoln Yards Development
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently launched interior construction of a new, 207,000-square-foot office for C.H. Robinson, a Fortune 500 third-party logistics and supply chain management provider. The office is located within the first Sterling Bay riverfront property in its Lincoln Yards development in Lincoln Park, a contender for the Amazon HQ2 bid. C.H. Robinson… Read More

Skender Breaks Ground on 14-story, 167,000-SF Hyatt House Hotel, a New Development in the Fulton Market District
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has broken ground on Chicago’s newest Hyatt House extended-stay hotel. The new 14-story, 167,000-square-foot hotel is located in the heart of Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood at 105 N. May Street. The Hyatt House will be the first hotel in the Fulton Market district to cater to… Read More

Movers + Shapers: Lean and Mean
Skender Executive Vice President Afshan Barshan identifies some payoffs of adopting Lean principles into Skender's business practices. Read More

Skender Starts Construction of Sterling Bay’s New HQ at Fulton West
Skender has started interior construction of Sterling Bay's 35K new headquarters at Fulton West. Read More

Sprout Social – Interior Showcase
Sprout Social collaborated with Skender and Partners by Design to expand its HQ by 64,000 square feet. Skender served as general contractor on the social media management company’s original HQ build-out in 2016. Read More

Does Your Modern Build-out Have a Hearing Problem?
Open ceilings, exposed concrete floors and glass-walled spaces are the hallmarks of contemporary interiors. These design choices convey a hip and modern mindset for the companies and retailers that inhabit them, but they can come with a drawback that impacts business: noise. Without the sound-dampening effects of the acoustical tiles used in drop ceilings and… Read More

Skender Named No. 6 Best Place to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business
Skender was recognized today as the No. 6 best place to work in the Crain's Chicago Business 2018 Best Places to Work list. To determine the top 100, Crain's partnered with an independent workplace excellence research firm to survey nearly 9,000 employees at Chicago-area companies. The 100 finalists were further assessed using a variety of criteria including benefits,… Read More

Skender Completes 64,000-SF Headquarters Expansion for Sprout Social
Skender recently completed the 64,000-square-foot interior build-out expansion for social media management company Sprout Social at 131 S. Dearborn. Skender previously completed Sprout Social’s seventh floor build-out in 2016. To accommodate rapid growth, the client decided to expand its footprint to the eighth floor, which previously served as a call center. The one-story build-out added… Read More

Skender Named a Finalist for the 2018 Best Places to Work in Chicago
Skender has been named a finalist for the 2018 Best Places to Work in Chicago. Since 2008, Crain's Chicago Business has set out to find the local businesses that have excelled in creating quality workplaces for employees. This year, Crain’s partnered with Best Companies Group to survey Chicago employees about everything from their workplace to… Read More

4-Story Stair Atrium – Phase Update Fire Shutter and Coordination
Project Manager Greg Koziol describes the next phase of constructing a 4-story stair atrium for a confidential client. The Skender team took on all necessary coordination as well as the implementation of a protective fire shutter on every level to continue the builds of the stairwell and atrium. Read More

Vertical Integration
By unifying design, construction and manufacturing under one roof, we’re revolutionizing how the industry builds. Read More

Skender Completes Build-out of San Francisco Homeless Support Facility
Skender recently completed the 6,000-square-foot interior build-out of At The Crossroads (ATC), a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that helps homeless youth and young adults build healthy and fulfilling lives. The three-story tenant improvement project included major upgrades to the existing cold shell space. These improvements included the addition of new electrical and water service to… Read More

Skender Starts Work on Sterling Bay’s 35,000-SF Headquarters Relocation Project
Skender recently started interior construction of the 35,000-square-foot headquarters for Sterling Bay, a Chicago-based real estate investment and development company, at 1330 W. Fulton, a Sterling Bay property known as Fulton West. Sterling Bay is relocating from its current offices at 1040 W. Randolph to accommodate the business’s rapid growth and future needs. Once complete,… Read More

Skender Wins Interior Contractor of the Year
Skender took home the Interior Contractor of the Year award last night at the Greater Chicago Food Depository Commercial Real Estate Awards. The awards program raises money to provide meals for hungry Chicago-area residents while recognizing outstanding achievements in the industry. The annual ceremony attracts nearly 2,000 of the top commercial real estate, architecture and… Read More

AHA #GoRed Campaign
On February 20, Skender Foundation sponsored an event for the American Heart Association and its #GoRed campaign to help spread awareness about heart disease. Dr. Annabelle Santos Volgman from Rush University Medical Center was there to present her insight and expertise. Read More

Hack the Office: Turning Underperforming Spaces Into Workplaces of the Future
Towering glass office buildings are becoming obsolete. As creative space gains traction among companies beyond the tech industry, opulent lobbies and renovated elevator bays no longer attract young workers like they used to. Professionals crave space designed around user experience. Office workers want a balanced place with room to collaborate, socialize and concentrate on heads-down… Read More

A factory that makes apartment buildings? It’s coming to Chicago.
When Skender builds an apartment tower or hotel a few years from now, a lot of the action may be hidden from view in a factory, not on the construction site. Read More

Skender Revolutionizes How the Industry Builds, Integrates Design, Construction, and Manufacturing
Embracing Vertical Integration, Skender Expands on its Core Construction Business, Launches a New Advanced Manufacturing Company, Acquires Design Team, and Hires Design and Construction Technology Industry Leaders Envisioning a radically more efficient future for the building industry, Skender announces its expansion beyond construction, becoming a vertically integrated company including construction, design and building component manufacturing… Read More

Skender Breaks Ground on 26,000-SF Esperanza Health Center
Skender broke ground on the new 26,000-square-foot Esperanza Health Center at 4700 S. California Avenue in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. The two-story clinic will serve an area in great need of health care services. Large portions of residents in Esperanza’s service area live below twice the poverty level and have been designated as medically underserved… Read More

