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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 Advances Five to Senior Positions on Growing Operations Team
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: Clay Edwards to Executive Vice President and Partner. Since joining Skender in 2006, Edwards has managed millions of square feet of interior tenant improvement (TI) projects throughout Chicago. A client-centric and… Read More
“Wild, Audacious Collaboration”: How Technology has Democratized Design and Where the Built Industries are Headed
How far have the architecture and construction technology fields come in the past decade, and where will these industries be in another decade?
As we close out a decade, Skender Chief Design Officer Tim Swanson and Chief Technology Officer Stacy Scopano sit down to discuss the past, present, and future of construction, design, and the technology that supports those industries. Tim and Stacy delve into how technology has democratized the design industry, and predict what lies on the horizon in terms of “wild, audacious collaboration.”
About Tim Swanson
Chief Design Officer
Tim leads Skender’s team of architects and designers—bringing his passion for integrating the design and construction process to the firm’s clients. In his former position of Chicago office director at CannonDesign, he was the youngest office leader in the history of the century-old firm. Throughout his decade there, Tim oversaw a team of more than 200 architecture, engineering, and planning experts. He also led its City Design practice, a national group focused on helping cities around the world grow and prosper. Having lived in Abu Dhabi, rural India and major American cities like New York and Chicago, Tim brings a unique, global perspective to his design work. He is an advocate for smart growth and sustainable development, working with leaders at the intersection of urban planning, public health, and education. Tim earned a Master of Architecture with a specialization in urban development and infill from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and undergraduate degrees in fine arts and economics from Colgate University.
About Stacy Scopano
Chief Technology Officer
Stacy ensures that Skender is continually evolving its technological capabilities and integrating industry-leading innovations across the company. His experience includes a broad spectrum of technologies used by real estate, architecture, engineering and construction industries. Most recently, Stacy was vice president of innovation at Skanska USA, a subsidiary of the multinational construction and development firm. Previously, he was the senior strategist for building construction at Autodesk, Inc., where he partnered with the global construction community to identify, develop and deliver innovative digital workflows. Stacy has served as a past chairman of technology for the AGC BIMForum. Currently he is a member of the Social and Economic Policy Advisory Board for the RAND Corporation, an international research organization that develops policy solutions to make communities safer, healthier and more prosperous. He holds a degree in economics from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
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Skender Begins AbelsonTaylor’s Chicago HQ
Skender has started interior construction for AbelsonTaylor at their new headquarters within the Old Post Office building in Chicago. The health and wellness advertising agency plans to move from its current space at 33 W. Monroe St. to the 85,000-square-foot office at 433 W. Van Buren St. by March 2020. The company closed the lease… Read More
Skender Starts Interior Construction of AbelsonTaylor’s New HQ in Iconic Old Post Office
Skender recently started interior construction of the 85,000-square-foot headquarters for AbelsonTaylor, a Chicago-based health and wellness advertising agency and the fourth office tenant to lease space in the 2.8 million-square-foot Old Post Office building. AbelsonTaylor is relocating from its current offices at 33 W. Monroe St. to accommodate growth while reducing overall space. Located on… Read More
Modular Builder of the Year: Skender
Modular building, or the practice of constructing components in a factory through controlled manufacturing techniques and assembling them on the site, offers a lot of low-hanging fruit to the construction industry. It keeps workers away from perilous jobsite elements, allows for more efficiency and autonomy, reduces waste and cuts down on project time. But offsite… Read More
Skender Named U.S. ‘Modular Builder of the Year’ by Construction Dive
Skender, a vertically integrated design, construction and manufacturing firm, has been named America’s “Modular Builder of the Year” by Construction Dive, a leading industry news publisher. Skender’s pioneering turnkey, steel modular solutions allow it to deliver high-quality, scalable building projects in multifamily, hospitality and healthcare. Leveraging industry-leading Lean expertise, Skender opened its 105,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing… Read More
Skender Foundation Thank You 2019
What a year we had. We cannot thank you all enough for making such a great impact. It’s never too late if you still want to help – https://bit.ly/2PatJpr Read More
Skender Director of Residential Design Named to Chicago Power Women & Rising Stars List
Skender Director of Residential Design Angela Spadoni, AIA was recently named to Bisnow’s Chicago Power Women & Rising Stars list as an honoree. With more than 10 years of international and domestic experience, Spadoni has an impressive background in multifamily, condominium, retail and mixed-use high-rise design. At Skender, Spadoni oversees multifamily design projects, including the… Read More
Modular Monitor: Why does offsite construction matter?
Hype for modular construction has hit a level of ubiquity. It seems like every month another prefabricated hotel tops out at a record height for the delivery model, or a city official lauds the practice as the panacea for affordable housing — and the labor pinch — or a new offsite-based startup follows Katerra in… Read More
Skender’s Healthcare Portfolio Growing as Firm Completes Several Projects for Major Chicago Health Systems
Skender’s healthcare team has won construction management assignments for several projects throughout Chicago. Among the projects recently started or completed: Major West Suburban Hospital (Maywood, Illinois) – Two 1,500-square-foot build-outs of pharmaceutical retail locations featuring high-end millwork finishes, added security and infrastructure. North Suburban Hospital (Skokie, Illinois) – 12,000-square-foot build-out on the second floor of… Read More
Fearless and Fully Committed: How to Grow, Advance Your Career, and Enact Real Change in Your Work
Dr. Suzet McKinney, the CEO and Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District (IMD), and Jenny Han, Skender’s Director of Healthcare Design, continue their conversation from Future Built Episode 5 with a focus on career growth, ambition, and mentorship. In her work with the IMD, one of the largest urban medical districts in the United States, and West Side United, a collaboration working to build community health and economic wellness on Chicago’s West Side, Suzet follows the mantra “Go big or go home.”
Tune in to hear the advice Suzet and Jenny give to young women that is applicable to anyone looking to achieve more in their work and advance professionally. And listen through to the end for Suzet’s answer to the question on many people’s minds: Will she ever run for office?
About Suzet McKinney
Dr. Suzet M. McKinney currently serves as CEO/Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District. She is the former Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response at the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), where she oversaw the emergency preparedness efforts for the Department and coordinated those efforts within the larger spectrum of the City of Chicago’s Public Safety activities, in addition to overseeing the Department’s Division of Women and Children’s Health.
Dr. McKinney has earned a reputation as an experienced, knowledgeable public health official with exceptional communication skills. She has served as an on-camera media expert on emergency issues including biological and chemical threats, natural disasters, pandemic influenza, and climate-related emergencies. A sought-after expert in her field, she has also provided support to the U.S. Department of Defense’s, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, lending subject matter expertise in biological terrorism preparedness to the country of Poland.
Dr. McKinney serves on the Board of Directors for Susan G. Komen Chicago, Thresholds, and the African-American Legacy of the Chicago Community Trust. Dr. McKinney is Co-Chair of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), Health and Medicine Division’s Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies and is a member of the NASEM Board on Health Sciences Policy. She also serves on the Science and Security Board for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Board of Scientific Counselors for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Advisory Council (NAC).
In academia, Dr. McKinney serves as an Instructor in the Division of Translational Policy and Leadership Development at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Additionally, she serves as a mentor for the Biomedical Sciences Careers Project, also at Harvard University. She is the co-author of the text: Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Practical Solutions for the Real World (2018), and was named one of Chicago’s Notable Women in Healthcare (2018 and 2019).
Dr. McKinney holds her Doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. She received her Master of Public Health degree (Health Care Administration) and certificates in Managed Care and Health Care Administration from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.
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Pilsen Nonprofit’s $20 Million Affordable Housing Development Approved By City Committee
A Pilsen nonprofit’s plan to build a $20 million affordable housing development in the neighborhood was approved by a key city committee Tuesday. The city’s Committee on Zoning unanimously approved the Resurrection Project’s plans to build a five-story affordable housing building at 1850 S. Racine Ave. The Skender-designed building will include 37 apartments, 31 parking… Read More
Chili Cook-Off 2019
It’s that time of year we all look forward to, the annual Skender Chili Cook-off! We had seven contestants enter with Tim Rogers taking the title for the fourth year in a row! Only 364 days till the next Chili Day! Read More
VIM and Skender partner to provide pre-manufacturing visualization of modular building solutions
VIM, a virtual information modeling firm providing the most efficient 3D format for building design data, and Skender, a pioneer of Lean construction and modular manufacturing, announced a partnership to implement VIM’s software in Skender’s Chicago modular manufacturing facility. VIM’s platform, which provides 3D, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) building models, will help… Read More
VIM and Skender Partner to Provide Pre-Manufacturing Visualization of Modular Building Solutions
ATLANTA (November 14, 2019) – VIM, a virtual information modeling firm providing the most efficient 3D format for building design data, and Skender, a pioneer of Lean construction and modular manufacturing, announce today a partnership to implement VIM’s software in Skender’s modular manufacturing facility. VIM’s platform, which provides 3D, virtual and augmented reality (VR and… Read More
The value catalyst for building advantage
Isn’t it interesting when we talk about getting more out of something we say we need to ‘extract’ value? It’s a bit of an oxymoron when what we’re trying to do is infuse value into our work, our processes and our products and ultimately deliver it to our customers. The practice of value engineering has… Read More
Eighth Annual Harvesting Hope Raises $43,000 for Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Comprised of philanthropic-minded professionals, Builders’ Board of Skender Foundation hosted its annual Harvesting Hope fundraiser on October 17 at Venue West. This year’s charity partner and beneficiary was Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH). More than 300 people attended the event and raised $43,000 for CCH. Founded in 1980, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is… Read More
Creating a Contemporary, Collaborative Place for HERE Technologies’ Future
When a company builds location technologies, it only makes sense for its office locations to represent the company culture. In 2018, HERE Technologies, or just “HERE” – a global leader in mapping and location intelligence, autonomous driving and “smart city” technology – needed to bring two offices together to create a new Americas headquarters. After… Read More
Skender Completes Interior Construction of Coworking Brand “Spaces” for IWG
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently completed interior construction of the 8-story, 80,000-square-foot Spaces location, a pioneer in creative, flexible workspaces, owned by IWG. Spaces has assumed occupancy of the former Sports Authority building at LaSalle and Ontario and, as sole tenant, will enjoy private access to the building’s roof terrace also renovated as part… Read More
Inside the Builders Board: How and why the Skender Foundation’s junior board supports the community
What is the Builders Board, why does it exist, and how can you get involved? Tune in to hear from two Builders Board co-chairs about this impactful and inclusive organization. Listen through for a surprise interview with Beth Malik, Associate Director of the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Each year, the Builder’s Board selects a local Chicago organization as its fundraising focus, and this year Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is the focus organization. Learn more about the organization, the vital work it does in the Chicagoland community, and how you can come out and support by attending this year’s fundraising event, Harvesting Hope.
Click here to purchase your ticket for Harvesting Hope on October 17!
About Beth Cunningham Malik
Elizabeth (Beth) Malik is an attorney and the Associate Director of the Law Project of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Prior to becoming Associate Director in 2015, she worked as the Youth Futures attorney, a role she has held since joining the CCH staff in 2007. A 2005 graduate of University of Denver Law School, she previously worked 18 months at the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center. She earned a bachelor’s in English and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2010, Ms. Malik was honored with the Kimball R. Anderson and Karen Gatsis Anderson Public Interest Law Fellowship, a significant honor awarded by the Chicago Bar Foundation. Beth continues to coordinate CCH’s Youth Futures Mobile Legal Clinic, which provides civil legal services to over 400 homeless youth throughout metro Chicago.
About Lili Silva
Lili Silva is a co-chair of the Builders Board for the first time this year. She served as silent auction co-chair in 2018, where she surpassed all previous years’ fundraising goals. Lili loves giving back and seeing what an impact the Builder’s Board can make towards deserving organizations in the Chicago area. Lili works as a senior project coordinator at Skender, where she has worked for two years.
About Colin Malone
Colin has been a member of the Builders Board for the last 3 years and co-chair for the last 2 years. He joined the Board in hopes of providing a helping hand to the organizations that the Builders Board sponsors with their Annual Harvesting Hope event. He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and from a professional perspective he has been in Technology for 15 years and is currently a VP of Sales for Windstream, a Fortune 500 Manager Services Provider.
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Skender Launches Interior Construction of 90,000 SF Mondelez Headquarters in Chicago
Skender has launched interior construction of the future 90,000-square-foot headquarters for Mondelez International in Chicago. The snacking company will serve as the anchor tenant in the new five-story building at 905 W. Fulton St. Mondelez is relocating 400 employees from its current headquarters in Deerfield. Read More
Skender Launches Construction of New Mondelēz International HQ in Fulton Market
Skender, serving as general contractor, has launched interior construction of the future 90,000-square-foot headquarters of Mondelēz International, a global leader in snacking. Mondelēz will serve as the anchor tenant in the new five-story building at 905 W. Fulton Street, and enjoy private access to the building’s 5,000-square-foot roof terrace built out by Skender as part… Read More
“Safe, secure and part of a community”: How local nonprofit Sarah’s Circle is using built space to serve women who are homeless
On any given night in Chicago, there are more than 2,000 women who are homeless. Sarah’s Circle is a nonprofit organization located in Chicago’s Uptown community with a mission of serving women who are homeless or in need of a safe space. Sarah’s Circle currently has a Daytime Support Center open to any woman in need, a 50-bed interim housing (shelter) program for women who are currently homeless, and permanent supportive housing for women who have a disabling condition and have been chronically homeless. The organization is in the process of constructing a new building to house their programs and operations, with Skender serving as the general contractor for the project.
Skender has broken ground on the new, 42,000-SF supportive housing facility in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood for Sarah’s Circle. Located at the intersection of Sheridan and Leland, the six-story steel and precast building will include a basement, 38 units for long-term housing and emergency overnight space for 50 nonpermanent beds. The shelter will also feature a food hall, walk-in commercial freezer and hot room.
Executive Director Kathy Ragnar sits down with Senior Project Manager Sean Moran, who is coordinating the Sarah’s Circle construction project, to talk about the project, the organization and why this project matters so much to the women of Chicago.
Click here to learn more about Skender’s in-progress project with Sarah’s Circle.
About Kathy Ragnar
Kathy Ragnar, MBA is the Executive Director of Sarah’s Circle. Kathy received her Bachelor of Science in Economics and MBA in Finance and Economics from DePaul University. She joined Sarah’s Circle in October 2006 as Executive Director. Prior to her position with Sarah’s Circle, Kathy served as the Executive Director of Infant Welfare in Evanston where she worked to renovate the agency’s facilities and expand programming for women and children residing in shelters. Kathy started her career in banking with Northern Trust. After Northern Trust, she moved to Price Waterhouse as a manager in the financial services consulting group.
