Archives: Projects

919 W Fulton

In November 2023, Skender broke ground on Chicago’s first major new office development to start construction in over a year. When completed in 2025, the building will feature expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, outdoor terraces on all sides, a rooftop with a lounge and bar, several coworking and conference spaces, fitness center with full locker rooms, and a full-depth, nearly football field-sized basement for 65-stall parking, ComEd vault and mechanicals. The project pays great attention to air quality, material selection, energy efficiency, wellness and environmental impact, and is pursuing WELL and LEED Silver certifications. With two lobbies—one on Sangamon and one corridor connecting access between Fulton and Lake streets—the address of the finished building will be 217 N Sangamon.

Ace Hardware

Skender completed the largest suburban office buildout since 2018 for Ace Hardware’s corporate HQ, transforming the former McDonald’s campus into a modern workplace. The project includes open workstations, 150 conference rooms, 12 cafes/pantries and various collaboration spaces. The renovation has repurposed many of the main building’s original architectural elements, including a large center atrium and skywells that allow ample natural light to flow throughout the space. Skender utilized the existing six-inch raised-floor system for all electrical and low-voltage infrastructure, which kept the open areas clear. To combat external supply chain challenges, Skender leveraged flexible phasing and work sequencing to further streamline the construction schedule for on-time and on-budget delivery. Photos by Daniel Kelleghan. Watch the video tour >>>

Salesforce

This massive 14-floor buildout for Salesforce included employee floors, training floors, terraces, full-service kitchen, barista bar, interconnecting backlit staircase, state-of-the-art conference rooms, custom wood office fronts, digital media walls, biophilic living columns, custom mosaic tile art and more.  The space addresses Salesforce’s robust set of global design standards and distinct organizational culture. Skender delivered thoughtfully planned areas emphasizing flexibility, choice and connection. The incorporation of advanced audio-visual technology facilitates both large gatherings and remote work lifestyles. Salesforce Chicago is slated to receive LEED v4 Platinum Interiors certification and received high scores in categories like energy and atmosphere materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation. Watch the video tour >>>

Northwestern Medicine Center for Pain and Spine Health

Skender completed the buildout of this multidisciplinary clinic that provides collaborative medical office space for pain medicine specialists, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists and advanced practice nurses. The project comprised a comprehensive renovation of the first floor, including new imaging equipment, patient care areas, and physical therapy specialty spaces. Along with the clinical buildout, the building underwent significant infrastructure upgrades — new electrical service and transformer, as well as multiple crane lifts to replace four rooftop mechanical units on a highly condensed schedule to limit impacts to existing tenants. Skender has collaborated with NM on more than 200 projects since 2008.

Hazel Technologies

Hazel Technologies’ global HQ is one of Chicago’s first office-to-lab conversions and the largest private chemical lab in the city of Chicago. Skender converted brand-new office space into a two-story lab and office for the USDA-funded tech company, which is developing solutions to extend the shelf life of fresh produce. The finished space features open research and lab support, as well as 10,000 SF of administrative and office space and 5,000 SF of collaboration space, including several sizes of meeting rooms, huddle rooms, and prep and tasting rooms. Watch the video tour >>>

The Leo at 741 N Wells

Skender recently completed this sophisticated, mixed-use multifamily rental in Chicago’s River North, spanning 21 floors, 201,000 square feet with 168 apartments. The development features a mix of 50 studios, 101 one-bedrooms, and 17 two-bedrooms, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and 9-foot ceilings for panoramic city views. Amenities include a rooftop terrace with a pool, a modern exercise area, meeting facilities, bike storage, and parking for 50 vehicles. This elegant property blends luxurious living with the vibrant energy of River North.

225 W Wacker

As part of 225 W Wacker’s repositioning initiative, Skender completed the lobby and fourth-floor conferencing center and roof deck. The fourth-floor buildout comprises Skyfold partitions, demountable fronts, Patina steel plant holders and high-end audiovisuals, all extending to the extensively landscaped rooftop deck. The lobby creates a vibrant gathering place for tenants and visitors with custom Italian marble and statuary bronze features throughout, a coffee bar, expansive ceilings and new curtainwalls. Watch the video tour >>>

345 N Morgan

A 232,000-SF office and retail building in Fulton Market for Sterling Bay. The space features sleek, modern finishes, soaring ceilings, arched windows, and welded metal accents, drawing on the neighborhood’s industrial past. Amenities include private outdoor terraces, a 5K-square-foot roof deck with sweeping views, a conservatory bar & lounge with a double-sided fireplace, a full-service fitness center, a coworking library and several high-tech conference spaces to meet the needs of today’s virtual world. The building received multiple industry honors, including the Commercial Development of the Year Award at the Greater Chicago Food Depository’s 35th Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards. Watch the video tour >>>