Elgin Tower Building
Skender recently completed the 60,000-square-foot, 15-story rehabilitation of the Elgin Tower Building, a historic centerpiece in downtown Elgin, Illinois. Condemned in 2014 due to a fire, the former bank-turned-office building underwent a complete gut rehab transformation into 44 market-rate apartment units with modern finishes. Skender, serving as general contractor, collaborated with St. Louis-based architect Webster… Read More

Skender Breaks Ground on 26,000-SF Esperanza Health Center
Skender broke ground on the new 26,000-square-foot Esperanza Health Center at 4700 S. California Avenue in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. The two-story clinic will serve an area in great need of health care services. Large portions of residents in Esperanza’s service area live below twice the poverty level and have been designated as medically underserved… Read More

GGP New HQ Tour
Skender recently completed interior construction of the 176,000-square-foot headquarters for retail real estate company GGP at River North Point. This video highlights the new, three-floor space. The project was a collaboration between GGP, Skender, ARCHIDEAS, Environmental Systems Design, JLL and a team of talented trade specialists. Read More

Heads Up: The 5 Hidden Expenses of Open Ceilings
Open ceilings, with their exposed ductwork and industrial vibe have become popular – but trendy rarely equals inexpensive. For many years, omitting the traditional drop ceiling was assumed to be not just cooler but also to cost less. Common sense seemed to be that by choosing open ceilings, the cost of the drop ceiling was… Read More

Skender Rock Band to Perform at West Loop Concert Benefiting Music Education in Chicago Public Schools
Little Kids Rock will host a fundraiser, Big Kids Rock, on February 27, 2018 at City Winery in the West Loop. This year’s event will help raise funds for Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives by restoring, expanding and innovating music education in our schools. Skender Construction’s band, Not to Exceed… Read More

Skender Starts 225,000-SF Restack Project for HERE Technologies
Skender Construction recently started interior construction of the 225,000-square-foot office space for HERE Technologies, the leading location intelligence and open location platform company, at 425 West Randolph Street. Throughout eight floors of the Boeing Building, the HERE Chicago office is being transformed into a contemporary environment that reflects the company’s vision, brand and history of… Read More

Skender Completes Iconic Elgin Tower Rehabilitation Project
Skender Construction recently completed the 60,000-square-foot, 15-story rehabilitation of The Elgin Tower Building, a historic centerpiece in downtown Elgin, Illinois. Condemned in 2014 due to a fire, the former bank turned office building underwent a complete gut rehab transformation into 44 market-rate apartment units with modern finishes. Demolition included the removal of old coal fired… Read More

#SkenderRed
Skender is going red for women to help support the American Heart Association's #GoRed Campaign to bring awareness and learn more about heart disease. Read More

Skender Completes 176,000-SF Headquarters Relocation Project for GGP
Skender Construction recently completed interior construction of the 176,000-square-foot headquarters for retail real estate company GGP, formerly known as General Growth Properties, at River North Point. GGP relocated 700 employees to its new headquarters at 350 N. Orleans. GGP’s new, three-floor space contains modern finishes, an abundance of natural light, and an open office format… Read More

Skender Chairman Joseph Skender Inducted into Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame
Skender Construction Chairman Joseph Skender was inducted into Midwest Real Estate News' Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Each year the magazine inducts a new class of the biggest names in the commercial real estate industry. Joseph was selected from a pool of more than 500 nominations and joins 96 others in this year’s class. In high… Read More

4-Story Stair Atrium – Phase Update Steel & Concrete
One of our superintendents, Mike Brooks, walks us through the first phase of constructing a 4-story stair atrium for a confidential client. It was a great coordinating effort between the Skender team, designers, framers, surveyors and many more to get this stairwell underway. Read More

Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
Wilson Sporting Goods Co. wanted to move its HQ to a new 90,000 SF space in downtown Chicago. They partnered with Skender Construction to build out the new space in One Prudential Plaza by Millennium Park with amazing features of metal mesh walls, two-story connecting stair, and custom graphics of sports fields on their cafe… Read More

Skender Completes 100,000-SF Rehabilitation of Multifamily Property
Skender Construction recently completed the rehabilitation of Sage Crest Apartments, a two-building, 100,000-square-foot affordable housing development. Located along Rt. 31, just north of downtown Aurora, the two six-story apartment buildings are owned by Preservation Partners Development III, LLC. To complete the remodel of 102 occupied units, Skender coordinated one-week resident move-outs in batches of 12… Read More

New Year, New Job
A new year signals fresh beginnings and, for many of you, finding a new job may be at the top of your list of resolutions. Read more at consupt.com > Read More

Lean Construction: Reducing Waste And Enhancing Value
Many designers, architects, engineers and contractors have discovered methods, collectively known as “Lean Construction,” to improve the overall process of creating a new project, along with cutting construction costs. Read More

Conversion of Elgin’s historic Tower Building nears completion; apartment ready for viewing in days
Bill Luchini, owner of the Capstone Development Group, explains the renovation and restorations made to the lobby of the Tower Building in downtown Elgin. Read More

The Three C’s of Building a Connected Workspace
As companies strive to enable stronger relationships, more attention is being placed on workplace design and construction. But, building office connectedness is not simple. Read More

Skender Completes 90,000-SF Office for Wilson Sporting Goods
Skender Construction recently completed a 90,000-square-foot headquarters relocation project for Wilson Sporting Goods, the American sports equipment manufacturer. Located on the fifth and sixth floors of One Prudential Plaza, the sports-inspired, open-office workspace incorporates brick walls, a wood ceiling in the café and a communicating stair. The stair required Skender to remove a large section… Read More