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Skender Manufacturing Adds New VP
After delivering a new office for LinkedIn, Skender has added Michael Merle as vice president of business development for its Manufacturing division. Merle will oversee the manufacturing’s business development efforts—in particular in the hospitality sector—as well as showcasing the operations of the company’s manufacturing facility where the production of modular building components, including smart apartment… Read More
Skender Manufacturing Hires Michael Merle as Vice President of Business Development
Skender, a vertically integrated design, construction and manufacturing firm based in Chicago, today announced it has hired Michael Merle as vice president of business development for Skender Manufacturing. With more than 25 years of experience in construction, building products and strategic business development, Merle will be charged with continually evolving and promoting Skender’s modular capabilities,… Read More
LinkedIn – Interior Expansion
Well this is awkward. Sorry to post about LinkedIn on YouTube, but check out our latest project and the employee-focused features at the expanded LinkedIn Chicago HQ, in collaboration with Gensler, ESD Global and Avison Young. Read More
Skender Breaks Ground on Supportive Housing in Uptown
Skender has broken ground on a new 42,000-square-foot supportive housing facility for women in the North Side’s Uptown neighborhood. The construction management firm is working in collaboration with design firm Perkins+Will and owner’s representative Brinshore Development to complete the project in 14 months on behalf of nonprofit Sarah’s Circle. Read More
Skender Breaks Ground on New Women’s Shelter on Chicago’s North Side
Skender has broken ground on a new 42,000-SF supportive housing facility in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood for Sarah’s Circle. This nonprofit organization serves women who are homeless or in need of a safe space by providing services such as food, clothing, shelter, housing and clinical services for domestic violence and trauma. Located at the intersection of… Read More
Skender completes construction of LinkedIn Chicago HQ expansion
Skender, serving as interior construction manager, has completed construction of LinkedIn’s new 46,000-square-foot Chicago headquarters expansion project at 525 W. Monroe Street. LinkedIn, a global business and employment-oriented service that operates via websites and mobile apps, expanded its office footprint with a communicating stair connecting the existing space to two floors and various other new… Read More
Skender Completes Construction of LinkedIn Chicago Headquarters Expansion
Skender, serving as interior construction manager, has completed construction of LinkedIn’s new 46,000-square-foot Chicago headquarters expansion project at 525 W. Monroe. LinkedIn, a global business and employment-oriented service that operates via websites and mobile apps, expanded its office footprint with a communicating stair connecting the existing space to two floors and various other new elements.… Read More
Skender starts interior construction of Paragon HQ
Skender recently launched the interior renovation of the future 23,000-square-foot headquarters for Paragon Biosciences LLC, a life science innovator that invests in, builds and advises bioscience companies. Paragon will be relocating to the 35th floor of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed 330 N. Wabash from its current office space in Northbrook. Read More
Continuing Education: Modular Construction
For generations, prefabricated housing has had a bad rap. Visions of ticky-tacky buildings in identical rows with no connection to context pushed modular construction to the fringe. But with global population increasing, the middle class rapidly expanding, and household size shrinking, some 2 billion new homes will be needed by the end of the century.… Read More
Skender Starts Interior Construction of Paragon Biosciences’ New HQ
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently launched the interior renovation of the future 23,000-square-foot headquarters for Paragon Biosciences LLC (Paragon), a fast-growing life science innovator that invests in, builds and advises bioscience companies. Paragon will be relocating to the 35th floor of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed 330 N. Wabash from its current office space… Read More
Skender Pursues a Mission to Boost Its Modular Capabilities
On a hot day in early June, Peter Murray and Stacy Scopano discussed how to set up a modular apartment production line at Skender’s 105,560-sq-ft manufacturing facility on Chicago’s southwest side. "We’re playing with it at this point,” Murray, Skender’s president of manufacturing, said back then. Murray has nearly 30 years of experience in both… Read More
Skender, IKEA Initiatives Bring Promise of Prefab Senior Housing Closer to Reality
Large players such as Skender and IKEA are betting that prefab building practices can help meet the rising demand for senior housing. Chicago-based Skender has morphed in the past 18 months from a general contractor to a vertically integrated manufacturer of prefabricated modular building components for multifamily, senior housing, health care and commercial buildings. The… Read More
Will Factory-Made Affordable Housing Succeed?
The key to affordable housing could soon roll off a production line in a Chicago factory. Skender, an Illinois-based construction company, has begun building modular, multi-family housing in a plant on the Windy City’s southwest side. The vision is to build and ship finished “modules,” effectively rooms or entire apartments slated for a three-story, three-unit… Read More
Fleet Fields – Lincoln Yards
In partnering once again with Sterling Bay, we recently completed a youth community artificial grass soccer field Fleet Fields in the Lincoln Yards neighborhood! Huge shout out to ForeverLawn, Inc. in the turf installation as well as Ailey Solar Electric, Inc. that will help offset 92% energy at the field. Read More
The Old Main Post Office: A Historic Landmark Gets a High-Tech Facelift
Almost 100 years after it was first constructed — and 20 years after the U.S. Postal Service suspended its operations there — Chicago’s Old Main Post Office is nearly ready to welcome its first office tenants. The iconic building spans two full city blocks and an interstate highway and is the subject of an $800M… Read More
Modular affordable apartments pitched for vacant Pilsen corner
Pilsen-based nonprofit developer The Resurrection Project is partnering with the design team at Skender on a six-story, 45-unit modular affordable housing project at the corner of 19th Street and Racine Avenue. Read More
Skender Completes 100,000-SF Renovation for New South Side Charter School
Skender recently completed 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 whose mission is to develop ethical leaders. Today, PCS manages five open enrollment,… Read More
Skender Completes Renovation of WBEZ Headquarters
Skender recently completed interior construction of a 37,000-square-foot renovation project at the headquarters for WBEZ, a nonprofit media organization located at Navy Pier in Chicago. WBEZ renovated its current offices to include an upgraded AV package; densification for new workstations; additional common areas, including a high-end, client-facing pantry and community room; as well as the… Read More
Vital Proteins – Interior Project
Even more epic interior construction completed by Skender in the West Loop. The latest: Vital Proteins' new HQ in Fulton Market. Check out the fast-growing health supplement retailer’s new digs. Read More
2019 Summer Eclipse
This year's Summer Eclipse event saw over 500 attendees and raised $411,000 to benefit Little Wish Foundation and other charities geared towards health, education and wellness—amazing! On behalf of Skender Foundation, thanks again to everyone involved for making an impact. Read More
Eighth Annual Summer Eclipse Raises $411,000, Highlights Little Wish Foundation
Skender Foundation hosted its annual fundraiser, Summer Eclipse, on Thursday, July 18 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. A total of $411,000 was raised in one night by sponsors and more than 500 event attendees. Of that, $30,000 will be donated to Little Wish Foundation while the balance will be dispersed to other charities… Read More
Five Must-Dos When Designing a Law Firm Workplace
Law firms are placing ever-increasing importance on thoughtful workplace design to attract and retain top talent, making every office build-out or renovation a critical opportunity to win the talent war. With millennials expected to comprise 75 percent of the workforce by 2030, law firm design trends are being driven by an evolving culture that prioritizes… Read More
Designing the Law Firm: Slow Adopters of Change, or Emerging Trend Leaders?
The legal industry has traditionally been a slow adopter of architectural and design change. Typical office layouts with perimeter offices and career growth indicated by office size have persisted, despite other industries moving toward new trends like open offices. The unique nature of the legal industry mandates much of the reliance on standard office layouts of the past – but is there change on the horizon?
Hosting this episode is Skender Vice President and Partner Clay Edwards, an office interiors industry thought leader with extensive experience in law firm construction. Clay is joined by two guests from Nelson, a global architecture and design firm. Marty Festenstein serves as NELSON’s Legal Practice Group Leader, and Kristin Cerutti is an experienced lead project designer.
Marty, Kristin and Clay take a deep dive into the drivers of change and evolution in law firm office design, now and into the future, and explore questions such as:
- What types of offices will millennial-age lawyers expect and want?
- Can attorneys work in open offices?
- How are law firms investing in ubiquitous technology?
- In what areas are law firms leading change in office design?
- Can you future-proof a law firm office?
About Marty Festenstein
Marty Festenstein serves as NELSON’s Legal Practice Group Leader, driving creativity and strategy for clients nationally. Throughout his 30-year career, he has managed over 12 million square feet and over 400 workplace projects. As a result, Marty has gained a national reputation as a workplace “trusted adviser.” Many of his clients are large, national firms with sites across the country as well as large regional firms. This has allowed him to direct multi-site projects and national account occupancy planning. Marty consistently leads design teams to deliver creative solutions that delight law firm clients, meet their functional parameters and exceed their expectations. With his intense focus on workplace, he is acutely aware of the trends that affect how attorneys and their support staff work, which allows him to provide them with environments in which they can thrive. A consummate leader, Marty has contributed to numerous writings in Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Lawyer Magazine, Law Firm, Inc., and American Lawyer. His speaking engagements have included the Association of Legal Administrators’ Annual Convention, Managing Partner Round Tables, and the annual NeoCon design conference.
About Kristin Cerutti
With 13 years of experience in interior architecture, Kristin Cerutti is an experienced lead project designer, with extensive knowledge in schematic design and design development processes, as well as construction document assembly, construction administration, and client relations. With experience working in multiple markets across the country and around the globe, her project coordination, design capabilities, and proficiency in the operation and implementation of computer-aided design programs are invaluable to her team as a leader in the office.
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Volunteer Day 2019
Nearly 100 Skender employees, friends and family volunteered on Saturday, June 22 at Skender’s annual volunteer day to build the bed frames for 50 bunk beds. Through a partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), the day will benefit 100 children across the Chicago metropolitan area in need of beds. Read More
Esperanza Brighton Park
When a community is in need of a health center, we’re there to build it. By teaming up with local specialty care and community-based organizations, the new Esperanza Brighton Park health center is ready to serve and help unite this southwest side neighborhood. Take a look at our latest project collaboration with JGMA and McNitt… Read More
Skender wraps up interior work on new Vital Proteins HQ in Fulton Market
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently completed the interior renovation of the 40,000-square-foot headquarters of Vital Proteins, a fast-growing private retailer of health supplement products. Vital Proteins has assumed full occupancy of the four-story 939 W. Fulton Street, one block from Google’s Midwest headquarters in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood. Read More
Skender Completes Interior Construction of New Vital Proteins HQ in Fulton Market
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently completed the interior renovation of the 40,000-square-foot headquarters of Vital Proteins, a fast-growing private retailer of health supplement products. Vital Proteins has assumed full occupancy of the four-story 939 W. Fulton Street, one block from Google’s Midwest headquarters in Chicago’s lively Fulton Market neighborhood. Vital Proteins relocated 130 employees… Read More
Skender Partners with Sleep in Heavenly Peace for Annual Volunteer Day
Nearly 100 Skender employees, friends and family volunteered on Saturday, June 22 at Skender’s annual volunteer day to build the bed frames for 50 bunk beds. Through a partnership with Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), the day will benefit 100 children across the Chicago metropolitan area in need of beds. “We were honored to partner… Read More
Hyatt House: Fulton Market’s First Extended-Stay Hotel
What if the complete building process was faster, smarter and greener? Years in the making, Skender's manufacturing facility is a vision turned reality through a revolutionary modular process. The ever-expanding West Loop; now with it’s first extended-stay hotel. Here’s a closer look at our latest project, developed by Sterling Bay and designed by Eckenhoff Saunders… Read More
Who’s got their finger on the pulse of healthcare real estate?
The healthcare real estate sector has changed strikingly in the last decade, driven by aging demographics and increased ambition to deliver services outside of acute care settings. Over the next 10 years, the asset class will likely see even more drastic changes. More than 120 Chicago CRE professionals came out to the 6th annual Healthcare… Read More
Skender Completes Office Interior Construction for Corix Group of Companies
Skender, serving as general contractor, recently completed the 30,000-square-foot interior build-out at 500 W. Monroe St. for Corix Group of Companies. The water, wastewater and energy utility firm consolidated its offices across North America to downtown Chicago. The new offices will immediately house approximately 70 employees. “This was the right thing to do in support… Read More
Skender Completes Expansion of Assisted Living Facility in Northbrook, Illinois
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has completed an expansion project at North Shore Place in Northbrook, approximately 20 miles north of Chicago. Senior Lifestyle Corp. owns the assisted living facility. This is the second expansion project at the property that Skender has completed. Read More
Skender wraps up 14-story Hyatt House Hotel, a Fulton Market development by Sterling Bay
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has completed construction of Chicago’s first Hyatt House extended-stay hotel, located in the heart of Chicago’s Fulton Market District. Sterling Bay developed the 14-story, 167,000-square-foot hotel and Skender collaborated with project architect Eckenhoff Saunders Architects. Read More
Skender Completes 14-story, 167,000-SF Hyatt House Hotel, a New Sterling Bay Development in the Fulton Market District
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has completed construction of Chicago’s first 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 is the first hotel in the Fulton Market district to cater to extended-stay… Read More
Chicago-Area Assisted Living Community Gets New Building
Skender has completed construction on the 40-unit memory care building of North Shore Place, a 156-unit luxury assisted living community in Northbrook, Ill. The development team also included design firm SAS Architects & Planners, civil engineering firm Manhard Consulting and structural engineering firm Bowman, Barrett & Associates. The owner, Senior Lifestyle, also assigned Skender to… Read More
Skender Manufacturing – Open for Business
What if the complete building process was faster, smarter and greener? Years in the making, Skender's manufacturing facility is a vision turned reality through a revolutionary modular process. Skender manufacturing: open for business. Read More
Skender Completes Construction of Senior Lifestyle Assisted Living Facility in Northbrook, IL
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has completed construction of 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
When it comes to medical space, it really is innovate or die
The world of healthcare real estate is driven by increased need—brought about by aging Boomers—as well as an ever more specialized and localized momentum of providers pushing out to locales where people live and work. But demand is not the only driver for how we design and build these facilities. Everyone wants to be on… Read More
Skender and BuiltWorlds Release “2019 Modular Construction Update” Research Report
The past year was a big one in the world of modular construction. With the industry continuing to hone the new processes and technologies behind offsite construction, early adopters are beginning to reap the rewards. We’ve been hearing about the potential benefits of streamlining project delivery with offsite production for years--shorter project schedules, relief for… Read More
Skender Wins DISRUPTOR Award at BuiltWorlds’ Machines Conference
Recognized today at the reception of BuiltWorlds’ Machines Conference, Skender was voted the winner of the DISRUPTOR award for the Modular Builders category among those featured on the 2019 Machines 50 List. Skender’s Director of Residential Architecture Angela Spadoni attended the event to accept the award following her presentation on modular construction and evolving project… Read More
Catalyst for Change: Why Manufacturing is the Future of Construction
Here at Skender we talk a lot about our work in modular construction and the launch of our new manufacturing facility – but just how do you run a successful manufacturing operation, and how do you staff the facility? Skender’s Virtual Design Manager Shyam Telikicherla, a key member of the Skender Manufacturing team, sits down with special guest Raghi Iyengar to delve into both the technology and the workforce behind manufacturing and modular construction. Raghi is the founder of ManufactOn, a tech startup that helps the construction industry leverage the power of prefabrication, with tools that integrate supply chain, prefab production, and planning.
Raghi and Shyam dig into the details of modular construction, with a look at:
- How ManufactOn’s technology works
- What benefits manufacturing brings to the construction industry
- How to staff a manufacturing facility in the midst of an industry-wide labor shortage
- What the future of construction looks like
About Raghi Iyengar
Raghi Iyengar is founder of ManufactOn, a SaaS startup that brings the best of manufacturing to construction.