Maywood Supportive Living

Skender was hired to transform a 93-year-old property into a 100-unit assisted living facility for low-income seniors. The property is on the State of Illinois’ National Register of Historic Places but sat vacant for 11 years. Skender stripped the building down to its structure while preserving and restoring its natural architectural detail. We refurbished the wood trim, stucco, and brick facades, installed new windows, revamped the lobby and original terrazzo floors, replaced the roof, restored the commercial kitchen and converted 100 rooms into supportive living units with kitchenettes. Despite a 10% increase in scope, Skender met the original 14-month timeframe by selecting materials with more reliable lead times and applying its knowledge of historic property development. The LEED Bronze-certified project—previously an eyesore— now functions as a cornerstone of the community. The before-after story of this project is best told through the project video, which you can watch here >>

Latin School of Chicago

The Latin School of Chicago is an esteemed college prep independent private school from preschool to high school. To enhance the environment in which these impactful experiences take place, Skender completed 19,000 SF of renovations and additions to the existing school. The project included technology-focused common learning areas, a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen and cafeteria, and multiple libraries. A bridge connection was added between the high school and middle school to provide easy accessibility.

Vizient

Skender built the new Chicago office interiors for healthcare company Vizient. The 110,000-SF workspace is located on two floors of the historic Old Post Office and is designed with a “City and Parks” theme, incorporating a variety of building material finishes, extensive greenery, millwork elements reminiscent of tree canopies, park benches and café seating. Two commissioned murals and other works of art by local artists pay homage to Chicago culture. Various work and leisure spaces ensure an ideal employee experience, including private and open meeting spaces, agile workstations, Zoom rooms, phone booths and recording studio. The grand Town Hall is a light-filled multipurpose area overlooking the Chicago River.

609 W Randolph

In early 2022, Skender completed construction on the Class-A office development at 609 W. Randolph in the West Loop Gate neighborhood in Chicago. The 15-story, 100,000+ square-foot building consists primarily of masonry with complementary steel, metal panel and exterior glazing, as well as a granite base. The building is designed and built to be WELL and LEED certified, and features a tenant lounge, conference and meeting areas, a rooftop terrace and wellness studio.

Walgreens Technology Center

Skender built-out the 200,000-square-foot Walgreens Technology Center within Chicago’s Old Post Office. The office was successfully completed during the COVID-19 shutdown and is home to e-commerce, mobile, pharmacy technology, information technology and digital team members. The workspace spans multiple levels and features a signature staircase, open and private offices, collaboration and conferencing spaces, data rooms, kitchen and lounge spaces.

Mt. Greenwood Elementary School

A two-story, eight-classroom annex addition featuring a dining facility, restrooms, storage areas, mechanical areas, linked connection to the existing building and parking lot upgrades. The project earned LEED Silver certification and featured solar roof and permeable brick paving.

TrueBlue

In the Old Post Office, Skender constructed an 82,500-square-foot headquarters for TrueBlue, a leading workforce solution provider, to provide the tenant with large, open, collaborative spaces and an impactful café that took advantage of the Old Post Office’s high ceilings. Through experience gained by leading more than 600,000 square feet of interior construction in this high-profile historic redevelopment, Skender advises clients on how to thoughtfully reuse and restore historic Art Deco features of the original buildings while meeting their technological and workflow needs for connectivity and collaboration.

1100 W Fulton

This build-to-suit office and retail development in Fulton Market consisted of significant historical masonry preservation along with a new concrete structure and exterior glazing to achieve a dynamic blend of three- and five-story building sections, including a rooftop deck. The existing building was landmarked by the City of Chicago and Skender meticulously preserved the existing facade along three sides and collaborated with developer Fulton St. Companies and tenant Herman Miller to successfully complete the commercial building structure and interiors on schedule during the COVID pandemic.

Greater Chicago Food Depository Expansion

37,000 SF facility expansion with approximately 11.5 acres of site work that will include a commercial kitchen for meal preparation and packaging, a demonstration kitchen for nutrition education, and parking expansion for volunteers, guests and fleet. The expanded facility will have the capacity to prepare and distribute 2.5 million meals per year. The project includes extensive site logistics, phasing, sequencing and excavation.

 

 

Hyatt House Hotel

Skender, serving as base building and interior construction manager, completed construction of Chicago’s first Hyatt House extended-stay hotel in June 2019. 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. Hyatt House includes amenities ranging from an indoor pool and multiple green roof features to upgraded common areas such as the bar and lounge with city views. The hotel building offers a third-floor lobby and first-floor future retail space. The pool, workout center and lounge are situated on the 14th floor, with 200 guest rooms on floors 4-13. Watch the video >>

US Cellular Field Suites

Interior buildout of 17 luxury suites during the 2008 baseball season at the home of the Chicago White Sox; then US Cellular Field, now Guaranteed Rate Field. All MEPFP systems were completed through the design-build delivery method.