Motorola Mobility: The Helicopter Lift
Planning a helicopter lift at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago is complex. A number of challenges presented themselves - from pedestrian safety to lifting heavy mechanical equipment from a barge on the Chicago River. Read More

Belinda Moore Promoted to Associate Executive Director of Skender Foundation
Skender Foundation recently announced the promotion of Belinda Moore to associate executive director of the nonprofit organization. Belinda has been integral to Skender Foundation’s growth since the organization’s inception in 2012, most recently serving as volunteer committee chair of the foundation and member of the Builders’ Board, a subcommittee of Skender Foundation comprised of philanthropic-minded… Read More

Midtown Crossing Apartments
The four-story Midtown Crossing Apartments building, by Over the Rainbow Association (OTR), contains 33 affordable, barrier-free and accessible apartments. In addition to OTR, the project team consisted of Skender Construction as general contractor, Weese Langley Weese as architect and Lightengale as financial consultant. Read More

Lisa Latronico Promoted to Partner at Skender Construction
Skender Construction recently announced that Vice President of People and Culture Lisa Latronico has been promoted to Partner at the firm. Lisa has played an instrumental role in driving Skender’s Lean and employee-focused culture. Since joining the firm in 2001, Lisa has pioneered many award-winning employee enrichment and recruiting programs, leading the firm to consistent… Read More

Medical Campuses Are Becoming Mixed-Use Hubs
At a growing number of hospitals across the country, it is now possible to have a cappuccino with your CAT scan. Mixed-use real estate is coming to healthcare, and more hospitals are integrating shops and appealing public spaces into their designs. Read More

Avoiding Wasted Time and Materials in a High-cost Development Cycle
As founding members of the Chicago chapter of the Lean Construction Institute, Skender Construction has implemented Lean principles for more than a decade, proving time and time again that use of the Lean Construction method can reduce waste and save both time and money. Read More

360¡ of GGP New Office Space
For the new 176,000-square-foot office space being built by Skender Construction for GGP Inc., K13 insulation is applied to help keep noise levels down in the open-office floor plan. Read More

Skender Completes Specialty Clinic for Rush Oak Park Hospital
Skender Construction recently completed the interior build-out of a specialty medical clinic at Rush Oak Park Hospital (ROPH). Located on the fifth floor of the ROPH medical office building, the new specialty clinic includes 21 exam rooms, an allergy room and infusion room, as well as four procedure/treatment rooms. Support and ancillary spaces include reception,… Read More

Skender Completes New 45,000-SF Independent Living Facility
Skender Construction recently completed Midtown Crossing Apartments, a new 45,000-square-foot affordable housing development located near downtown Des Plaines, Illinois. The four-story, 33-unit independent living facility is owned by Over the Rainbow Association (OTR), an Illinois nonprofit association dedicated to providing affordable, barrier-free housing solutions for people with physical disabilities. All 33 units in the Green… Read More

The Climate Corporation’s Chicago Office
The Climate Corporation's 21,000-square-foot Chicago office, built by Skender Construction and designed by Shive-Hattery with COR Consulting as owner's representative. The Climate Corporation is a subsidiary of Monsanto Company and creator of digital tools to help farmers sustainably increase their productivity. Read More

Skender Completes 52,000-SF Office Build-out for Glassdoor
Skender Construction recently completed a 52,000-square-foot office build-out for Glassdoor, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing job sites. Located at 1330 W. Fulton Market in Chicago, the new open office workspace spans one and a half floors and features curved glass and drywall throughout, metal and wood integrated millwork, a curved operable partition,… Read More

Glassdoor’s Chicago Office
Skender completed a 52,000-SF office build-out for Glassdoor, one of the world's largest and fastest growing job sites. Located at 1330 W. Fulton Market in Chicago, the new open office workspace spans one and a half floors and features curved glass, metal and wood integrated millwork, a curved operable partition, two kitchens and a cafe.… Read More

Skender Foundation’s Harvesting Hope 2017: Benefiting Snow City Arts
Skender Foundation hosted its sixth annual Harvesting Hope fundraiser, hosted by the organization's Builders' Board. Thanks to the event hosts, sponsors and 300 attendees, Skender Foundation was able to donate $37,000 to Snow City Arts, a non-profit organization providing art education to young patients in local hospitals. For more information, visit skenderfoundation.org. Read More

Skender Construction Uses Green Power and Partners with EPA
Skender Construction announced today that it recently joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership. Skender is offsetting 100 percent of its annual Chicago office electricity use, or 250 thousand kilowatt-hours (kWh), with the purchase of green power via renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Renewable Choice Energy. Skender Construction is currently the only general… Read More

Skender Completes 21,000-SF Office Build-out for The Climate Corporation
Skender Construction recently completed a 21,000-square-foot office build-out for The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto Company and creator of digital tools to help farmers sustainably increase their productivity. Located at 1330 W. Fulton Market, the new open office workspace incorporates rustic wood walls and a custom art feature wall at the entrance. The Climate… Read More

Busting 5 Interior Construction Myths
Skender Construction identified five common interior build-out myths. Read More

Skender Construction Wins Top Safety Award
Skender Construction recently won the “gold medal” safety award in the construction achievement category from Raffles Insurance. More than 70 other companies were eligible in this category and Skender earned the top honor, which recognizes outstanding safety, loss prevention and claims management. Every Skender project prioritizes safety, production and quality with a mindset that each… Read More

Three Skender-built projects honored at AIA Chicago Design Excellence Awards
Three Skender Construction projects were recently honored at Designight 2017, the annual design excellence awards event of the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). At the event, AIA Chicago recognized outstanding work from Chicago architecture firms for projects designed and built throughout the world. The three Skender-built projects that earned recognition were:… Read More

5 Ways to Build Office Connectedness
From inviting lobbies to central gathering spaces, here are five construction trends shaping office connectedness. Read More