Construction technology professional for over 25 years, Raghi joined Intel in 1988 and spent a decade leading software initiatives to support construction, operations & maintenance, and materials management at all Intel’s factories worldwide. During his tenure at Intel, Raghi was also technical advisor to Center for Facility Engineering (CIFE) at Stanford University, where he funded research for what is now called virtual design & construction. After Intel, Raghi continued to create software solutions for the AEC industry as founder of VisonPlanner (1998) and managing director at Inquest Technologies (2002). Raghi joined Autodesk in 2006 to bring building information modeling (BIM) into construction. As product line manager, he led initiatives around construction modeling with Revit, acquisition of Navisworks and several cloud/mobile startups that are now part of the collaborative construction application called BIM 360, and worked on product strategy with some of the most advanced construction companies in the world.
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Factory-Built Three Flats Are Chicago’s Newest Affordable Housing
A Chicago company claims to have a unique answer to the city’s affordable housing shortage: modular homes. In a giant warehouse on the Southwest Side, the construction company Skender will begin producing Chicago three-flats on an assembly line as if they were cars, starting Tuesday. And a major Chicago developer is buying into the idea.… Read More
At Skender’s New Modular Building Factory, Apartments Roll Off The Assembly Line Like Cars
In November, the world got its first glimpse of a modular housing prototype from Skender, a Chicago-based construction firm. The module was remarkably complete. It included a kitchen, a bathroom, a sitting room and a bedroom, all within a steel frame. Its exterior, rough with insulation, matched the sparse surroundings of the as-yet empty factory… Read More
Skender Launches Modular Building Production at its Chicago Advanced Manufacturing Facility
Skender, a vertically integrated design, construction and manufacturing firm, today launched production at its advanced manufacturing facility on Chicago’s Southwest Side at 3348 S. Pulaski. The facility will use Skender’s unique, fully-integrated process that takes modular building projects from concept to technical design to advanced fabrication to onsite completion – all with Skender, a 64-year-old… Read More
How modular manufacturing could solve Chicago’s affordable housing crisis
As Chicago grapples with an affordable housing crisis and soaring construction costs, one company is betting on modular buildings to help solve the crisis. Next week, Chicago-based construction firm Skender will begin the first run of prefab buildings on the production line of its new 105,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Little Village. Read More
Skender Manufacturing Teaser
Coming soon... Read More
The Modern Food Hall: A Passing Trend, or Here to Stay?
The modern food hall, the newest up-and-coming trend hitting the retail industry, is a place where patrons can try a variety of different foods and restaurants under one roof. These spaces, which feature high-quality food and drinks from local eateries in modern, well-designed settings, offer distinct benefits to patrons, restauranteurs, and property owners alike.
Andy Koglin, the president of OKW Architects, has been a leader in the food hall market, and his firm has designed many of the Chicago food halls we know and love. Andy sits down with Skender project engineer – and food hall aficionado – Dan Turro to explore the modern food hall in depth. The two discuss:
- What makes a modern food hall, and why are they so popular?
- How do you design a food hall, and is the process different than designing a traditional restaurant space?
- Where will the next food halls be built?
About Andy Koglin
Four years after earning his Masters in Architecture from Yale University, Andrew “Andy” Koglin joined OKW. Another four years later, he became a principal. Having built a foundation in corporate interior planning and design, Andy grew the scope of his expertise to include residential, retail, institutional, and hospitality clientele. As the firm’s President, he directs OKW’s retail and mixed-use project group, drawing on over thirty years of experience in architecture to strategically steer projects. Andy also manages the daily operations of the firm, which range from establishing the firm’s vision and mission, to financial oversight, strategic planning, and client relations.
Outside the office, Andy serves as a member of the Yale Alumni Schools Committee, where he interviews high school applicants, and is involved in both the Urban Land Institute and the Economic Club of Chicago. To decompress on weekends, he enjoys golf and driving his sports car as fast as possible (on a track and not at the same time), which allows him to connect with his not-so-secret dream of becoming a professional Formula 1 racecar driver.v
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Skender Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Esperanza Health Center in Brighton Park
Last week's ribbon cutting ceremony at Esperanza Health Centers Brighton Park symbolized improved access to health care services for local residents, and we couldn't be prouder to serve as general contractor for this new medical home for the community. Read More
Skender Celebrates Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Esperanza Health Center in Brighton Park
On Friday, May 17, Skender celebrated the ribbon cutting ceremony for Esperanza Brighton Park, the new 26,000-square-foot health center at 4700 S. California Avenue in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. Attended by Senator Dick Durbin, 14th Ward Alderman Edward Burke and other local dignitaries, the event symbolized improved access to health care services for local residents… Read More
Skender is proud to be part of the team behind Chicago’s “Garfield Green” proposal, winner…
Skender is proud to be part of the team behind Chicago’s "Garfield Green" proposal, winner of C40 Cities‘ "Reinventing Cities" global competition to combat #climatechange. "Garfield Green" aims to revitalize 1.5 acres of vacant land in East Garfield Park as sustainable, mixed-income housing and related public uses. Congrats to our innovative teammates Preservation of Affordable… Read More
Chicago’s Garfield Green development proposal wins global design competition
On Wednesday, the mayor’s office announced Chicago’s Garfield Green housing proposal was selected as a winner in C40’s global Reinventing Cities competition. Now, the design team will take steps to make it a reality. The contest invited cities to propose projects that turned vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and parking lots into innovative, sustainable development that… Read More
2019 Modular Construction Update
Just released: BuiltWorlds' 2019 #ModularConstruction report, detailing the who, what and why. Read More
Modular Construction Use is ‘Booming’ in Commercial Building
Commercial real estate experts forecast increasing demand for modular construction in the healthcare, industrial, education and multifamily sectors. "If modular goes mainstream, more manufacturing facilities will be needed to meet the demand for modular buildings," says Mark Skender, CEO of Skender, a Chicago-based design and construction firm. "So, theoretically, yes, the more modular companies ramp… Read More
Modular Housing May Help Bridge The Affordable Housing Gap
The need for more affordable housing was one of the most-discussed issues of Chicago’s recent mayoral campaign, but creating enough units to satisfy that need still seems like an elusive goal. And the challenge of building units efficiently and inexpensively is likely to be brought to the forefront this year with the probable launching of… Read More
Skender breaks ground on independent senior living facility in Crystal Lake
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has broken ground on Residences of Crystal Lake, a Turnstone Development-owned senior living facility located in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Turnstone Development, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), has developed over 1,680 affordable housing units for low-income families and seniors in Illinois and Florida since 1998. The three-story, 63,000-square-foot facility… Read More
Skender Breaks Ground on Independent Senior Living Facility in Crystal Lake, IL
Today Skender is launching construction of the new Residences of Crystal Lake, a Turnstone Development Corporation-owned, 63,000-SF senior living facility offering 60 affordable living units for seniors and numerous amenities across 7½ acres. Read More
Skender Breaks Ground on Independent Senior Living Facility in Crystal Lake, IL
Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, has broken ground on Residences of Crystal Lake, a Turnstone Development-owned senior living facility located in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Turnstone Development, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3), has developed over 1,680 affordable housing units for low-income families and seniors in Illinois and Florida since 1998. The new three-story, 63,000-square-foot… Read More
Laser Scanning on the Jobsite: The Future of Construction?
Is laser scanning the future of construction? What exactly is laser scanning, and how does it work? Explore these ideas and more with this week's episode of Future Built, featuring special guest Brent Slawnikowski of FARO Technologies and hosted by Skender Construction Technologist Ben Stocker. Read More
Summit 2019 – BuiltWorlds
This year's BuiltWorlds Summit Chicago is a can't-miss event! Skender Chief Design Officer Timothy Swanson will speak on Thursday's panel, "Optimizing Digital Design in Today’s World," alongside Christopher Di Iorio of ENGworks, Katherine Darnstadt of LATENT DESIGN, and Brad Lukanic of CannonDesign. Read More
Laser Scanning on the Jobsite: The Future of Construction?
Laser scanning and other new technologies have hit the construction industry in a big way over the last few years, and promise to deliver cost savings and greater efficiency on the jobsite. But what are these technologies really capable of delivering, and how can they be implemented? Brent Slawnikowski, Senior Account Manager at FARO Technologies, sits down with Skender’s Construction Technologist Ben Stocker to take a closer look at laser technologies. The two will delve into:
- What laser technology is and how it’s used
- The history of laser technology and in which other industries it’s utilized
- The benefits to using laser technology on a construction project
- How to start using laser technology
- Where laser technology will be used in the future
About Brent Slawnikowski
Brent Slawnikowski currently works as a Senior Account Manager for FARO Technologies providing 3D laser scanning solutions for the construction industry.
Brent brings over a decade of surveying, laser scanning and civil engineering practice to the industry. Brent graduated from Purdue University Calumet in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. During his four year tenure at Purdue Calumet, he worked as an intern for Great Lakes Engineering and two years later took the role of Project Engineer at FALK PLI Engineering & Surveying. Expanding his reach a little further, Brent relocated to Florida in 2014 where he spent a year with CAPTEC Engineering as a Project Engineer. After his one year tenure in Florida, he relocated back to Northwest Indiana, where he picked up where he left off at FALK PLI Engineering & Surveying. Seeing an opportunity to offer his knowledge and experience to the AEC market, he joined FARO in June 2016.
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Skender’s Jeffrey Janicek and Brian Simons speaking about the “Future of Outpatient” at last week’s…
Skender's Jeffrey Janicek and Brian Simons speaking about the "Future of Outpatient" at last week's HESNI Annual Conference. Read More
Skender CTO Stacy Scopano speaks about smart buildings at DisruptCRE Chicago. Smart buildings need a…
Skender CTO Stacy Scopano speaks about smart buildings at DisruptCRE Chicago. Smart buildings need a digital master plan with input from all stakeholders and a customized approach. Read More
Robots have an increasingly important role in construction
Imagine if the entire population of Oakland, Calif., suddenly needed a new place to live. You’d have to find a way to build housing and infrastructure for nearly half a million people. As dramatic as this scenario might seem, something comparable is happening daily. According to the United Nations, 400,000 new people enter the middle… Read More
Chicago’s 5th Annual DisruptCRE event is this Thursday. Come hear Skender Chief Technology Officer Stacy…
Chicago's 5th Annual DisruptCRE event is this Thursday. Come hear Skender Chief Technology Officer Stacy Scopano on the Developing the Smart Building panel, which focuses on developing building infrastructure for the future and how developers can build for flexibility. Info and tickets: https://lnkd.in/gtzFkCr Read More
Quick Links
Don't miss Skender's presentation, Moving Patient Care Closer to the Patient and Capitalizing on Unused Space, at this year's HESNI Annual Conference. Jeffrey Janicek (VP, Partner), Timothy Swanson (Chief Design Officer) and Brian Simons (Project Executive, Partner) will delve into how to take advantage of unused retail spaces in the suburban market, how to recognize… Read More
Chicago is a great place for us to start with our integrated modular building process,…
Chicago is a great place for us to start with our integrated modular building process, says Chief Design Officer Tim Swanson, who spoke yesterday at the Midwest Hospitals, Outpatient Facilities, and Medical Office Buildings Summit, hosted by Association of Medical Facility Professionals (AMFP) and MATTER. Read More
Modular Housing May Help Bridge The Affordable Housing Gap
Modular housing may help bridge the affordable housing gap. Read More
Modular Housing May Help Bridge the Affordable Housing Gap
The need for more affordable housing was one of the most-discussed issues of Chicago’s recent mayoral campaign, but creating enough units to satisfy that need still seems like an elusive goal. And the challenge of building units efficiently and inexpensively is likely to be brought to the forefront this year with the probable launching of… Read More
Skender starts interior construction of coworking firm Spaces’ Chicago HQ
The months-long redevelopment of the former Sports Authority building at LaSalle and Ontario has achieved a significant milestone with an affiliate of Next Realty, the building’s owner, completing the base building renovations. Skender, serving as general contractor, will soon start the interior renovation of the future eight-story, 80,000-square-foot space that will serve as the Chicago… Read More
“It’s taking a contractor or engineer or architect or designer, all these folks who think…
"It's taking a contractor or engineer or architect or designer, all these folks who think about things a little differently, and seeing how we can work together in a truly integrated process" - Skender President Justin Brown, speaking about Skender's fully integrated manufacturing model at today's Kaplan Institute speaker series talk on real estate development… Read More
Skender Executives to Discuss Construction and Design Trends, Innovations in Modular Building
Lots to look forward to as our executives gear up to discuss construction and design trends as well as innovations in modular building at upcoming speaking engagements. Be sure to check us out! Mark Skender Justin Brown Angela Spadoni AIA Jenny Han Stacy Scopano Brian Simons Joseph Pecoraro Shyam Telikicherla Jeffrey Janicek Timothy Swanson Read More
Skender Executives to Discuss Construction and Design Trends, Innovations in Modular Building
Skender, a vertically integrated design, construction and manufacturing firm based in Chicago, today announced several high-profile speaking engagements in the coming months. Executives from the firm will address construction and design trends as well as Skender's innovative modular approach for multifamily housing, healthcare and hospitality projects. The speaking engagements include: Tuesday, April 23 Illinois Institute… Read More
Skender Starts Interior Construction of Coworking Firm Spaces at Iconic Former Sports Authority Building
We're excited to start interior construction of the 8-story Chicago HQ of coworking firm Spaces at the iconic former Sports Authority building. Read More
Skender Starts Interior Construction of Chicago HQ of Coworking Firm Spaces
The months-long redevelopment of the iconic former Sports Authority building at LaSalle and Ontario has achieved a significant milestone with an affiliate of Next Realty, the building’s owner, completing the base building renovations. Skender, serving as general contractor, will soon start the interior renovation of the future 8-story, 80,000-square-foot Chicago HQ of Spaces, a fast-growing… Read More
Skender, Z Modular reach agreement to fabricate multifamily housing components
Skender and Z Modular have signed an agreement to manufacture multifamily housing components in a factory on the southwest side of Chicago. Read More
Employee Highlight Vol. 1
Get to know some of the amazing people that help make Skender a best place to work. Read More
Multifamily real estate trends for 2019 and beyond
“Here are a few trends that will impact real estate projects and sustainability strategies in 2019 and beyond.” Read More
Business Development for the Modern Age: How Two Chicago Brokers Are Building Relationships In An…
Tune in for the latest episode of Future Built! Skender's Daniel Ulbricht chats with longtime friends and professional competitors Dan Maslauski of Cushman & Wakefield and Cal Wessman of CBRE about the formation of their band and their advice to the next generation of real estate professionals. Read More
Skender Signs Agreement with Z Modular for Use of VectorBloc System in New Chicago Factory
A collaboration to develop the best steel-framed modular solutions in the country. Read More
Skender Signs Agreement with Z Modular for Use of VectorBloc System in New Chicago Factory
Skender, a vertically integrated design, construction and manufacturing firm based in Chicago, today announced it has signed an agreement with Z Modular, a division of Zekelman Industries and leader in steel modular solutions. Skender will use Z Modular’s self-bracing structural VectorBloc system to fabricate multifamily housing components in its soon-to-be-opened modular manufacturing factory on the… Read More
Skender’s Modular Revolution: An Interview with Angela Spadoni
Tune in to Skender Director of Residential Design Angela Spadoni AIA's interview with AEC Business podcast host Aarni Heiskanen to learn more about pushing design boundaries and the benefits of modular construction. Read More
Skender Named a Best Place to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business
We're excited to announce that Skender was recognized today as a best place to work on the Crain's Chicago Business 2019 Best Places to Work list. Of the 100 finalists, Skender ranked No. 11 in the large companies category and No. 41 overall. Read More
Skender Named a Best Place to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business
Skender was recognized today as a best place to work on the Crain’s Chicago Business 2019 Best Places to Work list. Of the 100 finalists, Skender ranked No. 11 in the large companies category and No. 41 overall. With a focus on innovation, teamwork and efficiency, this is the fourth time in seven years that… Read More
Factory-based construction with no siloes starts with a single source of truth
“We need to apply Lean principles, then unite all inputs into a single, shared digital home-base for the project.” Read More
Skender CEO Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from University of Wisconsin–Madison Construction Club
Congratulations to CEO Mark Skender for receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Construction Club. Read More
Skender CEO Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from University of Wisconsin–Madison Construction Club
Skender CEO Mark Skender was recently awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Wisconsin–Madison Construction Club. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have impacted the engineering and construction industries, demonstrated a commitment to excellence, and have shown an interest in developing students, the future leaders of the profession, throughout their career. Mark is… Read More
Factory-based construction with no siloes starts with a single source of truth
What you see is not always what you get in the design and construction industry. This lack of transparency can be especially true when it comes to taking a development project from plans to groundbreaking. Architect’s renderings and 3D models are just the beginning. The designs are then translated by contractors on site, who have… Read More
Sustainable Design for Indoor Environmental Quality
“Evidence of the links between physical environment and a thriving workforce are increasingly influencing the thought process that underpins design.” Read More
“Where you live should not determine how long you live”: Inside the Illinois Medical District…
Tune in to this week's episode of Future Built for an insider look at how the Illinois Medical District and West Side United are working to improve health outcomes in Chicago's West Side neighborhoods, with guest Suzet McKinney, DrPH, MPH. Read More
“Where you live should not determine how long you live”: Inside the Illinois Medical District and West Side United
The Illinois Medical District (IMD), one of the largest urban medical districts in the United States, is a 560-acre region of Chicago that includes medical research facilities, labs, a biotech business incubator, universities, raw land development areas, four hospitals and more than 40 healthcare related facilities. Dr. Suzet McKinney, the CEO and Executive Director of the IMD, is a seasoned public health expert in the fields of emergency preparedness and natural disasters. She sits down with Skender Director of Healthcare Design Jenny Han to share more about how she got her start in public health and what led her from working on the Ebola outbreak to running the IMD.