Mondelèz International

The innovation-rich headquarters and café features two connecting stairwells, outdoor roof gardens, dynamic company branding, open-office workstations, private offices and a wide range of conference rooms. Watch the video >>

Sarah’s Circle Supportive Housing Facility

Skender built this six-story supportive housing facility in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood for Sarah’s Circle, a nonprofit organization that serves women who are homeless or in need of a safe space. Following groundbreaking in September 2019, the project stayed on schedule with delivery in 15 months. The new facility, known as Sarah’s on Sheridan, has 38 units of permanent supportive housing, as well as 50 beds for the interim housing program.

THE MART

With an 11-year history working within this historic Chicago landmark, Skender aided in The Mart’s ambitious repositioning to adapt to the evolution of tenant and visitor experiences. This progressive project harmoniously draws on the building’s history and vision for the future, including a new conference center, speakeasy, fitness center, circulation area and new finishes throughout the second-floor main corridors. The fitness center features a golf simulator, locker rooms, saunas, and state-of-the-art acoustics to absorb sound transfer. The conference center features advanced audiovisual systems, high-end custom finishes, millwork, and exposed ceilings. The speakeasy includes a luxury-styled restaurant with custom millwork and seating. The circulation areas include new terrazzo flooring, metal portals and wall finishes at each passthrough. Watch the video tour >>>

Confidential

Highly specialized LEED Platinum R&D facility with anechoic chambers, dedicated air systems, 770 tons of rooftop mechanical infrastructure allowing for 24/7 dedicated cooling, chilled beams, BTS antennae, robotics and RF-shielded environments. Also included an off-site manufacturing and production facility, with extensive security systems, MEP infrastructure and static control systems.

Perspectives Charter School

To help expand PCS’s integral services across Chicago, Skender converted and expanded a former Soft Sheen building to create a new South Lafayette Campus. The campus now serves 900 low-income middle and high school youth with its proven values-based academic curriculum. The project included interior and exterior alterations to an existing two-story steel framed structure with a masonry exterior. The new charter school provides STEM-forward classrooms, an athletic field and track, flexible outdoor space, two large gymnasiums and a monumental stair that also serves as auditorium seating.

The Residences of Crystal Lake

Completed in early 2020, this 63,000-SF, 60-unit, affordable, independent senior living facility is the largest multi-unit residential project in Crystal Lake in recent history. Skender collaborated with architect UrbanWorks, civil engineer Groundwork and developers DKI and TH Associates. Residences of Crystal Lake is the most recent of 10 similar residences that Skender has built in the last five years as part of its award-winning multifamily residential group.

Academy Square Apartments

178,000 SF occupied interior rehab of four affordable apartment/townhouse combos and a seven-story senior residence. Project includes new roofs, windows and siding on all buildings, replacement of all sidewalks and resurfacing of all parking lots as well as new interior finishes.

Hamilton County Courthouse Renovations

This four-floor interior renovation, modernization and expansion for the Hamilton County Courthouse and Judicial Center expansion provides two new magistrate courtrooms to fulfill the demand within the county. Restacking the building maximizes operational efficiency by combining offices and various departments. The project occurred with minimal disruption to government operations.

Garvy Elementary School

An extensive renovation and addition to John W. Garvy Elementary School, located on Chicago’s northwest side. The addition included 10 general classrooms, one science classroom, restrooms, storage and circulation. The project earned LEED Silver certification and featured a green roof, durable materials, permeable pavers and attention to natural light, indoor air quality and water reduction measures.

Richton Park Community Center

The Richton Park Community Center is a 14,000 SF, ground-up, ADA -compliant facility providing staff offices, multi-purpose meeting rooms, mechanical rooms, a lounge, a kitchen, equipment storage space and a multi-purpose gymnasium. Skender worked closely with the Village of Richton Park and architect to ensure that the needs and desires of the community were integrated into the design. This project was constructed utilizing sustainable materials.

CVS Caremark

Two-story, 240,000-SF buildout of automated R&D, manufacturing and dispensing facility that includes a new data center, second-floor mezzanine, exterior loading docks, offices and food service space.