Skender Completes Two Restaurants for Four Corners Tavern Group at 150 N. Riverside
Skender Construction recently completed two restaurant build-outs for the Four Corners Tavern Group at 150 N. Riverside, one of Chicago’s newest commercial high-rise buildings along the Chicago River. The two eateries total nearly 15,000 square feet of space for Small Cheval and Porter Kitchen & Deck. Porter Kitchen, a restaurant and bar, occupies the ground… Read More

Skender Construction HQ Moves to 1330 W Fulton
Experience #SkenderHQ move-in day! We captured initial employee reactions and reflections on day one at 1330 W Fulton, a Sterling Bay property known as Fulton West. Special thanks to our architect, Perkins+Will. Read More

Skender Foundation Summer Eclipse Event 2017
Skender Foundation hosted its sixth annual fundraiser, Summer Eclipse, on July 20, 2017 at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). This yearÕs event highlighted Chicago Youth Programs (CYP), an award-winning organization that serves children across the entire city with a simple philosophyÑto impact the long-term outcome of a childÕs life, you must serve the child… Read More

Skender Construction combines raw materials with modern amenities in new Chicago office
Skender Construction, the contractor responsible for innovative office spaces in Chicago like Google, ConAgra, Kraft, 1871 and the University of Chicago, has a new headquarters. Read More

How Building Occupants And Construction Can Co-Exist
Contractors and end users need to decide on a construction method that fits budget, timing and safety concerns. For Skender, that means devising a plan that combines flexibility, creativity and regular communication. Read More

Timelapse of Skender’s “Blueprint for Growth”
Our "Blueprint for Growth" goal reminds us to maintain our core values and culture as we grow. This video shows the mural installation by artist Amanda Paulson at our new headquarters. For more on building cultures, listen to the #WorkTrends interview with Skender's Lisa Latronico: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/talentculture/2017/09/13/building-great-cultures Read More

#WorkTrends Recap: Building Great Cultures
A great workplace culture where employees can thrive and take an organization to the next level can have a lasting impact on recruitment, retention, and the bottom line. But how do you get there? Read More

Skender Expands in Chicago with Move to 38,000-SF Space in Fulton Market
Skender, one of the nation’s largest and fastest growing contractors, has helped many organizations attract talented employees by building out inviting workplace interiors that promote collaboration and well-being. Now the Chicago-based firm has done the same for its own headquarters space, in a relocation and expansion lease in the Fulton Market district. Skender is moving… Read More

The Capital One “Superfloor”
"One of the ways that we show we value our employees is giving them a great workplace," said Hannah French, Capital One's senior manager of workplace solutions. Capital One partnered with Skender to build its 50th "superfloor" into a collaborative, inviting and flexible workspace. Read More

Skender Ranks Among Nation’s Top 100 Contractors
Skender Construction ranked among the top 100 construction firms in the U.S., according to a report compiled by Building Design+Construction magazine. As part of the publication's 2017 Giants 300 Report, which ranks U.S. building contractors by annual revenue, Skender earned the No. 82 spot with 2016 revenues of $335 million. Building Design+Construction also ranks U.S. contractors by building… Read More

Skender Construction Growing in San Francisco Bay Area; Firm Starting Several Interior Renovation Projects
Skender Construction’s San Francisco office has won construction management assignments for several renovation projects in the Bay area. Among the projects recently started or beginning soon: JPMorgan Chase (San Francisco) – 22,000-SF critical infrastructure upgrade and digital signage installation at 560 Mission Street HERE (Berkeley) – 18,000-SF interior buildout of a research and development facility… Read More

Skender Starts 168,000-SF Headquarters Relocation Project for GGP
Skender Construction recently started interior construction of the 168,000-square-foot headquarters for retail real estate company GGP, formerly known as General Growth Properties, at River North Point. GGP is relocating 700 employees to its new headquarters at 350 N. Orleans. Once complete, the space will reflect GGP’s brand and culture with a bright, collaborative work environment… Read More

Jeff Krause, Experienced Senior Superintendent, Joins Skender Construction
Jeff Krause has joined Skender Construction as a senior superintendent. With more than 20 years of construction experience, Krause brings to Skender an impressive background in ground-up high-rise, healthcare, education and institutional projects. He will be working with Skender’s housing and healthcare teams to manage projects in those markets. "We are thrilled to welcome Jeff… Read More

5 Trends Revolutionizing Senior Housing Design And Construction
Skender Construction, a Chicago-based contractor, has been at the forefront of the shift in senior living. Its team shared five trends shaping design and construction in the growing market. Read More

Sixth Annual Summer Eclipse Raises $400,000 for Local Charities
Skender Foundation hosted its annual fundraiser, Summer Eclipse, on July 20 at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). This year’s event highlighted Chicago Youth Programs (CYP), an award-winning organization that serves children across the entire city with a simple philosophy—to impact the long-term outcome of a child’s life, you must serve the child long-term. A… Read More

Mead Johnson Nutrition Project
Mead Johnson's Molly McDermott discusses her experience working with Skender on the interior construction of Mead Johnson's new 64,000-SF office at 444 W. Lake Street, Chicago. Read More

Skender Completes New 64,000-SF Office for Global Nutrition Company
Skender Construction recently completed a 64,000-square-foot interior office buildout for Mead Johnson, a leading nutrition company for babies and children. The baby formula company, a new division of Reckitt Benckiser’s, has relocated from Glenview, Illinois to 444 W. Lake Street in downtown Chicago. The three-floor project included a 1,500-square-foot slab cut for a self-supporting feature… Read More

CTA Train Car Lift
It's not every day that we get to lift a retired Chicago CTA train car to the roof of a building. This brief video documents our experience from earlier this year. Many thanks to all those who helped make it happen! Read More