Learn more about the IMD and an exciting new initiative the IMD is involved with, West Side United – a collaboration working to build community health and economic wellness on Chicago’s West Side.
About Suzet McKinney
Dr. Suzet M. McKinney currently serves as CEO/Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District. She is the former Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response at the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), where she oversaw the emergency preparedness efforts for the Department and coordinated those efforts within the larger spectrum of the City of Chicago’s Public Safety activities, in addition to overseeing the Department’s Division of Women and Children’s Health.
Dr. McKinney has earned a reputation as an experienced, knowledgeable public health official with exceptional communication skills. She has served as an on-camera media expert on emergency issues including biological and chemical threats, natural disasters, pandemic influenza, and climate-related emergencies. A sought-after expert in her field, she has also provided support to the U.S. Department of Defense’s, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, lending subject matter expertise in biological terrorism preparedness to the country of Poland.
Dr. McKinney serves on the Board of Directors for Susan G. Komen Chicago, Thresholds, and the African-American Legacy of the Chicago Community Trust. Dr. McKinney is Co-Chair of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), Health and Medicine Division’s Forum on Medical and Public Health Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies and is a member of the NASEM Board on Health Sciences Policy. She also serves on the Science and Security Board for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Board of Scientific Counselors for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Advisory Council (NAC).
In academia, Dr. McKinney serves as an Instructor in the Division of Translational Policy and Leadership Development at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health and as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. Additionally, she serves as a mentor for the Biomedical Sciences Careers Project, also at Harvard University. She is the co-author of the new text: Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Practical Solutions for the Real World (2018), and was named one of Chicago’s Notable Women in Healthcare (2018).
Dr. McKinney holds her Doctorate degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. She received her Master of Public Health degree (Health Care Administration) and certificates in Managed Care and Health Care Administration from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.
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Skender Modular Doghouses & Birdhouses
As our manufacturing capabilities gets ever closer, we wanted to share the first items that will be coming off the line -- modular doghouses & birdhouses! Happy April Fools'! Read More
Coming in 2019: Esperanza Brighton Park
We are making progress on the new, JGMA-designed Esperanza Health Centers facility at 4700 S. California in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood. Read More
Skender Advances Five to Senior Positions on Growing Operations Team
Skender is pleased to announce that five key leaders have been promoted to director positions on our growing operations team. Congratulations Pete Conlin, John Estes, Jeff Krause, Brian Ribordy and Daniel Torres CHST, STS-C. Thank you for all of your hard work! Read More
Skender Advances Five to Senior Positions on Growing Operations Team
Skender, a Chicago-based construction, design and manufacturing firm, has been recognized as one of the industry’s top employers over the past decade, most recently as a finalist in the Crain’s Best Places to Work list for 2019. Further proving its commitment to continuous improvement of the firm and professional growth of its employees, Skender is… Read More
Newly developed building materials could have big impact on sustainability
Transparent wood, air-filtering bricks and self-cooling walls, oh my! Read More
Open Offices 2.0: What Came Next for Cars.com, an Early Adopter of the Open-plan Layout
Tune in for the latest episode of Future Built! We chat with Cathy Grable, a project director at Partners by Design, about her exciting work on the innovative office space for Cars.com - and what it means for the future of the open office trend. Read More
Open Offices 2.0: What Came Next for Cars.com, an Early Adopter of the Open-plan Layout
The open office concept has been around for long time now. Companies that embraced the open office trend early are now moving into new spaces, as their staff sizes grow or they outlive their lease. One company, Chicago-based Cars.com, took the opportunity during a recent office upgrade to create a space even more open than their previous open office. Project Director Cathy Grable of Partners by Design delves into the Cars.com project with Skender Project Manager Mike Hightower. Together they discuss the project itself, and look at the state of office layout trends market-wide, with a focus on:
– Why Cars.com decided to go even more open with their office space
– What lessons Cars.com learned from their first open office, and how that informed their new space design
– What clients should know about when considering building an open office
– Whether there are industries where an open office layout might not be the right fit
– How a company’s culture shapes the design and layout of its office
About Cathy Grable:
As Project Director at Partners By Design, Cathy is directly involved in all project phases, from programming and design development through construction document preparation, construction administration, and management. During planning and design phases, she plays a pivotal role in developing the design concept and maintains a high degree of client contact to ensure that the client’s needs are met.
Cathy’s diverse experience with space planning and analysis, concept development, furnishings and finishes selection is reflected in her creative approach to each project. Her multidiscipline background enables her to quickly respond to client needs and tight project deadlines. Cathy received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Environmental Design degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
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Development Boom Is Exacerbating Labor Shortage, But Could Increase Opportunities For Women
"I feel like we’ve grown as a society in the past 10 years, where we’ve created paths for women to become project managers, but not enough young girls have gone into construction work," Skender Senior Project Manager Ashlee Pforr featured in a Bisnow article on women in construction. Read More
Chicago Design Firms Behind Braintree, Google Explain What Makes Tech Offices Unique
Unlike some other industries, tech companies have garnered a reputation for creating and maintaining outstanding offices, oftentimes putting unique design, personalization and comfort front and center. Whether startup and tech companies are hiring artists to create company-branded murals or landscaping idyllic rooftop terraces outfitted with Wifi, they are prioritizing having an office that looks and… Read More
Chicago’s multifamily market thriving, evolving
With all the activity going on in multifamily these days, many question what the next frontier of this asset class looks like. Yesterday morning, over 225 people had their questions answered at the 10th Annual Chicagoland Multifamily & Affordable Housing Real Estate Summit, hosted by REjournals. ... Development, construction, design Tritsis stayed on the dais… Read More
Women Have Created Paths For Upward Growth In Construction. Now They’re Working On The Next Step
The world of commercial real estate underwent a revolution in the past decade. Although much progress is still needed to reach equality, the overwhelmingly male-dominated profession made room for women to join as project developers, brokers, property managers and other positions, and many women seized the opportunities presented to ascend to the C-suite. But men… Read More
Almost everything you wanted to know about industrial construction
Experts offer 15 tips on how best to perform factory-based construction... Read More
Almost everything you wanted to know about industrial construction
Is it “prefab”? “Modular”? “Offsite manufacture”? Call it what you will, industrial construction is a concept that is capturing the imagination of AEC firms, developers, entrepreneurs, and investors. Read More
Skender Named a Finalist for the 2019 Best Places to Work in Chicago
Skender has been named a finalist for the 2019 Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business. This is the third time in six years that Skender has earned the Crain’s recognition; and makes over 25 best place to work awards (by multiple awarding bodies) in total over the last dozen years. Since… Read More
Here are the finalists for Chicago’s Best Places to Work 2019
Thrilled to be one of Crain's Chicago Business Best Places to Work again this year – a great honor and recognition of our culture and the people who make it special. Read More
Skender CEO Receives BuiltWorlds Maverick Award
Skender announced today that Mark Skender has been selected as a 2019 BuiltWorlds Maverick Award winner. This annual list highlights innovative professionals in the AEC/RE space who are pushing the built industry forward. This year's list of winners features 50 architects, engineers, technologists, contractors, real estate moguls, venture investors and urban designers from some of… Read More
Skender Wins Top Safety Award
Skender recently won an award for outstanding safety from the Great Lakes Safety Training Center, qualifying for the top division with over 500,000 hours worked and an exemplary safety record for 2018. #workplacesafety #safetytraining #safetyculture Read More
Skender Wins Top Safety Award
Skender recently won an award for outstanding safety from the Great Lakes Safety Training Center, qualifying for the top division with over 500,000 hours worked and an exemplary safety record for 2018. Every Skender project prioritizes safety, production and quality with a mindset that each are interconnected and of equal importance. As a result of… Read More
An Office Expansion Designed with a Winner’s Outlook
“Wilson Sporting Goods called on their general contractor, Skender, and architects/designers, Gensler to make their new office expansion a captivating space for their employees.” Read More
Women In Construction 2019
Hear from just a few of the many hard-working, talented, driven women who work here at Skender and continue to influence our industry. Read More
BuiltWorlds on LinkedIn: “Congrats to Mark Skender! Mark has led Skender’s charge into the #modular…
Huge congratulations to Mark Skender on being selected as a recipient of the 2019 BuiltWorlds Maverick Awards! Read More
“Don’t be your own worst enemy. If you are in the room, you belong in…
“Don’t be your own worst enemy. If you are in the room, you belong in the room. Just own it.” #WICWeek2019 Read More
“We’ve come a long way, but as more women join the construction / design industry,…
“We’ve come a long way, but as more women join the construction / design industry, we need to create more coalitions to amplify our voices and ensure that our contributions don’t go unnoticed.” #WICWeek2019 Read More
“I’ve learned to look at my gender role in the industry less as an obstacle…
“I’ve learned to look at my gender role in the industry less as an obstacle and more as a motivation. People in this industry will respect you for your genuine desire to learn and work hard – and that goes for all people regardless of age, gender and levels of experience." #WICWeek2019 Read More
When ConstrucTech Meets Manufacturing: A New World Order for Buildings
Consider all the people, materials and steps that take a building from concept to completion. Following design, an arguably dysfunctional bidding process begins, during which general contractors try to compress costs as much as possible without leaving too much on the table. To do so, they either sacrifice (a) margins or (b) quality to win… Read More
“Never be afraid to ask for what you’ve worked hard to deserve. You are your…
“Never be afraid to ask for what you’ve worked hard to deserve. You are your most unwavering advocate.” #wicweek2019 Read More
“We aren’t ‘getting there.’ We are here and it’s time to own it. The construction…
“We aren’t ‘getting there.’ We are here and it’s time to own it. The construction industry has changed for the better. It’s now filled with advocates for women and we need to take that support and soar.” #wicweek2019 Read More
Assessing the multifamily sector, from deconversions to affordable housing
The multifamily sector is one of Chicago’s most active asset classes right now. But there are still so many unknowns and evolving trends—from deconversion to affordable housing, co-living to Class A amenities—that it can be hard to get a handle on this lively real estate segment. Read More
The Many Paths to a Career in Architecture and Construction
DLR Group's Korey White, AIA, NCARB and Skender's Savanna Eaglen discuss their nontraditional paths to working in architecture and construction in the latest episode of Future Built. #wicweek2019 Read More
“Working in construction doesn’t always mean hardhats and work boots. There are great jobs for…
“Working in construction doesn’t always mean hardhats and work boots. There are great jobs for creatives, techies, financial folks. I’m a graphic designer, I am a woman in construction.” #WICWeek2019 Read More
The Many Paths to a Career in Architecture and Construction
There isn’t just one path through a career in architecture or construction, and each person’s career path is unique. Architect Korey White and construction project engineer Savanna Eaglen get together for a special Women in Construction Week episode to share their nontraditional paths to where they are now, and to give advice to young folks thinking about forging their own paths. Korey and Savanna dive into questions such as:
- What does a typical path to becoming an architect look like, and what are the alternatives?
- What is the AIA and how can young architects build leadership through the organization?
- How do we draw new people with diverse backgrounds into the architecture/design/build fields?
- Can you be an architect even if you aren’t a great designer?
About Korey White
Korey White is driven by her zest for the built environment, bringing open-mindedness and creativity to her role as an architect. Korey is always up for a challenge, using her unique skill set to help solve social issues through advocacy for how architecture can create healthy communities. She applies her dual master’s degrees in architecture and urban and regional planning from the University of Colorado Denver to an interdisciplinary approach that creates meaningful outcomes for her clients and the community. She currently works for DLR Group in the Chicago K-12 studio.
A 2018 AIA National Young Architect Award Recipient and 2017 BD+C 40 under 40 recipient, she has been recognized for her volunteer efforts advocating for the future of the profession, specifically promoting the National Design Services Act, federal legislation for student loan forgiveness. Additionally, Korey has volunteered on multiple National, State and Local AIA committees and boards, dedicated to advancing Emerging Professionals across the nation and fostering inclusiveness in firms, the AIA and the community at large.