Esperanza Health Center

A new 26,000-SF health center at 4700 S. California Avenue in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood. The two-story facility is a fully accessible building, providing critical services that were previously lacking in this southwest area of Chicago. Enveloped by a dynamic façade comprised of color-shifting metal panels, the facility includes clinical office space, 30 exam rooms, space for additional diagnostic and treatment services, a retail pharmacy, as well as 69 parking spaces. Watch the video >>

3500 Lacey

Working closely with the building owner, KORE Investments, Skender modernized this suburban trophy office building with multiple interior landlord improvements totaling 22,500 square feet of space. The base building renovations include a new fitness center with locker rooms, public corridors, an atrium and elevator lobbies on the lower level. The renovations of the ground-floor lobby, reception and entry corridors include a new reception desk, high-end finishes and a new built-in coffee bar. These robust amenities round out the building’s emphasis on tenant health and well-being.

Old Post Office Spec Suites

After sitting vacant for nearly two decades, Skender has aided in the Old Post Office’s repositioning, completing more than 700,000 square feet of interior and spec suite projects in this historic Art Deco structure. Building the next era of office space in this gigantic 1921 structure required Skender to honor the building’s historic integrity while delivering design, technology, amenities and systems that advance the future of the workplace. As one of the earliest and most active contractors in the Old Post Office, Skender became uniquely familiar with the nuances of building in this massive adaptive reuse development.

AbelsonTaylor

An 85,000-SF build-out for an advertising firm in the historic Old Post Office. This project included many historic objectives as well as reconstruction of existing stairs, ceilings, and other existing conditions. Located on the entire sixth floor of the north building and a portion of the fifth floor of the south building, the space features private offices, open-office workstations, open-collaboration areas, conferencing, two café / social hubs, photography and editing rooms, storage and intermediate distribution frame (IDF) rooms. The floors are separated by just a few staircases, essentially functioning as a single office space spanning two floors. Watch the video >>

Breakthrough FamilyPlex

The Breakthrough FamilyPlex is a multifunctional community facility designed to support the East Garfield Park community through its wide array of supportive solutions. The new, two-story facility includes youth and preschool classrooms, a gymnasium, medical clinic, art studio, community cafe, technology center, fitness center and playground.

First Tee-Waveland Park

First Tee Greater Chicago extended it’s committment to improving youth’s lives through golf to Waveland Park in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. The first phase of the project was a 1,500 SF buildout in the park’s historic clock tower, which included an indoor golf simulator, the CEO’s office, a kids lounge, an exterior patio and general upgrades and restoration to the building. Phase 2 comprised 40,000 SF of exterior renovation—converting park land into three putting greens, a short game practice area, a pot bunker and three bays of hitting cages. The newly renovated facility allows First Tee to expand to full-day programming and reach hundreds of more kids through mentoring, tutoring, physical education, and character education.

WBEZ

An interior buildout for Chicago National Public Radio affiliate WBEZ at Navy Pier. This project features include extensive A/V package, new common areas, the replacement of existing rooftop and air handling units, and new high-end finishes. Additionally, a client-facing pantry and new workstations were added to the finished space.

LinkedIn

A multi-phased interior remodel for a technology company LinkedIn’s Chicago office. In addition to expansions across several floors, the project includes new work spaces, conference rooms, phone rooms, huddle rooms, a new cafe & pantry and an open office layout. A large connecting stair was also constructed between the fifth and sixth floors. This project is certified LEED Gold. Watch the video >>

Salud Center

A 101-unit, 140,000-square-foot residential building in South Chicago at 3039 E. 91st Street, providing affordable housing for low-income seniors. As occupied rehab construction, Skender and POAH coordinated the temporary relocation of residents while individual units were renovated. Careful construction sequencing and logistics ensured safe, smooth delivery and minimal interference with residents’ lives. Working in five-day construction cycles, Skender turned around six units per week, including new flooring, lighting and plumbing trim in-unit bathrooms and kitchens. Skender also renovated the common areas and completed a full upgrade of the boiler room equipment, replacement of the façade exterior insulation finishing system, and a new thermoplastic polyolefin roof.

Equity Residential

We successfully renovated Equity Residential’s 75,000-SF Chicago workspace during the COVID-19 pandemic with an enhanced focus on safety, sanitization and remote collaboration. The finished space features a new atrium with a connecting staircase.

Vital Proteins

Multi-phased interior build-out for Vital Proteins in Chicago’s booming West Loop neighborhood. The space features a fitness center, cafe, as well as communicating stairway connecting the second and third floor. Additionally, bright finishes, custom branding and live plants are utilized to reflect the client’s brand, a focus on healthy living. Watch the video >>

IU Health Bloomington Regional Health Center

Skender is partnering with F.A. Wilhelm to build the new IU Health Bloomington Regional Academic Health Center on the campus of Indiana University. The state-of-the-art complex, scheduled to open in 2021, is a collaborative project between Indiana University Health and Indiana University. The overall facility includes 620,000 square feet for in-patient and out-patient clinical services, and 115,000 square feet for academic instruction. Learn more >>

Exicure Biotech Lab

State-of-the-art laboratory and research office for Exicure, a pioneer in gene regulatory and immunotherapeutic drugs. The clinical-stage biotech firm was the first tenant in developer Sterling Bay’s life sciences building at 2430 N Halsted. Occupying an entire floor, Exicure’s workspace features 44 lab stations, 11 fume hoods, open-office workstations, two tissue culture rooms with alarmed pressurization, an uninterrupted power supply, and space adapted for a custom-built DNA synthesizer machine.