Skender Completes New 62,000-SF Independent Living Facility
Skender Construction recently completed J. Michael Fitzgerald Apartments (JMFA), a new 62,000-square-foot affordable senior housing facility in Chicago’s North Park Village neighborhood. The five-story, 63-unit independent living facility is located within an existing senior housing campus and designed to match the existing surrounding aesthetic. The project includes a precast concrete structure design, variable refrigerant flow… Read More

Hard at Work
A brief glimpse of Skender's construction work for a confidential tech client in Fulton Market. Read More

1330 W Fulton Market Progress
Skender built out the interior of its own new corporate HQ at 1330 W. Fulton Market. This video is a fun highlight reel of the first half of interior construction. Read More

Sixth Annual Summer Eclipse to Benefit Chicago Youth Programs
Skender Foundation will host its annual fundraiser, Summer Eclipse, on Thursday, July 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. This year’s event will help raise funds for Chicago Youth Programs (CYP), an award-winning organization that serves children across the entire city with a simple philosophy—to impact the long-term outcome… Read More

Skender Ranks Among Top Chicago and U.S. Contractors
Skender Construction ranked among the top contractors on local and national industry lists recently compiled by two publications. This month, Skender earned the No. 15 spot on the largest contractors list published by Crain’s Chicago Business. Engineering News-Record (ENR) magazine ranked Skender at No. 234 on its list of the top 400 contractors in the United States. Both… Read More

Skender Completes 39,000-SF Interior Construction for Signal
Skender has completed the 39,000-square-foot build-out and interior renovation for marketing software company Signal. Located at 222 N. LaSalle, Signal’s new space is sleek and functional, featuring communal areas and conference rooms named after Chicago brewpubs. The renovation, completed over a 20-week schedule in the 90-year-old Builders Building, required the demolition of existing offices and… Read More

Skender Construction Announces New Executive Hire
Todd Andrlik has joined Skender Construction as Vice President of Marketing. With nearly 20 years of construction and professional services marketing experience, Andrlik brings to Skender an impressive background in strategic planning, content marketing, digital marketing, branding and managing high-performing teams. He will be working with Skender’s executive leadership team to develop and execute branding… Read More

Skender Construction Named as a Best Place to Work in Illinois for Ninth Consecutive Year
Skender Construction was recently named as one of the 2017 Best Places to Work in Illinois. Established in 2006, the awards program is promoted by The Daily Herald Business Ledger in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, MRA-The Management Association, the Student Business Advocacy Council, the Greater Oak Brook… Read More

Skender Construction and Woodlawn Community Celebrate Groundbreaking of Woodlawn Station
Skender Construction and the Woodlawn community, along with state and local politicians, including U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, celebrated the groundbreaking of Woodlawn Station, a 95,000-square-foot transit-oriented development in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. The development, located just under the Cottage Grove Green Line CTA terminus station, will feature a main building that contains 55 units and two… Read More

Skender Construction Announces New Executive Appointment
Skender Construction, a leading Chicago-based general contractor, announced today a new executive appointment to strengthen the company’s business development initiatives. Dan Ulbricht has joined Skender as Vice President. A 19-year commercial construction and real estate industry expert, Ulbricht brings industry experience, an understanding of real estate development and an aptitude for managing strategic relationships. He… Read More

Fletcher Jones Service Center on Elston Ave
Newly completed construction of a luxury automotive service center, completed on an 8.5-acre urban fill plot in ChicagoÕs Goose Island neighborhood. Read More

Tom Conroy Joins Skender Construction as Senior Project Manager
Tom Conroy, SE, has joined Skender Construction as a senior project manager in Chicago. With nearly 30 years of construction and project management experience, Conroy brings an impressive portfolio of large-scale stadia, luxury hotels and high-rise, mixed-use development projects to the firm. "We are thrilled to welcome Tom to Skender’s operations team," says Mark Skender,… Read More

Fifth Annual Harvesting Hope Raises $25,000 for Embarc Chicago
The Builders' Board of Skender Foundation, comprised of young professionals, hosted its annual fundraiser, Harvesting Hope, on October 20 at House of Blues Chicago. This year’s charity partner and beneficiary was Embarc, a nonprofit three-year program that provides experience-based learning opportunities to low-income high school students. More than 300 people attended the event and raised… Read More

Skender Completes Construction of Axley Place Apartments
Skender Construction has completed construction of Axley Place Apartments, a two-building, 13-unit affordable housing development located in Glenview, Illinois. The 11,200-square-foot complex features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including three ADA compliant units and three adaptable units. "The opening of Axley Place is time for celebration," said Richard Koenig, PhD, Executive Director of Housing Opportunity… Read More

Over the Rainbow Association: The Mantra Build, Build, Build Takes on Higher Meaning
Elevation 007 In 1995, a young Evanston man was driving home from work when he swerved to avoid hitting a deer, crashed, and was left completely paralyzed. After a lengthy rehabilitation he moved in with his elderly mother. When she died, his home became his biggest challenge. Without assistance from another person, he was unable… Read More

Capital One Financial: Reimagining the Way 65 Million Customers Interact With Their Money
Elevation 007 Hannah French, Capital One’s senior manager of design and construction, confesses that people just don’t think banks are exciting. But Capital One is not your average bank. “We’re a top-ten bank on a journey to become a leading high-tech company and digital innovator,” she said. French just wrapped up managing the design and… Read More

Extreme Makover: Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza Apartments | Academy Square Apartments
Elevation 007 As landlords know, renovating an apartment is an exercise in timing and coordination. But renovating an entire building is more like an Olympic event, especially when it is fully occupied. Skender Construction last summer took on the massive rehabilitation, inside and out, of two circa 1970 rental communities on Chicago’s West Side. Within… Read More