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“Remember that a strong work ethic is universally respected and recognized by the people who…
“Remember that a strong work ethic is universally respected and recognized by the people who will matter. If you listen intently, work hard, and remain humble, you’ll find a way to disregard anyone who thinks you don’t deserve a seat at the table.” #WICWeek2019 Read More
“The only person that can stand between you and your dreams is yourself. Do what…
“The only person that can stand between you and your dreams is yourself. Do what makes you truly happy.” #wicweek2019 Read More
When ConstrucTech Meets Manufacturing: A New World Order for Buildings
Skender CTO Stacy Scopano reveals the new world order for construction. Read More
When ConstrucTech Meets Manufacturing: A New World Order for Buildings
Consider all the people, materials and steps that take a building from concept to completion. Following design, an arguably dysfunctional bidding process begins, during which general contractors try to compress costs as much as possible without leaving too much on the table. To do so, they either sacrifice (a) margins or (b) quality to win… Read More
Strategic hire, new plant tee Skender up for maximum tech efficiencies
"Technology, married to a lean approach, factors heavily in the firm’s ultimate goal of productization of buildings, CEO Mark Skender told Construction Dive." Read More
Sarah’s Circle Finally Getting Its New Home — Which Means More Options For Women Experiencing…
Skender is proud to serve as general contractor for this impactful Sarah's Circle building, which will create 38 units of permanent affordable housing for women experiencing chronic homelessness in addition to new space for the organization's 50-bed interim housing program. Read More
Feeling grateful to share that Skender has been selected as a finalist for Interior Contractor…
Feeling grateful to share that Skender has been selected as a finalist for Interior Contractor of the Year at the Greater Chicago Food Depository's Commercial Real Estate Awards. In 2018, with the help of so many great partners, we successfully completed construction on three standout interior office projects in Chicago–HERE Technologies, Sterling Bay and C.H.… Read More
CRE Future Leaders: Angela Spadoni
"That’s an easy one and the biggest reason I am at Skender. I hope to complete a multifamily housing project using modular/prefabricated construction in Chicago," Skender's Angela Spadoni AIA featured in a Q&A session for RE Journals' CRE Future Leaders series. Read More
Master Planning in Focus: Discussing the Lincoln Yards Plan with Sterling Bay’s Andy Gloor
Sterling Bay's Andy Gloor talks master planning and Lincoln Yards with Skender President Justin Brown on Episode Two of Future Built, our new podcast. Read More
CRE Future Leaders: Angela Spadoni
Angela Spadoni, AIA, recently joined Skender as director of residential architecture, where she oversees multifamily design projects, including the design of housing modules produced in Skender’s new Chicago manufacturing facility. She has more than 10 years of international and domestic experience, with an impressive background in multifamily, condominium, retail and high-rise design. Read More
Strategic hire, new plant tee Skender up for maximum tech efficiencies
While weighed down by a skilled labor shortage, the construction industry’s low productivity relative to other industries comes down to its fundamentally fragmented structure. Design hands off to engineering hands off to construction, and so on. Chicago-based Skender looks to close the gaps and eliminate the inefficiency associated with each handoff through a vertical integration… Read More
Is Chicago Still an Architectural Leader?
Is Chicago still producing work that is architecturally relevant? Skender's Director of Residential Architecture, Angela Spadoni AIA, sits down with Doug Farr, FAIA, LEED AP, CNU-A of Farr Associates Architecture & Urban Design to chat about the past, present and future of architecture in Chicago. Tune into Skender's first episode of Future Built, our new… Read More
The 2019 Top 10 Most Innovative Companies by Sector: Architecture | Fast Company
Exciting news today! Skender has been named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies for 2019" by Fast Company magazine! #FCMostInnovative Read More
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
Want to hear conversations with business leaders who are disrupting the way people think, design and build? Check out our new podcast, Future Built. Subscribe on iTunes, Google Play or wherever you listen to podcasts. #futurebuilt 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
We are excited to add Scott Massa and David Speelman, CPA to our growing manufacturing team! 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
Podcast: Sterling Bay’s Andy Gloor discusses Chicago’s grandiose Lincoln Yards Plan
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. 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.
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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
Skender Hires Scopano as Chief Tech Officer
Skender has hired Stacy Scopano as chief technology officer. Along with ensuring that the company is continually evolving its technological capabilities, his new role will include oversight of the advanced manufacturing technology underlying the operations of Skender’s manufacturing facility, which will produce modular building components. Most recently, Scopano was VP of innovation at Skanska USA,… 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
“If you do an open office right, you’re going to have about the same square…
"If you do an open office right, you're going to have about the same square footage as a traditional office, because you have to have places to put your head down and work, collaborative areas, and a central gathering area" - Skender VP and Partner Clay Edwards shares insight on Chicago's coolest offices, at today's… Read More
Save the date! In partnership with presenting sponsor Titan Electric, we are excited to be…
Save the date! In partnership with presenting sponsor Titan Electric, we are excited to be highlighting Little Wish Foundation at Summer Eclipse on July 18. Tickets available May 6. #littlewishbigimpact #fightcancer #littlewish #summereclipse Read More
Skender Chief Design Officer Timothy Swanson spoke last night about discovering the scalable potential of…
Skender Chief Design Officer Timothy Swanson spoke last night about discovering the scalable potential of our design and fabrication process in an era of escalating material and construction costs. Thanks Chicago Architecture Center for hosting! Read More
Chicago State of Office
Tickets are still available for Thursday's Bisnow Chicago State of Office event! Join us to see Skender VP and Partner Clay Edwards share his thoughts about creative office trends. Read More
Skender Completes Construction of Aspen Dental Midwest Headquarters in Chicago
Skender has completed interior construction of Aspen Dental’s Midwest headquarters in Chicago. The company now occupies 50,000 square feet at 1040 W. Randolph St. Aspen Dental is a New York-based company that provides administrative and business support to branded dental practices. Read More
Skender Hires Stacy Scopano as Chief Technology Officer
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Stacy Scopano as our new chief technology officer. Welcome, Stacy! 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.”
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Current Projects: Prefab Design on the Rise
Join us at the Chicago Architecture Center on Tuesday, Feb. 12 to hear Skender Chief Design Officer Timothy Swanson detail the exciting work underway to transform modular, prefab construction in Chicago. Read More
Skender Completes Construction of Aspen Dental Midwest Headquarters
We recently built out Aspen Dental's new 50,000-SF Midwest HQ in the art deco building at 1040 W. Randolph. Another stellar design by our collaborator Perkins+Will! 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
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… Read More
Office Wellness Has To Begin Long Before Move-In
When it comes to wellness in the office, there are many design and construction considerations. Skender's Clay Edwards walks Bisnow readers through the process and several popular wellness options. Read More
Skender completes interior construction on Upwork’s West Loop 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 Street from its former space at 224 N. Desplaines Street. Read More
Skender Completes Interior Construction of Upwork HQ
Skender recently completed Upwork's new Chicago headquarters in collaboration with Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Syska Hennessy Group and Cresa Chicago. 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 Office Headquarters for ShopRunner in Chicago
Skender has completed construction of ShopRunner’s new 25,000-square-foot headquarters in Chicago. The e-commerce start-up company has relocated to 350 N. Orleans St. from 350 N. LaSalle St. The new office has full Wi-Fi capabilities, eliminating the need for data cabling. Read More
CannonDesign Expands Echo Global Logistics’ Offices With Edge and Grit
We're proud to be the contractor behind this 135,000-SF expansion project for Echo Global Logistics. #throwbackthursday Read More
Skender Completes First Data Cable-Free HQ for ShopRunner
Skender, serving as interior construction manager, has completed construction of ShopRunner's first data cable-free HQ at 350 N. Orleans. Kudos to our collaborators Partners by Design and ConopCo Project Management on a successful project! 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
Thank you to the North Shore Place project team for the job site tour last…
Thank you to the North Shore Place project team for the job site tour last week! #skenderatwork 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
A Tour of Skender’s Elegant Chicago Office
Skender, a construction company that offers design, construction, and manufacturing services, hired architecture and interior design firm Perkins+Will to design their new office in Chicago, Illinois. 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 announced the promotions of five key leaders. Jeff Janicek was named vice president and partner while Brian Bukowski, Joe Pecoraro, Tim Rogers and Brian Simons, CHC have been elevated to project executive and partner. Read More
The Future Of Fulton Market Lies In New Office Towers, Not Renovated Industrial Lofts
What's new and next in Fulton Market? Skender's Clay Edwards talks with Bisnow. Read More
Skender Promotes Five to Leadership Board
Skender is pleased to announce five key leaders have been promoted to partner. Congratulations Brian Bukowski, Jeffrey Janicek, Joseph Pecoraro, Tim Rogers and Brian Simons! 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
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… Read More
Belinda Moore Promoted to Executive Director of Skender Foundation
We are excited to announce that Belinda Moore has been promoted to Executive Director of Skender Foundation! 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
In collaboration with Perkins+Will and ConopCo Project Management, 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. 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
We are pleased to announce five promotions to senior positions on our growing operations team! Congratulations to Nestor Acance, Thomas Boehm, Bob Kedzorski, Jeff Reist and Dave Ruzich on your well-deserved new roles. 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
3 Top Trends Show Green Building Technology on the Rise
“Owners are seeing a 10 percent or greater increase in asset value for new green buildings compared to traditional ones—as well as decreased operating costs and a shorter payback period.” Read More
GGP’s 176,000 SF Office Becomes Move-in Ready in 20-Weeks
“GGP partnered with Skender and ARCHIDEAS to ensure that their newly renovated 176,000-square-foot three-floored office would be move-in ready in less than 20 weeks.” 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
Joseph Skender reflects on Skender's journey from his family’s basement to one of the top construction firms in Chicago. Congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your leadership! 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
BD+C’s 101 Top Products Report for 2018
“Building Design+Construction readers select their top products for the past 15 months in the second annual 101 Top Products report.” 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
7 trends that will shape commercial construction in 2019
“... glacial movements take center stage ... the seven biggest factors to watch this year.” Read More
Space As A Service: What Property Managers Can Learn From The Hospitality Industry
“To provide a tenant-first approach, property managers are taking a cue from the hospitality industry.” 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
5 Possible Scenarios For The Future Of Coworking
“In analyzing the likelihood of the growth to continue, industry experts at Newmark Knight Frank and JLL took a deep dive in separate reports into how this sector of commercial real estate is evolving.” Read More
“Our industry is ripe for innovation and disruption. We have to push and we have…
"Our industry is ripe for innovation and disruption. We have to push and we have to fail and we have to try faster to solve the great challenges that face society." - Skender CDO Timothy Swanson talks tech innovation at today's #REjournalsforecast event with RE Journals Read More
Do Legacy Construction Companies Have the Edge on Modular Building?
“Vertical integration is key to Skender’s modular foray, combining design, construction, and manufacturing under one roof. And that’s where an established legacy general contractor has a critical edge.” 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
Adoption Leaders 50 List 2018 – BuiltWorlds
We're excited to share that our very own Shyam Telikicherla was named to BuiltWorlds' Adoption Leaders 50 List 2018 for his innovative work in VDC/BIM best practices and design model data! 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
2018 Highlights
2018 was a productive, high-energy year with many highlights. We are thankful for the people we’ve met, projects we’ve built and partnerships we’ve forged. We look forward to continuing this journey with even more to come in 2019. Read More
We’re looking forward to the opportunities and partnerships the new year will bring. Have a…
We're looking forward to the opportunities and partnerships the new year will bring. Have a safe and happy 2019! 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
We recently completed interior construction of The AZEK Company's new headquarters at 1330 W. Fulton thanks to a great collaboration with Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED), ESD (Environmental Systems Design, Inc.) and JLL. Welcome, neighbor! 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
How these megaprojects could reshape Chicago’s transit map
“A burgeoning mega-Loop on the verge of outgrowing its transportation skeleton and reigniting debate on the future of downtown transit.” Read More
18 Commercial Real Estate Trends To Dominate In 2019
“From the rise of opportunity zones to a slowdown in industrial absorption, these are 18 trends experts forecast for 2019.” Read More
Has Skender cracked the code of modular housing?