Matter

Matter, an Illinois-backed healthcare incubator, turned to Skender to build-out its collaborative co-working space in the Merchandise Mart. The workspace is used by startup and growth-stage companies supporting healthcare and life sciences innovation.

 

North Shore Place

Skender completed construction of North Shore Place, 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 current construction. The new two-story, 37,500-square-foot assisted living facility offers 40 memory care units. Special infrastructure allowed for the installation of a video memory screen adjacent on every tenant’s entryway door that cycles through digitized photographs of family and friends to assist tenants with room identification. The building is designed around a central courtyard with a water feature and putt-putt course. Skender also converted the former memory care wing into 32 assisted living units.

C.H. Robinson

207,000 SF interior buildout across four floors for third party supply chain logistics company. The space includes open office work stations, private offices, conference rooms, two reception areas, a warming pantry and large cafe. Additionally, the space will feature a 5,000 SF roof terrace as well as an open atrium. Watch the video >>

Loyola University Chicago Flex Lab

A new, single-story flex lab building for the university’s engineering science program and its active learning network. Designed to put engineering on display and provide natural light, the glass façade utilizes electrochromic technology, a form of Smart Glass that changes with daylight using sensors that monitor the sunlight’s intensity on the façade. The glass becomes less transparent as the sun sets, reducing solar heat gain and glare.

Northwestern Medicine Multi-Care Rooms

12,060-square-foot renovation and repurposing of existing shell and admin spaces for new patient rooms and support areas. Project included major mechanical infrastructure modifications and new systems and finishes for optimum patient care. Project was completed within an active hospital with zero interruptions to the existing operations. (November 2015 – February 2016)

HERE Technologies

Occupying eight floors of the Boeing Building, the 225,000-square-foot HERE Chicago office was transformed into a contemporary environment that reflects the company’s vision, brand and history of innovation. Project included an open-floorplan seating arrangement that will facilitate better and faster collaboration, a variety of meeting rooms that accommodate anywhere from 2 to 200 people, immersive telepresence capabilities for teamwork with peers and customers across the globe, several dedicated “wellness” and “mothers’” rooms, immersion/quiet workspaces, large and small café areas, and a game room. Local artists were commissioned for several interior murals and significant enhancements were made towards green initiatives and ergonomics.

Conagra Brands

Headquarters relocation from Omaha, NE to the Merchandise Mart in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Completed space includes 20,000 SF test kitchen with full A/V integration to allow live telepresent meetings and cooking demonstrations, open office space, cafeteria and locker rooms. Project is Gold Leed Certified.

Morton Salt

A two-floor interior office build-out at 444 W. Lake Street. Completed project includes conference rooms, huddle rooms, team areas and opening office benching. Design features include custom floor graphics, video wall and custom millwork planters throughout the space.

PayPal/Braintree

An interior build-out for online payment technology firm at the Merchandise Mart. Finished space includes open conference rooms, open plan areas, demonstration area, storage rooms, break rooms and IDF/server rooms.

LinkedIn

A multifloor addition to LinkedIn Chicago’s space, including a new staircase tied into the existing structure.

Aspen Dental

Interior build-out for a technology-based dental practice management company in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. Project featured open office design, break room, pantry, and conference and demo spaces. The project also focused on high-end finishes for a sleek, modern look.

Compounding Pharmacy

Build-out of compounding pharmacy at large Chicago hospital. The sterile pharmacy allows for the safe preparation, mixing and packaging of drugs. It features six compounding spaces constructed using cleanroom design to keep airborne particles within specified limits. Also includes 17 mixing hoods, refrigerated and non-refrigerated drug storage, and an interlocked ante-room.

Holland & Knight

An interior build-out spread over two floors for international law firm at 150 N. Riverside. Project included new paint, carpet, reconfigured MEPFPs and high-end finishes to accommodate the law firm’s client-facing focus.

1871

A high profile, collaborartive workspace for digital technology entrepreneurs. Space includes a full-service Intelligentsia coffee bar in the reception area and exposed floor and ceiling finishes, as well as a state-of-the-art AV system.