Skender Construction Named as a Best Place to Work in Illinois for Eighth Consecutive Year
Skender Construction was recently named as one of the 2016 Best Places to Work in Illinois. The awards program began in 2006 and is promoted by The Daily Herald Business Ledger in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, MRA-The Management Association, the Small Business Advocacy Council, the Greater Oak… Read More

Skender Construction Announces Promotions
Skender Construction announced today that five employees have been promoted. Luke DeTolve was promoted from superintendent to senior superintendent. DeTolve has over a decade of experience managing ground-up and interior tenant improvement construction for major clients including Motorola Mobility, DeVry University and Cision. He joined Skender Construction in 2012, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil… Read More

Skender Completes Construction of Bunker Labs at 1871
Skender Construction has completed construction of Bunker Labs, a veteran-owned business incubator within 1871 that supports fellow veteran entrepreneurs. Skender worked in collaboration with the Chicago office of global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will and multiple like-minded trade partners, volunteering services and donating materials to complete the buildout in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. With headquarters in… Read More

Skender Construction Promotes Bukowski and Simons to Project Executives
Skender Construction has promoted two members of its team to oversee the company’s daily operations. Brian Bukowski and Brian Simons were promoted to Project Executives, from Senior Project Managers. Bukowski and Simons will lead operations for all construction, project management and project administration activities throughout the firm. Bukowski joined Skender Construction in 2007 as a Project Engineer. He… Read More

Skender Foundation Announces Two New Directors
Skender Foundation has appointed Jeffrey Skender and Brian Skender to serve as directors of the foundation. Both members of the foundation's young professionals division, Builders' Board, Jeffrey and Brian will act as liaisons between Builders' Board and the foundation's Board of Directors while also assisting to improve overall operations, fundraising and membership efforts. Jeffrey Skender is a broker at… Read More

Skender Construction Completes Sleek New Space for PSAV
Skender Construction has completed construction on a new two-floor office space for PSAV, a global event technology service provider. The 75,000 square foot space at 5100 River Road in Schiller Park, IL features a bright, open design to encourage teamwork and collaboration. The design utilizes natural light and high-end finishes for a warm, modern feel.… Read More

Skender Completes Construction of The Villas of Lake in the Hills
Skender Construction has completed construction of The Villas of Lake in the Hills, a 60-unit affordable senior housing development located in Lake in the Hills, Illinois. The 75,550-square-foot independent living facility features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, including six ADA compliant units and 12 adaptable units. "The opening of The Villas this past summer marks… Read More

Fourth Annual Harvesting Hope Raises $30,000 for Foundations of Music
The Builders' Board of Skender Foundation, comprised of young professionals, hosted its annual fundraiser, Harvesting Hope, on October 15 at House of Blues Chicago. This year's charity partner and benefactor was Foundations of Music, a nonprofit organization that provides programs designed to implement culturally relevant, hands-on music education for children in Chicago. More than 350 people attended the… Read More

Skender Construction Completes Vibrant New Home for Enova International
Skender Construction has completed construction of the 165,000 square foot office relocation for Enova International, a global technology and analytics-driven online lender. The new space, at 175 West Jackson Boulevard in Downtown Chicago, utilizes open space and an efficient layout to foster collaboration and provide room for future growth. The bright, energetic space incorporates bold… Read More

4 Experts Share What’s Hot – and What’s Not – for Tech Office Trends
Having a killer office space in today’s tech-minded workplace is of utmost importance. More often than not, tech startups attract savvy workers with zero interest in working at your pop’s cubicled nine-to-five. But what factors actually go into making an office hot or not? From paint color, desk size, and layout all the way to… Read More

Skender Completes Construction of Breakthrough FamilyPlex Facility
Skender Construction has completed construction on the $11.4 million Breakthrough FamilyPlex, a community center built to empower Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood and combat the area’s disadvantages. The 42,500-square-foot facility provides youth and preschool classrooms, a gymnasium, medical clinic with 10 exam rooms, art studio, community café, technology center, fitness center and playground for local… Read More

Skender Completes Construction of Southwick Place
Skender Construction has completed construction of Southwick Place, a 40-unit affordable housing development located in south suburban Matteson. The apartment community is owned by Over the Rainbow Association (OTR), an Illinois nonprofit association dedicated to providing affordable, barrier-free housing solutions for people with physical disabilities. All units within the 37,000-square-foot complex exceed the 2010 ADA… Read More

Cision Case Study
Peter Granat, CEO of Chicago-based Cision, talks about the construction of Cision's new corporate headquarters. Read More

Skender Construction Continues to Grow Healthcare Construction Team
Skender Construction announced today that it has added a new senior superintendent to its growing healthcare team. John Weaver, LEED AP, CHC, has over 30 years’ experience managing construction for major healthcare institutions across Illinois. Weaver has served as senior superintendent for high-caliber projects such as Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, The Heart Hospital at… Read More

Down to Detail: NorthShore Place
Elevation 006 When Senior Lifestyle Corporation set out to develop its first Signature Collection community in the country, they knew that architectural details and innovative amenities would be key to achieving new heights of luxury. “We knew we wanted something first class,” said Jerry Frumm, executive vice president at Senior Lifestyle. “We wanted it to… Read More

The Changing Workplace: New Offices Are Smaller but Smarter
Elevation 005 The modern-day office environment has undergone a massive transformation. Spaces are smaller, but they also are smarter and more efficient. The walls have come down, both literally and figuratively. “The way people worked 20 years ago no longer exists,” said Bill Conopeotis, founder and president at ConopCo Project Management in Hoffman Estates. “Before,… Read More

Moto Moving Forward
Elevation 006 It was the largest tenant build-out the city has seen in at least a decade: The Motorola Mobility global headquarters relocation to Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart. Leasing 600,000 square feet on four floors, Moto’s new space has been likened to a 25-story high-rise turned on its side. But the massive adaptive re-use project… Read More