“One interesting company getting into it is Chicago's Skender, which just unveiled its prototype unit to the press.” Read More
An ambitious plan to change how we build housing
“The promise of the factory is twofold: [Skender] believes it will cut construction costs by as much as 15%, and speed up construction by as much as 40%.” 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
Planning and constructing a hybrid operating room: Lessons learned
“As technology increases and more surgeries can be performed with minimally invasive interventional procedures, hybrid operating rooms continue to become more popular ... will become standard.” Read More
Elgin Tower: Elgin’s heart beats again
“Contractor Skender and architect Webster Design were determined to save the building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 ...” Read More
Deciphering the Fine Print of Tenant Improvement Clauses
"For companies considering the cost of locating in a new building versus the cost of renovating space in an older building, it’s important to read the fine print." By Ashlee Pforr Read More
Interior Design/Tenant Improvement: Mead Johnson Nutrition Headquarters
We were proud to have been part of this project with our partner, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Partners by Design & ESD (Environmental Systems Design, Inc.)! 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
The ConTechCrew 146: The Flipside of Silicon Valley
Episode 146 of The ConTechCrew: “It’s not a prediction, offsite construction is going to be the future of construction … [Skender] figured out ways to actually take this process and drive down the cost … reduce waste.” Starts at the 52:27 mark. Read More
Skender Foundation End of Year Thank You
Skender Foundation’s successes in 2018 made a big impact and we are grateful for your support. From the execution of our first endowment fund to unprecedented success at our two fundraising events to an effective volunteer day, 2018 raised the bar for our organization. Read More
Chicago Power Women
Looking forward to tomorrow's Bisnow Chicago Power Women event honoring women in commercial real estate! Tickets are still available. #commercialrealestate #proudsponsor Read More
Elgin Tower: Elgin’s heart beats again
A project team brings this Chicago suburb’s landmark tower back to life. Read More
The Doctor Is in: Healthcare Is the New Retail
“Medical, on the other hand, has seen no shortage of demand, making medical an excellent alternative for retail spaces that otherwise face challenges in attracting long-term, stable tenants.” 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
“Veteran senior housing developers and operators recognize that a thorough, detailed pre-construction process can minimize the need for value engineering.” 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
“The anchor tenant at the local strip mall is no longer going to be your…
"The anchor tenant at the local strip mall is no longer going to be your electronics or grocery store, it's going to be a medical provider." -Skender VP Jeff Janicek at yesterday's Bisnow National Healthcare Midwest event Read More
Skender Celebrates Unveiling of Modular Smart Apartment Prototype
Skender’s vision for a #modular building process has reached a milestone: a smart apartment module prototype is complete and on-display, representing what will be produced in our factory in 2019. #modularconstruction 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
To all our employees, clients and partners, we say a heartfelt thank you for your…
To all our employees, clients and partners, we say a heartfelt thank you for your energy, commitment and collaboration. We wish you all a plentiful and relaxing Thanksgiving. Read More
Skender Foundation Adds Two New Board Members
Skender Foundation is excited to announce two new appointments, Jared Funk and Tim Swanson, to its board of directors! 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
The construction industry generates a considerable amount of waste. Today, a new report from Skender and BuiltWorlds offers solutions for “Going Lean: Toward Waste-free Building”. 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
We are excited to announce that Michelle Levy has joined our team as strategic account manager. 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 Director of Operations Jenny Han recently volunteered with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago &…
Skender Director of Operations Jenny Han recently volunteered with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana for My Dream Life, an interactive workshop featuring career ‘taste test’ stations. Read More
Thank you to all veterans, including those at Skender and industry partners, for your service…
Thank you to all veterans, including those at Skender and industry partners, for your service and sacrifice. #NeverForget Read More
6 UrbanTech Innovations That Could Transform Our Cities
“More technological advances are on the way that could change fundamental aspects of urban life ...” 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's work continues to shape the popular Fulton Market corridor. Today's news: We are collaborating with Solomon Cordwell Buenz and JLL on the interior construction of the exciting, new Vital Proteins HQ. 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
Latin School Bridge – Connecting Two Schools
Connecting two schools at different elevations on a tight schedule could be daunting, but thanks to our great partners and project team, we provided Latin School with direct access to the upper school’s new learning commons through a new bridge installation. 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
We are thrilled to welcome two new additions to our growing manufacturing team. Skender’s advanced manufacturing facility in southwest Chicago produces modular components that Skender constructs into multifamily, healthcare and commercial buildings. 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
Hyatt House Vertical Timelapse
In 18 weeks, we went from foundation and building permit issuance to topping out of Sterling Bay's new Hyatt House hotel in the West Loop. It couldn’t have been done without our Lean construction approach and great partners. Read More
Skender Core Values – Who We Are
Last week, we showcased our three core values: True Partner, Proactive and Refreshing. They keep us hungry, humble and smart as we revolutionize how the industry builds. Here’s a recap of our core values and what makes Skender who we are. Read More
Sprout Social Maintains Rapid Growth With a Sleek and On-Trend Space
“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, collaborative, and tech-driven space.” Read More
Healthy, Well-Designed Multifamily Projects Can Also Be Affordable
“Woodlawn Station is a testament to how smart #design and efficient #construction practices can improve how developers approach #affordablehousing projects.” 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
5 common misconceptions about interior construction
“A lot of companies have misconceptions and preconceived ideas about the building process, and a lot has changed within this construction space in recent years.” 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
Three Ways to Shatter Construction Silos and Win Efficiencies | Propmodo
What if design, manufacturing and construction teams were all working together under one roof? Read More
Refreshing – Skender Core Value
Humbly sharing our experiences and mistakes, valuing new ideas and opinions of each employee, and implementing innovative solutions are ways that we make “refreshing” one of three core values at Skender. There’s no voice too small to be heard. Read More
“I’ve never met an owner who has an unlimited wallet…. Modular construction is really the…
"I've never met an owner who has an unlimited wallet.... Modular construction is really the creativity needed for sustainability in this market. It's more competitive, you're controlling the environment and cutting waste." - Joseph Pecoraro of Skender speaks about the struggles of rising material and construction costs at today's Bisnow Multifamily Annual Conference Midwest -… Read More
Proactive – Skender Core Value
We take great pride in our work and stay hungry for new ways to improve, enforcing “proactive” as a critical Skender core value. 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
Skender recently completed the 50,000-SF, full-building rehabilitation of Lake Merritt Apartments in Oakland—a great collaboration with Preservation Partners and Relativity Architects. 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
Bisnow Multifamily Annual Conference Midwest
The Bisnow Multifamily Annual Conference Midwest is a full day of speakers and networking with the region's top real estate professionals. Our own Project Executive Joseph Pecoraro will speak about rising material and construction costs. You don't want to miss this one! Read More
True Partner – Skender Core Value
We believe collaboration, respect, clear communication and open-mindedness are essential ingredients to success. That’s why “true partner” is one of our three core values at Skender. When one succeeds, we all succeed. Stay tuned all week as we release videos highlighting each of our core values. Read More
Chicago’s Coolest Offices: 78 entries. 3 judges. 11 winners. Tour the winning spaces. #ccboffice
Check out Chicago's 11 coolest offices named by Crain's Chicago Business. We're honored to have built these cutting edge spaces for Sterling Bay, Beam Suntory, Capital One and Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP. Read More
Skender Volunteer Day 2018
For our annual Volunteer Day, we partnered with Solid Rock Carpenters and Appalachia Service Project to build the wall panels of two homes for families in need. Nearly 100 Skender employees, including friends and family, turned out for a fun day and a great cause! Already looking forward to next year! 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
San Francisco’s largest office leases in so far in 2018 – San Francisco Business Times
“The driving force, experts said, is seemingly endless demand from tech companies at the same time as office vacancy fell to 4.7 percent during the third quarter.” Read More
BOMA & HCI’s 2018 Real Estate Healthcare Symposium
Join us at this year's BOMA/Suburban Chicago & Health Care Institute (HCI) Chicago Chapter 2018 Real Estate Healthcare Symposium, where Jenny Han, our own Director of Operations and a health care design expert, will lead a panel on innovations in healthcare real estate. Jenny will lead the discussion on how innovation plays a key role… 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 recently started construction of an 85,000-SF training center addition and renovation for the Chicagoland Laborers' Union. 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
We are thrilled to welcome multifamily design expert Angela Spadoni as Skender's new director of residential architecture! 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
Nearly 100 Skender employees, friends and family volunteered this weekend to complete the framing of…
Nearly 100 Skender employees, friends and family volunteered this weekend to complete the framing of two houses that are being shipped to families in need in Rainelle, WV. Loved the opportunity to partner with Solid Rock Carpenters and benefit Appalachia Service Project! #skendergives 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
Confronting the challenge of affordable housing
“While the need hasn’t gone away, creating workforce housing continues to be a challenge ... So what is the current state of affordable housing and what might be its prognosis?” Read More
Skender Adds AZEK Company HQ to Fulton Market Portfolio
Thrilled to add The AZEK Company to our Fulton Market portfolio! We recently started interior construction of their new HQ space at 1330 W. Fulton in collaboration with Harley Ellis Devereaux (HED), ESD (Environmental Systems Design, Inc.) and JLL. 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
To Keep Talent In Chicago’s Suburbs, Office Landlords Improve The Tenant Experience
Bringing the cool factor by blending amenities with tech! This was a great design collaboration to help Farpoint Development LLC attract tenants to 6300 River Road in Rosemont. Skender is thrilled to be part of it! #design Read More
The New Vertical: Skender’s new vertical integration system puts design, manufacturing and construction on one…
Hot off the press! Check out "The New Vertical" feature story in this month's Chicago Architect magazine. It nicely encapsulates our vertical integration and new modular capabilities. AIA Chicago #modular #design #designbuild Pete Murray Timothy Swanson #construction Read More
Skender Starts Work on Independent Living Facility Rehabilitation
We're excited to work with repeat client Preservation Partners on the FitzGerald-designed rehabilitation of Westmont I-Care, an independent living facility located in Westmont, Illinois. 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
C.H. Robinson – The Sasquatch-sized Sterling Bay Project
19 weeks and 207,000 square feet of interior construction: We successfully completed C.H. Robinson's new tech-focused office, the first property in Sterling Bay's Lincoln Yards development. Read More
C.H. Robinson – The Sasquatch-sized Sterling Bay Project
19 weeks and 207,000 square feet of interior construction: We successfully completed C.H. Robinson’s new tech-focused office, the first property in Sterling Bay’s Lincoln Yards development. 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
Top 125 Reconstruction Work Contractors + CM Firms [2018 Giants 300 Report]
Skender climbs 7 spots in 2018 to the No. 27 Reconstruction (Renovation) Contractor in the United States! Read More
Skender Foundation : Harvesting Hope 2018
Harvesting Hope is two weeks away! Get your tickets today to support Purple Asparagus, a nonprofit organization that educates children, families and the community about good nutrition. Join us October 18 at Morgan's on Fulton and the official after party at Federales! #harvestinghope #skendergives #purpleasparagus 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 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 Delivers Loyola University Lab
“The facade was built using smart technology in the form of sensors that change the color of the glass according to the sunlight’s intensity. Thus, the glass becomes less transparent at sunset.” Read More
We are proud to be named one of the top 100 healthcare contractors in the…
We are proud to be named one of the top 100 healthcare contractors in the U.S. Read More
Skender Starts Work on Independent Living Facility Rehabilitation
We are excited to be working with repeat client OTR (Over The Rainbow Association) on the Weese Langley Weese Architects-designed rehabilitation of Arboretum West Apartments, an independent living facility located in Lombard, Illinois. 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 Next Phase in Office Design is Here
“The changing nature of work and the technologies that drive marketplace competition require the office to be adaptable, comfortable, and able to move fluidly in support of the next project, the next new idea, and the next team created to bring those ideas and projects to life.” Read More
Tech & Modular Construction: Disrupting the Traditional Development Process
Registration is still open for tomorrow's talk on Tech & Modular Construction with Urban Land Institute in Chicago! Listen to Skender CDO Timothy Swanson talk with fellow panelists about innovative ways to reduce the cost and timeline for delivering new developments. Read More
Interested in joining an award-winning workplace culture? Visit us at Purdue University’s School of Construction…
Interested in joining an award-winning workplace culture? Visit us at Purdue University's School of Construction Management Technology Career Fair this Friday to learn more! #boilerup #constructionmanagement #boilermakers #purdue 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
We’re proud to be hosting tonight’s CSI Chicago Chapter monthly meeting. Skender CDO Timothy Swanson…
We’re proud to be hosting tonight’s CSI Chicago Chapter monthly meeting. Skender CDO Timothy Swanson digs into the idea of buildings as products with his presentation on the benefits of factory-manufactured buildings for the 21st century. Read More
Skender Partners with Solid Rock Carpenters for Annual Volunteer Day
We are excited to partner with SOLID ROCK CARPENTERS for our annual volunteer day! On October 13, we will be building wood wall panels for single-family homes to be shipped to low-income territories chosen by the Appalachia Service Project. The day will take place onsite at Skender's new advanced manufacturing facility. 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
Solar Energy Works for Illinois – Monthly Live Webinar Series
You don't want to miss this one - Skender Senior Project Manager Sean Moran is leading a free webinar tomorrow on net zero construction and how solar energy can pay dividends for the life of your building. Sign up at the link below! Sean is a LEED Accredited Professional and is Passive House Institute Builder… Read More
Women’s Workshop
#WomenInConstruction Read More
Skender Named a San Francisco Bay Area Best and Brightest Company to Work For
Skender was recently named a San Francisco Bay Area Best and Brightest Company to Work For! We opened our local San Francisco office in 2016, expanded the following year and have grown the local team to now comprise more than 20 construction experts. #growth #SF #construction 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
Can the modern office work for both introverts and extroverts?
“While it would appear that introverts are beginning to reclaim their right to solitude in the office, evidence shows that from time to time even their non-introvert colleagues yearn for the same.” Read More
Skender Completes Loyola University Chicago Engineering Science Flex Laboratory
Skender recently completed Loyola University Chicago's Engineering Science Flex Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility designed to put engineering on display. Our team successfully collaborated with SmithGroup, Elara Engineering and Thornton Tomasetti to complete this unprecedented, tech-forward building for Loyola. 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
New paths ahead: HERE’s reopened American HQ has room for 1,400 employees
The new 275,000-SF, Skender-built American HQ for HERE Technologies is now open for business. We are proud to be part of this impressive project and team. Read More
The Premier Conference on High-Performance Building Enclosures.
Join us this Friday at the Chicago Facades+ Conference, where Skender CDO Tim Swanson will delve into the future of building facades from our modular factory. Tickets and info here: https://lnkd.in/gf8YS3a Read More
Skender Foundation : Harvesting Hope 2018
Harvesting Hope is one month away! Get your tickets today to support Purple Asparagus, a nonprofit organization that educates children, families and the community about good nutrition. Join us October 18 at Morgan's on Fulton. #harvestinghope #nutrition #purpleasparagus Read More
Vertical gardens: Wellness oases in the urban jungle
“When there’s only so much real estate available in urban centers for parks, how’s a developer to bring in more green with biophilic design?” Read More
Skender Ranks Among Nation’s Top 130 Contractors
Skender ranked at No. 67 among the nation’s top multifamily contractors in Building Design+Construction magazine's recently published 2018 Giants 300 Report. #multifamily Read More
The US Navy’s next supercarrier is 50% complete — watch the latest 1,000-ton chunk drop…
“The modular approach has allowed the shipbuilder to reach this point in construction 14 months earlier than it was reached on the USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy's first-in-class Ford-class carrier, the company said.” Read More
2018 Multifamily Executive Conference
Our own Timothy Swanson, chief design officer, will be speaking next week at MFE: Multifamily Executive Conference in Las Vegas. Learn more about this exciting event here: 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
6 Tips For Transforming A Warehouse Into A Loft-Style Office
“For office tenants accustomed to the Class-A, turnkey experience of leasing space in Chicago’s central business district, the process of an interior build-out in the West Loop could come as a shock.” Read More
Skender’s Timothy Swanson stopped by WGN Radio AM 720 this afternoon to talk with Steve…
Skender's Timothy Swanson stopped by WGN Radio AM 720 this afternoon to talk with Steve Bertrand about modular construction and the future of building. Listen to Tim's segment at the 21:20 mark here: https://bit.ly/2QnsiUr Read More
Chicago becomes seventh city in the world to achieve LEED for Cities Platinum certification
"Chicago ranked as the country’s greenest city by the Green Building Adoption Index for the second year in a row." Read More
Skender’s Healthcare Portfolio Growing as Firm Completes Several Projects for Major Chicago Health System
Skender’s healthcare portfolio continues to grow as we recently completed several projects for Northwestern Medicine. #healthcareconstruction 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 at No. 80 out of 130 U.S.-based contractors in Building Design+Construction magazine's recently published 2018 Giants 300 Report, which ranks U.S. building contractors by annual revenue. 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
Lean, tech, talent training highlight contractor innovations
“From 5D estimating tools to interactive punch lists, the nation’s largest construction and construction management firms continue to push technology to gain an edge.” Read More
Manufacturing modular buildings “has opened us up already to wild new materials we haven’t been…
Manufacturing modular buildings "has opened us up already to wild new materials we haven’t been able to touch, because we can use them at scale, and allows us to explore new ways of experience and design within a building, because we’re starting to standardize the process of putting things together." - Skender CDO Timothy Swanson… Read More
5 Design Trends That Will Make Your Office More Productive–and Look Amazing
“As Inc. sifts through the contenders for the World's Coolest Offices list each year, several design elements and philosophies tend to run through many of the hottest, newest spaces.” Read More
Why Paying Attention to This Overlooked Office Feature Might Have a Huge Productivity Payoff
Why Paying Attention to This Overlooked Office Feature Might Have a Huge Productivity Payoff Read More
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Edward Burke attended the topping out ceremony for Esperanza Health…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Edward Burke attended the topping out ceremony for Esperanza Health Centers’ new medical clinic in Brighton Park. Built by Skender, the state-of-the-art facility will provide high-quality healthcare for an underserved population. Read More
Come check out our Skender Foundation sponsored K9, Chi-Lo, created by our very own Courtney…
Come check out our Skender Foundation sponsored K9, Chi-Lo, created by our very own Courtney Boatwright! Located at 450 Cityfront Plaza. #k9sforcops Read More
Contractors expect more change in next 5 years than past 50
And the award for "best industry headline of the week" goes to ... Read More
Six design elements for a more productive office | JLL Real Views
“The six most important elements in an office that boost worker productivity by aiding with everything from concentration to wellness” Read More
Built To Move | HCD Magazine
“Designing for flexibility in healthcare is a necessity. Design and building professionals must ... work together to implement solutions like modular systems that support streamlined and ongoing facilities projects.” Read More
Senior Living Interior Design Evolves to Meet Boomers’ Tastes – Senior Housing News
A closer look at the fast-changing design trends for the senior living industry. Read More
Big day yesterday as we celebrated construction “topping out” at our 14-story Hyatt House hotel…
Big day yesterday as we celebrated construction “topping out” at our 14-story Hyatt House hotel project! Now that we have reached the structure’s final height, Skender moves onto building enclosure and interior roughing. Congrats to all! #skenderatwork Read More
What Kind of Workplace Will Attract Gen Z? Just Ask the Colleges
“Five things higher ed can teach us about the next generation of employees” Read More
Top 10 ways to build smarter – San Francisco Business Times
Skender highlights ways to build smarter in the San Francisco Business Times: “When employed comprehensively, this advice can have a huge impact on quality and costs.” Read More
2018 Summer Eclipse
Last month at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Skender Foundation hosted its 7th annual Summer Eclipse event. $380,000 was raised in one night by sponsors and more than 500 attendees. Check out some highlights from the event! Read More
Trying to reduce construction costs in SoMa? Look up to the ceiling – San Francisco…
“It’s natural to make the assumption that an informal, exposed ceiling is less expensive than a suspended ceiling — but the reality is often quite different.” Read More
Vote Here!