Options Clearing Corporation

A buildout of Option Clearing Corporation’s Chicago headquarters spanning the 12th and 13th floors at Franklin Center.

Project included MEP commissioning and build-outs of new IDF/ MDF room, conference rooms, private offices and a large common area.

Woodlawn Station

95,000-square-foot, 3-building new construction affordable housing unit in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. Main building contains 55 units, additional buildings contain 12 units and 3 units. Main building lot sits in very close proximity to elevated train track and involves heavy utility logistics planning. Project will receive funding from Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), will include community participation and will involve 26% MBE and 6% WBE participation. Skender’s goal is 37% overall combined participation.

Prezi

The team at Prezi selected Skender to assist with a full interior renovation of their new, 20,000 SF space at 450 Bryant in San Francisco. Skender will be working hand in hand with the San Francisco Gensler team to build an exciting new space for Prezi showcasing an enormous, two-story show-and-tell amphitheater space, a full kitchen with catering area, conference rooms, an executive boardroom and office space to accommodate their 120+ employees.

Sprout Social

This 64,000-SF build-out helped the client expand its operations by adding open-office seating, interior private offices, flex space, conference rooms, a training room, large boardroom, makers space, two additional intermediate distribution frame (IDF) rooms, as well as a second café with full presentation capabilities. The tech-driven project required the restoration of the HVAC system and addition of a unique underfloor electrical infrastructure. Watch the video >>

The Climate Corporation

21,000-square-foot office build-out for The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto 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 Corporation’s passion for agriculture is manifested throughout the office with an antique tractor on display and huddle rooms built out as silos using oversized barn doors. Two dedicated workshops house equipment and ongoing projects, and a large breakroom with a custom chain link design wall offers ping-pong and foosball for employees.

Capital One

Skender worked in lockstep with GFF Interiors and the team at Capital One to create a flexible workspace for Capital One’s digital labs team. The new “war room” space boasts a full height sliding partition wall and track hung draperies, creating a completely customizable space. In addition to the fully updated “war room” space, Skender also assisted with the installation of a unique Sacramento river path sculpture in the main stairwell, improvements to the pantry space on the 5th, 6th, and 7th floors and renovations to an existing game room space.

Glassdoor

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, 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, plus two kitchens and a café.

Wilson Sporting Goods

90,000-square-foot headquarters relocation project 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 of the sixth floor slab and provide structural reinforcement around the new opening.

GGP

176,000-square-foot headquarters relocation for retail real estate company GGP. GGP’s new three-floor space contains modern finishes, an abundance of natural light, and an open-office formate with exposed ceilings. The focal point of the space is the third-floor café that walks out to a 10,500-square-foot private roof deck overlooking Wolf Point and three branches of the Chicago River.

SRAM

74,000-square-foot interior buildout including a paint booth, lab, and machine shop. Architectural features include a useable bike track throughout the space, exposed concrete floors, and a stacked-wood wall feature. Project was awarded two Green Globes under the Sustainable Interiors certification system.

Sunrise Senior Living

165,000-square-foot four-story affordable senior living development includes 140 assisted living and independent residential units. This project also features below-grade parking, a large commercial kitchen, and a media center.

Swift & Sons

15,750-square-foot interior buildout of a high-end restaurant in Chicago’s Fulton Market neighborhood. Project features an oyster bar, bistro bar, and private dining rooms in addition to the main dining room. (January 2015 – October 2015)

Harley Ellis Devereaux

Skender partnered with the team at Harley Ellis Devereaux’s San Francisco office to improve portions of its existing 7,200 square foot, 4th floor office space. The project included interior renovations to open and enclosed office areas, reception area and team room.

The Villas of Lake in the Hills

75,550-square-foot new construction of a 60-unit affordable and independent senior living facility made up of two- and three-bedroom apartments. (June 2014 – March 2015)

United Way

28,000-square-foot office relocation and buildout for non-profit organization. Collaborative, modern office space completed on expedited schedule. (January 2013 – April 2013)

The Warranty Group

Interior buildout completed within an aggressive 12-week schedule. This project posed unique challenges, in particular, working at 175 W. Jackson, a 90-year-old building. Upgrades included interior refresh with new paint, carpet and fixtures as well as custom millwork throughout.

Vedder Price

160,000-square-foot interior buildout of a law firm, including a 5,500-square-foot corporate conference center, restroom renovation, document center, accounting department and overall refresh. Project includes six floors.

Whole Foods Market

50,000-square-foot regional headquarters with wood ceiling at lobby entrance that was design-built. Whole Foods products and branding are showcased throughout the space. Completed three weeks ahead of schedule and under budget. (August 2010 – November 2011 [10 weeks]; November 2013 – February 14 [12 weeks])

Water Street Healthcare Partners

20,000-square-foot interior build-out for a healthcare investment firm in a new high-rise building at 444 W. Lake. Featured high-end finishes, custom millwork throughout, all private offices and a custom golf simulator room.