Building on Opportunity: Shop & Dine Northwestern Brings the Right Mix of Retail Offerings to the Healthcare Environment
Elevation 004 When Northwestern Memorial Hospital set out to integrate shops and restaurants into its program four years ago, they discovered they were catering to a much larger population than the average hospital. A comprehensive study revealed that a staggering 13.5 million retail transactions were occurring in the medical campus’ neighborhood of Streeterville each year.… Read More

Change is Good: Mercedes-Benz of Ontario
Elevation 004 Fletcher Jones Motorcars’ philosophy is to provide the same high-end service and satisfaction one might find at a five-star hotel or resort. As one of the most successful luxury automobile dealer groups in the country, their brand is built on creating memorable experiences and lasting relationships with their customers. With an established presence… Read More

Stepping It Up: Erie HealthReach Waukegan Health Center
Elevation 006 After an extensive search, Erie Family Health Center settled on the perfect building for a vibrant new community health center in Waukegan: A 1950s-era bank. Completely transforming a former financial institution into a quality medical and dental care facility that would serve 10,000 Lake County residents would be challenging, but the two-story masonry… Read More

Finding the Façade: American Society of Anesthesiologists
Elevation 006 The new headquarters of the American Society of Anesthesiologists is calmly situated among an expanse of office buildings in Schaumburg. But the element of surprise makes this building wildly different than a typical build-to suit: The exterior’s mix of metal and glass is stunning from the outside, while the sophisticated open interior environment… Read More

Skender Construction Named One of Chicago’s “Best & Brightest” for Eighth Consecutive Year
Skender Construction was named one of Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for the eighth consecutive year. The regional competition, sponsored by the National Association for Business Resources, honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resources practices and employee enrichment. Organizations are assessed based on categories such as… Read More

Elevating the Industry: Howard Tullman
Elevation 006 The work at 1871 is never done. Just two years after its launch, Chicago’s largest and most talked-about tech incubator created 1,500 jobs, expanded its physical footprint in The Merchandise Mart and introduced 1871 2.0, a place that reflects the organization’s ever-evolving objectives and desire to constantly keep raising the bar. But innovation,… Read More

Skender Construction Announces Two New Executive Appointments
Skender Construction has announced two new appointments to its executive leadership team. Lisa Latronico has been promoted from Human Resources Director to Vice President, People and Culture at Skender Construction. Latronico has been a vital member of the Skender team since 2001 and has since pioneered a number of acclaimed employee enrichment and recruiting programs, leading the firm… Read More

The Legacy of Giving
Elevation 005 Since its 2012 inception, Skender Foundation has raised over $500,000, helped more than 50 charitable organizations, thrown four benefits and founded one subcommittee. But there’s one number that matters most: The number of lives changed, both now and in the future. “Our vision is to perpetuate the legacy of giving. That's what drives… Read More

Skender Construction, Eastlake Studio, JLL complete Cision’s new global headquarters in Chicago
Construction is complete on Cision’s new 50,000-square-foot global headquarters at One Prudential Plaza in Chicago, Illinois. The buildout was completed by general contractor Skender Construction, architect Eastlake Studio and project manager JLL. Cision and similar public relations software firm Vocus merged in 2014 and operate under the Cision banner. The new Cision, boasting 1,500 employees… Read More

Balancing Creativity and Value: United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
Elevation 004 When United Way of Metropolitan Chicago merged with its suburban counterparts a decade ago, the nonprofit human services agency was housed in a West Loop loft building. Its various departments and functions were physically spread out and segregated across three separate floors. That environment wasn’t optimal for an organization that views one of… Read More

Fast Growth: BigMachines, Inc.
Elevation 004 In a little over a decade, BigMachines, Inc. has grown fast. What began as an internet start-up founded by MIT graduates in 2000 has transformed into a global company that has doubled its business year over year. Headquartered in north suburban Deerfield, BigMachines knew that their current office location was a temporary solution.… Read More

Skilled Labor Shortage: Builders Gear Up for a Changing Workforce
Elevation 005 The Great Recession is fading into the past, and construction is on the upswing. But many industry leaders have found they can’t simply pick up where they left off. An estimated 2 million jobs were lost to the economy, and that’s a tough blow. Even if the jobs come back, many of the… Read More

Community Health Centers: Affordable Care Act Spurs Growth, Centers are up for the Challenge
Elevation 005 As the Affordable Care Act continues to unfold, this landmark legislation is providing millions of Americans with better health and better life quality. It also is changing the delivery of health care and, in turn, the design and construction of health care facilities. A growing movement is replacing the traditional model of testing,… Read More

Keeping it in Full Swing: Albion at Loyola Station
Elevation 004 For Loyola University Chicago, creating a community reaches beyond the immediate campus. The faith-based institution has supported its Rogers Park neighborhood with the development of new luxury rental housing, retail spaces and a parking garage. The most recent endeavor is Albion at Loyola Station, a 29-unit, market rate apartment complex that opened last… Read More

Skender Completes Construction of American Society of Anesthesiologists Headquarters
Skender Construction completed construction of the new corporate headquarters for the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), an educational, research and scientific society to raise and maintain the standards of anesthesiology. Located in Schaumburg, IL, the new 77,000-square-foot, three-story, highly custom headquarters houses ASA’s more than 200 local employees and supports the organization’s membership functions, education… Read More

Motorola Mobility Wins ENR Midwest Best Project and CoreNet Chicago Project of the Year
The Motorola Mobility Headquarters Relocation project has been recognized with two regional project of the year awards: ENR Midwest Best Interior Design/Tenant Improvement Project and CoreNet Chicago Project of the Year. The new headquarters, located in Chicago’s historic Merchandise Mart, was completed by project manager CBRE, architect Gensler, general contractor Skender Construction, MEP engineer Environmental… Read More