Teamed up with Gensler, our CANstruction team built a Keith Haring art piece. Keith Haring was no stranger to how art brings to light social issues, and he understood the impact and importance of speaking up and creating a more just and fulfilled world. Here in Chicago, where a new exhibit of Haring’s murals are on display,… Read More
Skender Completes POAH Project in Woodlawn – Connect Media Commercial Real Estate News
“Woodlawn Station features a main building with 55 units, and two additional nearby buildings containing 12 and three units respectively.” Read More
DuPage Medical Group adds 7 clinics
Congrats to DuPage Medical Group! Skender is proud to have been part of the design team on these clinics. Read More
Seventh Annual Summer Eclipse Raises $380,000 for Local Charities – August 15, 2018
“Since its 2012 inception, Skender Foundation has raised over $2,300,000 for more than 200 charitable organizations.” 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, in collaboration with design firm Nia Architects, Inc and owner Preservation of Affordable Housing, recently completed Woodlawn Station, a transit-oriented affordable housing development on Chicago's South Side. #affordablehousing 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 recently completed a 3-story renovation for Prezi in San Francisco. This fast-paced project was an exciting collaboration with Gensler. #renovation #prezi #SoMa 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
More contractors are turning to offsite production for speed and quality
“Offsite production is alluring to AEC firms and their clients at a time when the industry is struggling with scarce skilled labor and building material cost escalation.” Read More
Elgin Tower Building wins preservation award
Congrats to all our project partners! Our Elgin Tower project just earned "one of the most prestigious preservation awards in the state:" the 2018 Landmark Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation preservation award for adaptive reuse. 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
Hyatt House from the Ground-up
Going vertical only happens with expertly planned and executed substructure and foundation. Sterling Bay's new West Loop Hyatt House hotel was no exception. With innovative thinking from our own project team alongside our great partnerships, we’re bringing the new Hyatt House to life. Read More
Skender Completes Interior Construction of New 207,000-square-foot C.H. Robinson Office in Chicago’s Lincoln Yards Development
Skender recently completed interior construction of C.H. Robinson's new 207,000-SF office in Chicago's Lincoln Yards Development. Designed by Vocon and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), the office is the first riverfront property in the Sterling Bay-owned development. 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
Jenny Han, our director of operations, spent the weekend speaking to high school students at…
Jenny Han, our director of operations, spent the weekend speaking to high school students at the Global Leadership Conference for Korean American Leaders. Jenny is a dedicated mentor and teacher to the next generation of leaders, and we are proud to have her as part of the Skender family! Read More
Landmarks Illinois announces 2018 Preservation Award Recipients
The Elgin Tower Building recently earned a 2018 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for adaptive reuse. In February, Skender completed a 60,000-square-foot rehabilitation of the 15-story historic centerpiece in downtown Elgin, Illinois. #adaptivereuse Read More
Infill Redevelopment, a Long Game Perfect for Architects
"Creating a high-performance home chassis that can be configurable, permit-able, and quickly manufactured allows us to work directly with the families that will call these buildings home to define and design them in a fraction of the time of traditional construction.” #design #infill #redevelopment Read More
The Hidden Costs of Open Ceilings
Skender has renovated millions of square feet of award-winning interior workspace environments. Our recent article for Work Design Magazine explores the hidden costs of open ceilings. Read More
Modern Fit-Outs Demand New Tech and Human Intellect
“By leveraging space utilization and fit-out technology tools, workplace strategists can gain a deeper understanding of where things are now and where they need to go next.” Read More
Intern-It-Up!
Meetings, marketing and mail, oh my! Our corporate interns learned a lot this summer. Check out the fun video they made to see what they did! Read More
Healthcare market trends 2018: Health systems get leaner, more resilient
“Hospitals set their sights on improving patient convenience and operational efficiency.” Read More
Chicago’s top workplace rooftops
The Skender-built interior environment for GGP "was focused on creating many kinds of work seating, but in June that ethos spilled onto a spacious third-floor terrace.” Read More
Big-picture thinking: Seven large-scale smart construction approaches
7 large-scale approaches to controlling construction costs by Clay Edwards. Read More
Skender Opening Modular Building Factory In South Lawndale
“There is a convergence happening between manufacturing, development and construction, and this is the right time and place to do this.” Read More
Contractor plans factory-built apartment project in West Loop
We are excited to welcome Pete Murray to team Skender. Leveraging his extensive experience in manufacturing and operations, Pete will oversee Skender's new modular building business unit. Learn more in Crain's ... 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
Contractor plans factory-built apartment project in West Loop
“Skender is taking a big step into the modular construction business.” Learn more: 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
Offsite construction: Why it’s important for the survival of your firm
"Companies that purposefully embrace offsite construction ... will survive and thrive." Read More
Essential Process of Pull-Planning
Every project we take on, we build twice---once in the field and once in the office through pull-planning. As part of our Lean project delivery, which saves our clients time and money, we build by collaborating and gathering important input from everyone involved in the project life cycle. Read More
Six commercial real estate myths debunked
Exploring some common myths about CRE Read More
5 ‘giant’ trends poised to change the face of construction
“Five emerging trends that are likely to transform the construction market in the near future.” Read More
LeadHership Series: Meet Cheryl Skender *What has been the most challenging moment you have faced…
Cheryl Skender discusses her leadership journey and shares some important advice with Chicago Woman Magazine. #leadership #leadHERship Read More
5 ways design is transforming behavioral healthcare
Circadian lighting, calming materials, and transparency are helping to normalize the patient experience in behavioral healthcare. Read More
Healthcare and the reality of artificial intelligence
“Three areas where AI has the potential to impact healthcare delivery services ...” Read More
6 Ways Developers Can Build Smarter During Design And Construction
"Tips to help developers keep costs low, meet their budgets and build long-lasting properties.” 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 recently broke ground on North Shore Place, an assisted living and memory care facility in Northbrook, Illinois. This marks the second new construction project our team has completed for Senior Lifestyle on this property in collaboration with SAS Architects & Planners, LLC. 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
How Prefabrication, Connectivity, Software Will Improve The Future Energy Efficiency Of Buildings
“Building and design experts believe the answer to reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions is embracing tech, prefabrication, better materials and smart design with vertical integration.” Read More
Modular construction may be key to relieving housing crunch
“Prefabrication, which is a more efficient way to build, may be the best hope to quickly build affordable housing, some industry insiders believe.” Read More
Skender experts Timothy Swanson and Kevin Bredeson dive into our new partnership with ManufactOn and how we are…
Skender experts Timothy Swanson and Kevin Bredeson dive into our new partnership with ManufactOn and how we are using new technology as the foundation of our integration of design, construction and manufacturing - at the BuiltWorlds #BWProjects conference. 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.” Read More
5 Tenant Demands Reshaping The Office Market
“As buildings fight to keep up with these evolving tenant needs, they are implementing a streamlined, tech-driven approach to help tenants define their space.” Read More
BIM: What you need to know
“How AEC professionals can use BIM to boost productivity, reduce errors, manage workflows, cut costs and resolve disputes.” Read More
Skender experts Timothy Swanson and Kevin Bredeson dive into our new partnership with ManufactOn and how we…
Skender experts Timothy Swanson and Kevin Bredeson dive into our new partnership with ManufactOn and how we are using new technology as the foundation of our integration of design, construction and manufacturing - at the BuiltWorlds #BWProjects conference. Read More
Skender Hires Two Industry Veterans
We are thrilled to announce that two industry veterans recently joined the Skender team. Welcome Jerry Winchester and Matt Baker! 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
Healthcare’s In A State Of Constant Disruption
“The greatest demand is for outpatient facilities. Only 10 years ago, it would have been hard to imagine hip replacement done in an outpatient setting, but now it is increasingly common, especially in newer ambulatory surgery centers ...” Read More
The Shortage of Affordable Rental Housing in the U.S. Continues Unabated, Study Shows
"Experts continue to call for new ideas to build rental housing at more moderate prices. 'Doing so will require new approaches for making effective use of public funding, reducing construction costs and easing regulatory barriers.'" Read More
Projects Conference Chicago – BuiltWorlds
Don't miss out - Skender Chief Design Officer Tim Swanson and Chief Technology Officer Kevin Bredeson present alongside ManufactOn's Raghi Iyengar about their newest collaboration - a vertically-integrated design-manufacturing-build business model. 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
Meet the region’s 50 fastest-growing companies
We are proud to have served as general contractor on several of these growing workspaces! #fast50 #skenderatwork Read More
Amenities That Attract Office Tenants
“Today’s office amenities are all about retaining workers and keeping them in the office longer—and for office property owners, that requires application to the entire building.” Read More
Interiors Market Video
The personality of an organization comes through the built environment. Constructing and renovating millions of square feet of award-winning interior workspace environments has taught us to see every project differently—from tech startups to established law firms. Read More
101 Ways To Build Smarter – #43 Engage in Digital Collaboration
Keep current on the latest innovations, insights and methodologies to #buildsmarter — download the free eBook at www.skender.com/buildsmarter Read More
101 Ways To Build Smarter – #66 Embrace Pre-Fabrication
We published a free eBook of 101 value-enhancing, productivity-boosting ideas for your next building project — head over to www.skender.com/buildsmarter to download the full list. #buildsmarter Read More
101 Ways To Build Smarter – #42 VR Mock-ups
This is one of 101 ways to #buildsmarter that you can find for free in our new eBook – head over to www.skender.com/buildsmarter to get the full list. Read More
Reducing design coordination errors with VR, AR
“Within a couple of years, virtual and augmented reality tools won't seem so exotic, and are going to be routinely applied for clash management as well as many other related applications.” Read More
Rovers set to invade construction jobsites
“Part Wall-E, part MSE-6 mouse droid from “Star Wars,” Doxel’s self-directing robots survey building sites each day to capture HD imagery and laser scans at all stages of construction.” Read More
101 Ways To Build Smarter – #14 Project Phases
Looking for 101 ways you can save money and time on your next building project? Head over to www.skender.com/buildsmarter to see our full list. #buildsmarter Read More
Construction Firm Releases Report: “101 Ways to Build Smarter”
"The first report of its kind" and a great new resource for developers, brokers, architects, contractors, corporate real estate executives and all those involved in the building process. Read More
The Top At-Risk Construction Managers and Design-Builders
“We have been watching, with great interest, their efforts to implement a more efficient and vertically integrated design and construction process.” 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
An AEC giant’s roadmap for integrating design, manufacturing and construction
“But while most GCs are taking small steps toward a manufacturing-driven future for construction, Chicago-based Skender is taking a giant leap.” 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
Curious about the newest tower crane in Fulton Market? Skender is building the 14-story Hyatt House…
Curious about the newest tower crane in Fulton Market? Skender is building the 14-story Hyatt House hotel, a Sterling Bay development designed by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects (ESA). More details at https://lnkd.in/eTQHY9Q. Read More
Skender Releases “101 Ways to Build Smarter” eBook, Featuring Ideas to Offset Rapidly Escalating Construction…
Give your next building project a productivity boost with the new (and free) eBook 101 Ways to Build Smarter. #skenderbuild #buildsmarter 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
The future of healthcare design and construction? It’s factory made.
“As healthcare providers and owners work to streamline and enhance the way they provide care, the setting in which they do it can be streamlined and improved, too.” Read More
Skender Breaks Ground on Loyola University Chicago Engineering Science Flex Laboratory
Skender has broken ground on Loyola University Chicago's new engineering science flex laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility designed to innovate how the university utilizes space. 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 partners with New Coast Foundation to promote early learning
Skender Foundation is excited to announce its partnership with New Coast Foundation to make a grant to early childhood education nonprofit VOCEL. #partnerships #earlychildhoodeducation Read More
“I can imagine walking into what was once a big box retail store, that is…
“I can imagine walking into what was once a big box retail store, that is now a world-class medical facility, that we delivered in a matter of weeks instead of years” - Skender Chief Design Officer Timothy Swanson on our modular construction vision, at RE Journals Healthcare and MOB Conference. Read More
How Blockchain Innovation Can Help Cost-Efficiency in the Construction Industry
“Blockchains offer several promising innovations for the world of construction, especially when it comes to managing all of the data that is required to erect buildings today.” Read More
A very special congratulations to Skender Director of Design Operations Jenny Han, who was honored…
A very special congratulations to Skender Director of Design Operations Jenny Han, who was honored as part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza. You're a true inspiration and we're lucky to have you as part of our team! Read More
4 Economic Trends That Will Impact Industrial Real Estate
“The U.S. economy is growing, technology is improving and political struggles are brewing. All will have a direct impact on industrial real estate in the coming months.” Read More
Skender Completes Interior Construction of National Law Firm’s 121,000-Square-Foot Headquarters in Chicago
Skender, along with collaborators Solomon Cordwell Buenz, ESD (Environmental Systems Design, Inc.) and ConopCo Project Management, recently completed interior construction of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP's new 121,000-SF HQ at CNA Center, the new office tower at 151 N. Franklin. 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
Designing hospitals for staff efficiency
Interior design strategies that help hospital staff to provide timely and high-quality care. Read More
Gentrification: The Good, the Bad, and the Hipsters
What are the long-term effects of gentrification on communities, and is urban revitalization possible without it? Our own Timothy Swanson will explore gentrification and all its implications with The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Don't miss out - get your ticket now! Read More
Skender Ranks Among Top U.S. Contractors, Climbs 26 Spots on National List
Skender ranked at No. 208 out of 400 U.S.-based contractors on Engineering-News Record's recently published list of the largest contractors by revenue, climbing 26 spots from last year. 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
Lots of Lobbies and Zero Zombies: How Self-Driving Cars Will Reshape Cities
“Architects expect that everything from apartment complexes to dreary office buildings will have more elaborate entrances.” Read More
Skender Named as a Best Place to Work in Illinois for Tenth Consecutive Year
For the tenth consecutive year, Skender was named as a Best Place to Work in Illinois! This year, we earned the second-place honor in the mid-sized company category. 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
CRE Future Leaders: Tim Swanson
"...the fact that we start and end our days with a startup mentality, focused on driving and disrupting the industry for collective good, fuels me," Skender's Timothy Swanson featured in a Q&A session for RE Journals' CRE Future Leaders series. Read More
WCA Luncheon: Affordable Housing Panel
Don't miss your chance to hear Skender's Timothy Swanson speak at tomorrow's Affordable Housing Panel luncheon with the West Central Association Chamber of Commerce - get your ticket now! Learn about affordable off-site options, Near North/West ARO Pilot, and innovative ways to build cost effective housing from Tim and experts from ARO Alternatives, LG Construction + Development,… Read More
Hacks for Supporting the Untethered Employee
“Gartner predicts that by 2020, organizations that promote a “choose your own work style culture” will boost employee retention rates by more than 10 percent.” Read More
Kicking off tonight’s Health Care Institute (HCI) Chicago event is moderator Jenny Han, Director of…
Kicking off tonight's Health Care Institute (HCI) Chicago event is moderator Jenny Han, Director of Operations at Skender. We're here at Skender HQ with CannonDesign, CBRE and Advocate Health Care! Read More
Spring HCI Chicago Quarterly Event at Skender Headquarters – “Upcoming Trends in Healthcare from Key…
Tonight is the night! At Skender's HQ in Fulton Market, Skender's Jenny Han joins CannonDesign's Abigail Clary, AIA, ACHA, CBRE's Julie Ford and Advocate Health Care's Victoria Navarro, MBA-HCM to discuss "Upcoming Trends in Healthcare from Key Women in the Industry" at a Health Care Institute (HCI) Chicago event. Read More
It’s not Ripley’s loader, but this industrial exoskeleton makes physical labor a breeze
“SuitX industrial exoskeletons reduce the risk of injuries to the wearer without the use of batteries, actuators, or computers.” Read More
Latinisimo 2018 – Esperanza Health Centers Gala 2018
Join us this Thursday at Latinisimo '18 in support of Esperanza Health Centers! The event will explore the culinary traditions of Latin America with 9 restaurants representing the best of Chicago's Latin American cuisine, all in support of one of the top-rated community health centers in the nation. Read More
Congrats to the Echo Global Logistics project team for winning an IIDA Illinois 2018 RED Award…
Congrats to the Echo Global Logistics project team for winning an IIDA Illinois 2018 RED Award last night. The 135,000-SF HQ expansion was a collaboration among Echo Global Logistics, CannonDesign, ConopCo Project Management, CBRE and Skender. Read More
Skender Foundation : Summer Eclipse 2018
Summer Eclipse early bird tickets are on sale now! Purchase yours today and join us July 19 at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago to support The Bridge Teen Center, a nonprofit community center that provides free after school programs, weekend entertainment and special events for students in 7th-12th grade. Read More
Skender CEO Mark Skender and Chief Design Officer Tim Swanson speaking on how we’re pushing…
Skender CEO Mark Skender and Chief Design Officer Tim Swanson speaking on how we're pushing the industry forward with our integration between design, construction and manufacturing at today’s #AccelerateAEC event with Building Design & Construction Magazine. Read More
Limelight 2018 featuring A Road to Greenbuild Event
Mark your calendar for Limelight, a celebration of achievements in sustainability with Illinois Green Alliance (formerly USGBC-Illinois). We are proud sponsors of this event, and of all the work by Illinois Green Alliance to make our communities more sustainable. Read More
Skender Completes Clinic for Major Chicago Health System
Skender recently completed a 17,000-SF health care clinic for a major Chicago health system in Glenview, Illinois. 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
Our dedication shows in our work and spirit. It’s one reason we’ve won multiple “Best…
Our dedication shows in our work and spirit. It’s one reason we’ve won multiple “Best Place to Work” awards. We’re always searching for great talent who crave a refreshing work environment. Join our team: https://lnkd.in/eHWuMrt Read More
As Fulton Market Matures As An Office Market, Hotel Development Is Gaining Steam
Hotel development activity in Chicago's Fulton Market neighborhood is booming. Skender is building the new, 14-story Hyatt House hotel mentioned in this article. 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 Launches Interior Construction for 207,000-SF Chicago Office
“It’s a great space, brand new building, and kicks off the Lincoln Yards development [a contender for the Amazon HQ2 bid].” Read More
Building Is A Science. This App Lets Architects Study It
“The ability to easily and ubiquitously study how buildings–and their occupants–behave could move architecture itself into a new era.” Read More
RefugeeOne’s 2018 Annual Gala – Hopeful new beginnings. Unlimited Potential.