Northwestern Medicine PET MR Arkes Suite

Gut renovation of existing suite into PET MR imaging suite. Includues construction of new MRI room with associated copper radio frequency and steel magnetic shielding. Includes structural steel support for shielding, imaging equipment, air handling unit and exhaust fan.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital Retail

Various renovations and additions of new retail space within hospital. This 32,000 square foot project includes significant infrastructural improvements, a new structural steel retail facility, and extensive rework and additions to mechanical systems. Project included the build-out of a 4,000-square-foot Au Bon Pain restaurant and bakery inside of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Extensive outside vendor coordination and sensitivity to hospital loading dock schedule, vital to hospital operations, were required to complete the project within the necessary time frame.

Navigant

4-floor interior buildout in a new highrise at 150 North Riverside. Space includes a cafe on each floor, three separate internal stairs, private offices, open office area, conference rooms, executive suite and demountable partitions.

Motorola Mobility

600,000-square-foot, four-floor global headquarters relocation and base building infrastructure upgrade at the Merchandise Mart. Includes open office space, R & D laboratories, server/LAN rooms, and a 50,000-square-foot rooftop terrace.

Morton Salt

53,000-square-foot 2-floor interior build-out at 444 W. Lake Street. Includes conference rooms, huddle rooms, team areas and opening office benching. Design features include custom floor graphics, video wall and custom millwork planters throughout space.

Morningstar

26,000-square-foot interior office build-out for a financial firm. Open concept space with custom-built stage area and circular stadium seating. Project included demolition of existing space.

Midtown Crossing

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 non-profit association dedicated to providing affordable, barrier-free housing solutions for people with physical disabilities. All 33 units in the Enterprise Green Community building are energy efficient, handicap accessible, and barrier-free.

Rush Oak Park Hospital Specialty Clinic

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 rooms, as well as four procedure/treatment rooms. Support and ancillary spaces include reception, waiting, blood draw, and administrative offices. A portion of the build-out is dedicated to the adjacent ROPH hematology/oncology practice, adding four infusion bays and a nurse’s station.

Southwick Place

40-unit affordable housing development. All units are ADA accessible and this development was designed specifically for those who use wheelchairs or need other assistance with mobility.

Soho House

50,000-square-foot owner-driven alterations to newly constructed high-end private clubhouse. Scope of work includes phased renovations to occupied boutique hotel, public restaurants, bars, event spaces, theatre, lounges, and rooftop bar with pool deck. (June 2014 – August 2014)

Smack Shack

Restaurant build-out in 1KFulton. Included open ceiling concept, polished concrete floors, bar and booth construction, new MEP and infrastructure for kitchen and bar equipment.

Quarles & Brady

Three-floor interior build-out of prestigious law firm. This 75,000-square-foot LEED Gold-certified office features operable Skyfold partitions, custom wood paneling, wood flooring and ceiling, and a mock court room.

Oak Hill Supportive Living Facility

New supportive, affordable senior living facility includes 94 residential units and multiple common areas. Lean Project Delivery methods accelerated the schedule and allowed for completion in nine months. This project is the first NGBS Gold-Rated Energy Efficient Senior Living Development in the state of Illinois.

North Shore Place

175,000-square-foot construction of new five-story, 157-unit assisted living facility. Includes 40 one- and two-bedroom apartments for those requiring memory support services. Cast-in-place structure with masonry exterior.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital Intensive Care Units

Extensive renovation of seventh-, eight-, and ninth-floor intensive care units as part of ongoing refurbishment at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Galter and Feinberg Pavilions. Encompassing over 76,000 square feet, each project was phased and expedited without causing disruption to hospital operations.

Harrison Street Capital

51,000-square-foot interior buildout for a real estate capital firm headquartered in the new River Point at 444 West Lake in downtown Chicago. The two floors include a monumental stair clad in wood, high end wall coverings throughout the space, and a blend of open and private offices.

Mead Johnson Nutrition

64,000-square-foot interior office build-out for Mead Johnson, a leading nutrition company for babies and children. The baby formula company has relocated its corporate headquarters from Glenview to 444 W. Lake St in downtown Chicago. The three-floor project included a 1,500-square-foot slab cut for a self-supporting feature staircase with custom rails and a 2,000-square-foot one-of-a-kind Arktura ceiling baffle system. (October 2016 – March 2017)

Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz Ontario

New 100,000-square-foot luxury automotive dealership. The pre-cast and structural steel building included 58 service bay areas and required site work on eight acres of land.