Elevating the Industry: Google
Elevation 005 What’s it take to build a great culture? Some tout buzzwords in an effort to build culture, others try to meticulously design it from the top-down. One thing is clear: For those searching for that sustainable one-up over the competition, culture is becoming a critical part of the conversation. If companies take a… Read More

Skender Completes Construction of North Shore Place
Skender Construction has completed construction of North Shore Place, a new 156-unit assisted living and memory care community for seniors in Northbrook, IL. The new five-story community is located at 1000 Sunset Ridge Road and consists of luxury retirement apartments as well as state-of-the-art memory care accommodations. Senior Lifestyle Corporation is the owner and operator.… Read More

American Society of Anesthesiologists
The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational research and scientific association of physicians organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and improve the care of the patient. Since its founding in 1905, the Society's achievements have made it an important voice in American Medicine and the foremost… Read More

Motorola Mobility: The Labs
Constructing laboratory space at Motorola Mobility's new corporate headquarters required a specialized approach. Read More

What our Clients and Project Partners Say
We asked our clients and project partners to comment on their experience with Skender Construction after the completion of Motorola Mobility. Thank you to CBRE, Gensler, Motorola Mobility and Google for participating. Read More

Motorola Mobility: Smart Project Management
Skender Construction's project management team used many methods to build 600,000 square feet of office, research and laboratory space for Motorola Mobility's new corporate headquarters at the Merchandise Mart. Read More

Motorola Mobility: A Historic Transformation at the Merchandise Mart
Adaptive reuse projects are challenging, yet very rewarding. Skender Construction and other project partners had a lot to consider when they transformed three full floors at the Merchandise Mart, an 80-year-old building into the new corporate headquarters for Motorola Mobility. Read More

Motorola Mobility: GNPO
Building Motorola Mobility's GNPO facility required specialized planning. Read More

Motorola Mobility: The Plan
How did Skender Construction's project management team approach an aggressive schedule to build Motorola Mobility's new corporate headquarters? Smart planning includes all players and incorporates collaboration from the start. Read More

Summer Eclipse raises over $320,000 for local charities
Skender Foundation hosted its third annual Summer Eclipse on July 17. Over 400 people attended the fundraiser, held at The Underground Chicago, raising over $320,000 for charity partner ChiArts and various other local organizations impacting education and wellness. This year’s highlighted cause and primary benefactor was ChiArts, Chicago’s first public high school for the performing… Read More

Skender Construction Named One of Chicago’s “Best & Brightest” 2014
Skender Construction was named one of Chicago's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For for the seventh consecutive year. The regional competition, sponsored by the National Association for Business Resources, honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resources practices and employee enrichment. Organizations are assesed based on categories such as… Read More

Brett Opie joins Skender Construction as Vice President
Skender Construction has announced a new executive appointment to strengthen the company’s business development initiatives. Brett Opie has joined Skender as Vice President. A 20-year commercial real estate veteran, Opie brings a range of multifaceted industry experience to the growing company, including brokerage, development, landlord / tenant representation and sales management. Opie will work in… Read More

Summer Eclipse on WGN Morning News Around Town
Highlighting Summer Eclipse and ChiArts with Ana Belaval at The Underground Chicago. Read More

EarthCam: American Society of Anesthesiologists
A time lapse video of the new 3-story, 75,000 SF office facility constructed for ASA. Architects: Tilton, Kelly + Bell; Epstein General Contractor: Skender Construction Read More

Motorola Mobility Corporate Headquarters Construction Case Study
Motorola Mobility's new corporate headquarters in Chicago's Merchandise Mart is a once-in-a-lifetime project. This case study details how the project team collaborated to bring this 600,000 SF project to life in 45 weeks. Read More

Motorola Mobility Global Headquarters Construction Case Study
Motorola Mobility's new corporate headquarters in Chicago's Merchandise Mart is a once-in-a-lifetime project. This case study details how the project team collaborated to bring this 600,000 SF project to life in 45 weeks. Read More

Skender Construction named No. 1 Best Place to Work in Illinois 2014
Skender Construction has been named the No. 1 Best Place to Work in Illinois for the second consecutive year. In 2014, Skender, last year's leader of the small employer category, joined the ranks and made the top of the list of medium-sized companies. The awards program, promoted by The Daily Herald Business Ledger, was designed to identify, recognize… Read More

Elevating the Industry: Andy Gloor
Elevation 004 For anyone who works in commercial real estate, it’s no secret the neighborhood known for its meat packers and industrial chic is about to boom. Google and bicycle manufacturer SRAM are gearing up to call the area known as Fulton Market home. Others are following suit, making this location one of the most… Read More

Dan Marijan Promoted to Partner at Skender Construction
Skender Construction has announced the promotion of Senior Superintendent Dan Marijan to Partner at the firm. Dan Marijan has been a Senior Superintendent at Skender Construction for over ten years and has 30 years’ experience managing construction sites throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. He has managed some of the largest and most complex projects in… Read More

Cicchetti | Sopraffina at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Owner Dan Rosenthal discusses his experience completing 9,200 square foot dual restaurant buildout at Northwestern Memorial Hospital with Skender. Read More

Skender Construction Announces a New Generation of Leadership and Partners
Skender Construction, a general contractor headquartered in downtown Chicago, announced today that it has promoted a number of executives to new levels of leadership. This change will allow the company to build an exciting corporate culture unparalleled in the construction industry and poise itself for continued growth. Joseph Skender, currently president of Skender Construction, has… Read More

Skender Construction Named One of the 2013 Best Places to Work in Illinois
Skender Construction has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Illinois for the sixth consecutive year. The annual, statewide awards program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in Illinois, benefiting the state's economy, workforce and businesses. Read More