We are proud to support the RefugeeOne 2018 Annual Gala, where our very own David Fahnbulleh is this year's keynote speaker. Join us Saturday to hear David speak and to celebrate RefugeeOne's life-changing work. Read More
5 Ways To Make Affordable Housing Development Feasible
“Developers and their construction partners will have to explore new ways of financing deals and new ways of building to keep affordable housing deals cost-effective.” https://bit.ly/2jrFVTf Read More
Skender, along with collaborators Webster Design and Capstone Development Group, received the William Stickling Memorial…
Skender, along with collaborators Webster Design and Capstone Development Group, received the William Stickling Memorial Award at last night's 28th annual Mayor’s Awards Presentation for the historic preservation of the 15-story Elgin Tower Building. 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, in collaboration with Vocon and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), recently started interior construction of the new 207,000-SF C.H. Robinson office in Chicago's Lincoln Yards development. 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 Hyatt House Hotel in Chicago
Sterling Bay is developing the first extended-stay lodging property in Chicago's Fulton Market neighborhood. Read More
Mark your calendars! On May 15 at Skender’s HQ in Fulton Market, Skender’s Jenny Han joins…
Mark your calendars! On May 15 at Skender's HQ in Fulton Market, Skender's Jenny Han joins CannonDesign's Abigail Clary, AIA, ACHA, CBRE's Julie Ford and Advocate Health Care's Victoria Navarro, MBA-HCM to discuss "Upcoming Trends in Healthcare from Key Women in the Industry" at a Health Care Institute (HCI) Chicago event. Read More
Borrow from the best: workplace ideas from tech HQs
Borrow from the best: workplace ideas from tech HQs Read More
Skender Breaks Ground on 14-Story Hotel in Chicago
Skender Breaks Ground on 14-Story, 200-Room Hyatt House Hotel in Chicago’s Fulton Market – REBusinessOnline Read More
DisruptCRE – Chicago
Skender CTO Kevin Bredeson will be speaking about #BuildingTech at DisruptCRE Chicago on May 3. Hope to see you there! Read More
Looking forward to this Thursday’s City of Hope 2018 REACH Social at House of Blues…
Looking forward to this Thursday's City of Hope 2018 REACH Social at House of Blues Entertainment Chicago. Skender Foundation is a proud sponsor and our very own Daniel Ulbricht will be performing with his band, the Square Feets. Read More
Fear Of The Steel Tariff Is Compounding Already-Escalating Materials Pricing
The latest on how steel tariffs are affecting construction and development with insight from Skender's Joseph Pecoraro. Read More
Skender Breaks Ground on 14-story, 167,000-SF Hyatt House Hotel, a New Development in the Fulton…
Skender is thrilled to announce that we recently broke ground on Hyatt House, a new 14-story extended-stay hotel designed by Eckenhoff Saunders Architects (ESA) and developed by Sterling Bay in the Fulton Market District. 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
The Hidden Costs of Open Ceilings
While open ceilings have many benefits, costing less isn't one of them. Skender's Clay Edwards explains in this Work Design Magazine article: Read More
How a risk management focus can improve the physical environment
Healthcare: “Design interventions can help to improve patient safety and create a proactive operation” Read More
The 10 sustainability trends that forward-thinking organizations have on their minds
"The future office strives to be better, focus more on the people who inhabit it, and contribute to the success of the company.” Read More
Here at the 2018 LeadingAge Illinois Annual Meeting & Expo! #LeadingAge #Skender
Here at the 2018 LeadingAge Illinois Annual Meeting & Expo! #LeadingAge #Skender 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
One of the Biggest Sustainability Concerns in Construction Right Now Is… Sand?
“Many of us have the common misconception that sand is an infinite resource, but the harsh reality is that it isn't.” Read More
“Leveraging AR/VR in Emerging Markets” at the BuiltWorlds Summit, featuring Kevin Bredeson of Skender, Paul Edlund of Microsoft,…
"Leveraging AR/VR in Emerging Markets" at the BuiltWorlds Summit, featuring Kevin Bredeson of Skender, Paul Edlund of Microsoft, Michael Winn of DroneDeploy, and John Chwalibog of Matterport. Read More
Skender Named No. 6 Best Place to Work in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business
Nearly 9,000 employees of Chicago-area companies surveyed to determine 100 finalists. Skender is honored to earn the No. 6 spot in 2018! 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
We are honored to be named the #6 Best Place to Work in Chicago by…
We are honored to be named the #6 Best Place to Work in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business! We couldn’t have done it without our incredible, dedicated employees. #crainsbest Read More
Does Your Modern Build-out Have a Hearing Problem?
“Creating inviting interiors not only has to do with how they look, but also how they sound.” Read More
Tech Report 5.0: Why wait for 3D renderings?
“Real-time rendering still presents some trade offs when compared to traditional rendering. But as the technology advances, the benefits will begin to outweigh the limitations.” Read More
Five Workplace Trends The Commercial Real Estate Industry Must Prepare For
"... we need to forget 'office' and start thinking in terms of 'workplace' ..." Read More
The Disruptive Force of Technology Changing The Future Face of Healthcare
Three tech trends to watch in healthcare Read More
Skender Completes 64,000-SF Headquarters Expansion for Sprout Social – April 4, 2018
In collaboration with Partners by Design, Syska Hennessy Group and Development Resources, Skender recently completed the 64,000-SF HQ expansion for Sprout Social at 131 S. Dearborn. 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
How Are Driverless Cars Reshaping CRE?
“Autonomous vehicles are expected to impact commercial real estate on several levels, from design to new development opportunities.” Read More
JLL releases cost benchmark guide for office buildouts
“JLL published a cost benchmarking guide to building out three types of office space in the U.S. and Canada using data from more than 2,800 of its managed projects.” Read More
Dream Offices for Bike Commuters
Skender-built SRAM, LLC HQ is featured in this article about offices designed to encourage healthy lifestyles: Read More
Skender Named a Finalist for the 2018 Best Places to Work in Chicago
We are excited to announce that Skender has been named a finalist for the 2018 Best Places to Work in Chicago! 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 Foundation is proud to support Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring, expanding…
Skender Foundation is proud to support Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit dedicated to restoring, expanding and innovating music education in Chicago Public Schools. Check out this awesome video from their recent fundraiser where Skender’s band Not to Exceed performed. https://bit.ly/2DPyNI4 Read More
Skender Completes Build-out of San Francisco Homeless Support Facility
Skender is proud to have served as general contractor for the build-out of homeless support facility At The Crossroads in San Francisco. Thanks for collaborating with us Architectural Resources Group, Ventura Partners, WSP and multiple other trade partners. 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
Tariffs Already Putting Pressure on Commercial Construction Pricing
“Some in the sector say they have seen around a 10 percent increase in the price of steel since the tariffs were announced earlier this month.” Read More
Movers + Shapers: Lean and Mean
“Skender: Putting 'rapid' into action" Read More
Skender Starts Work on Sterling Bay’s 35,000-SF Headquarters Relocation Project
Skender is excited to be partnering with Perkins+Will and WMA Consulting Engineers on the build-out of Sterling Bay's new HQ. 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
Prefab Construction: A Closer Look
“Transformation is hard ... let’s address it like Skender is so bravely doing.” Read More
Chicago office landlords are paying more to land tenants. Here’s why.
JLL, CBRE, Savills Studley and Skender's Clay Edwards weigh in on tenant improvement allowance increases. Read More
AEC Virtual Reality Workflow with Datasmith Toolkit for Unreal Engine
Skender's John Derkach will be presenting on the future of VR in the AEC industry this Wednesday evening at our office. More on the meet-up: Read More
Capital One’s New Revitalized Downtown Chicago Office
Check out Capital One's new revitalized downtown Chicago office that Skender completed last year. 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
Skender Wins Interior Contractor of the Year
Big night! Skender brought home the coveted Interior Contractor of the Year award (third time in four years) at the Greater Chicago Food Depository awards. Congrats to all! Read More
Undoing 5 myths of IPD and Lean construction
IPD and #LeanConstruction are more flexible than people think Read More
Tim Swanson on the prefab revolution (listen)
The Idealog podcast interviews Tim Swanson about prefabricated construction and how it's disrupting the way we build things Read More
Chicago Firm Sets Out to Change Construction
“We’ve done a lot of research, and from the U.S. perspective, this is on the cutting edge.” Read More
JGMA-designed medical center headed to Brighton Park
JGMA-designed (and Skender-built) medical center headed to Brighton Park Read More
Hack The Office: Turning Underperforming Spaces Into Workplaces Of The Future
“Every company wants an office that is their own,” Skender Vice President Clay Edwards said. “‘Hacking’ the office allows users to build on an existing design, to take it from something impersonal and informal to a space that truly defines their brand and corporate culture.” Read More
The Construction Industry Knows It’s Behind The Curve In Embracing Technology, And Is Working To…
Skender CTO Kevin Bredeson discusses how the construction industry is embracing technology. Read More
Skender's Timothy Swanson used today's CoreNet countdown challenge to discuss the intersection of design, construction and manufacturing. In 3 minutes. Read More
Skender Rebrands, Expands, Plans Modular Manufacturing Plant On Southwest Side
“We can now fully realize the potential of vertical integration to significantly reduce risk, delays and waste while maximizing value, quality and positive experiences for our clients.” https://bit.ly/2oRbCsu 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
Skender Revolutionizes How the Industry Builds, Integrates Design, Construction, and Manufacturing
Envisioning a radically more efficient future for the building industry, Skender is expanding beyond construction to offer a Lean, integrated and full-spectrum suite of services – construction, design and manufacturing. Read More
A factory that makes apartment buildings? It’s coming to Chicago
We have big news to share today! Learn how we’re revolutionizing the way the industry builds. 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
Today we broke ground on Esperanza Health Centers in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood. We are proud to be partnering with JGMA and McNitt Consulting to build this important community project! 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
Labor shortages and material costs continue to shape the construction trades
Skender President Justin Brown: “Skender’s value-optimized approach to Lean is a vital part of the way we do business ... that results in greater efficiency, quicker deliveries and cost savings.” Read More
Wired and ready to work: Build out your workplace for today’s connected workforce
“The top ten questions to ask to ensure an appealing, effective, tech-enabled workspace.” Read More
6 trends shaping smart hotels
“From real-time guest feedback to AI-driven hyper-personalization, the hotel of the future will emphasize service, convenience, authenticity, and just the right amount of technology.” Read More
Heads Up: The 5 Hidden Expenses of Open Ceilings
Skender VP Clay Edwards breaks down the 5 hidden expenses of open ceilings for NAIOP. 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
Big Kids Rock Chicago
Join us February 27 at City Winery for Big Kids Rock, a concert hosted by Little Kids Rock featuring Skender's rock band Not to Exceed among others in support of music education in Chicago Public Schools. Tickets available here: https://lnkd.in/dVSPBSC 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 Starts 225 000-SF Restack Project for HERE Technologies
Skender recently began interior construction of the 225,000-square-foot office space for HERE Technologies at 425 W. Randolph. We are excited to be partnering with Gensler, JLL and ESD (Environmental Systems Design, Inc.) on this big restack project! Read More
Report: 5 challenges and solutions to technology adoption in construction
“With the global construction industry projected to reach $17.5 billion by 2030, the report states that now is the time for the engineering and construction (E&C) sector to embrace technology” 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
Skender Completes Iconic Elgin Tower Rehabilitation Project
Skender recently completed the iconic Elgin Tower Building rehabilitation project in collaboration with Webster Design and Capstone Development Group, LLC. Read More
Senior living design trends for 2018
“Designing boutique and upscale communities for seniors and their baby boomer family members has been at the forefront of design considerations.” Read More
Aging Population Driving Medical Office Demand in U.S.
“The population aged 65 and above is expected to increase by 1.7 million (3.3 percent) in 2018 and by 9.2 million (18 percent) over the next five years, driving short- and long-term demand for medical services.” Read More
Office, industrial construction to rise in 2018 and 2019
“Nonresidential construction activity is expected to jump 4% in 2018 and in 2019, according to the American Institute of Architects” 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