Fletcher Jones Auto Service Center Chicago

380,000-square-foot new, ground-up construction of automotive service center for luxury auto dealers. Site is an 8.5-acre urban fill plot in Chicago’s Goose Island neighborhood.

Fountainview at Lincoln Square

New mixed-use, four-story building with 18 residential units, retail, and underground parking. This LEED Silver-certified project was constructed on a zero-lot-line urban site heavily traveled by pedestrians.

Google

357,000-square-foot office relocation to new West Loop development. Includes R&D audio labs, anechoic OTA chambers and RF-shielded rooms, and thermal/product/hardware testing, plus full-service prep kitchen, seven-story stair, a roof deck, open-office concept, and multiple conference areas. Project is LEED V4 certified and is attempting certification with Living Building Challenge and WELL Building. Project marks the first LEED V4 in the city of Chicago and the first project to ever attempt all three green certifications.

Grandbrier of Prospect Heights

94,000-square-foot, three-story, 101-unit assisted living facility with attached one-story memory care facility. Features studio, one-and two-bedroom units, including 21 accessible and three hearing-impaired units and the remainder adaptable. Features include a bistro, two salons, a theater/chapel, library and Snoezelen, multi-sensory room.

Harley Ellis Devereaux

Skender partnered with the team at Harley Ellis Devereaux to improve portions of their existing 7,200 square foot, 4th floor office space. Scope of work included interior renovations to open and enclosed office areas, reception area and team room.

International Interior Design Association

15,000-square-foot single-phase build-out with extensive MEP coordination to achieve design aesthetic. Worked closely with material vendors to assist with client’s in kind donation process to ensure seamless project delivery.

Lakefront Residences of Grayslake

75,000-square-foot affordable independent senior living facility includes 70 residential units. The project also features deep-well geothermal heating with twenty-two 400-foot vertical wells, heat exchanging system, and complete hydronic system appurtenances. The site features a three-acre detention pond, 50-car client parking area, and native planting landscaping development. (November 2011 – October 2012)

Kraft Heinz

Corporate headquarters relocation to downtown Chicago’s business district. The 5-story floor plan includes a fully open office plan, Kraft Heinz company store for employees and branding / graphics package in the design scheme.

Korn Ferry

30,000-square-foot interior office build-out of an executive recruiting firm in downtown Chicago’s Willis Tower.

kCura

Interior build-out and expansion of multiple floors for legal software development company. Space features agile pods, raised floors, and exposed deck with Aktura blase system.

J. Michael Fitzgerald Apartments

5-floor, 63-unit new construction of affordable senior housing facility in Chicago’s North Park Village neighborhood. The five-story, 63-unit independent living facility is located within an existing senior housing campus and designed to match the existing surrounding aesthetic. The project includes a precast concrete structure design, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) HVAC system, double elevator shaft, ground floor multipurpose room, library, computer room and fitness center.

ConAgra

168,000-square-foot headquarter relocation from Omaha, NE to the Merchandise Mart. Includes 20,000-square-foot test kitchen with full A/V integration to allow live telepresent meetings and cooking demonstrations, open office space, conference rooms, cafeteria and locker rooms.

Cicchetti | Sopraffina

9,200-square-foot dual restaurant build-out and hospital retrofit, including 2,000 square foot mezzanine. This initiative was part of the Shop & Dine Northwestern program. (July 2013 – November 2013)

Beam Suntory

112,000-square-foot interior renovation of the corporate headquarters for a spirits company on the 16th floor of the Merchandise Mart.

Axley Place

Two-building, 13-unit affordable housing development. The 11,200-square-foot apartments feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, including three ADA-compliant units and three adaptable units. Project included IHDA funding. (August 2015 – September 2016)

Albion at Loyola Station

43,000-square-foot, 29-unit market-rate housing development on Loyola University’s Chicago campus. The project was completed on a nine-month schedule.

Academy Square

178,000-square-foot affordable housing occupied interior rehab of four apartment / townhouse combos and a seven-story senior residence. Project includes new roofs, windows and siding on all buildings, replacement of all sidewalks and resurfacing of all parking lots.

A Safe Haven Veterans Village

A Safe Haven Veteran Village is a 55,000-square-foot affordable housing development in Melrose Park, IL. The project includes 12 buildings which make up 35 total units plus a management office and tot lot playground for veterans and their families. All of the buildings are wood construction with cement board, brick and a cedar veneer.

Capital One

22,000-square-foot tech incubator space build-out that expands upon Capital One’s flagship space in Chicago. Features flexible working environments with huddle rooms, modular conference room, and open office with movable desk configurations. (August 2016 – January 2017)

Countryside Senior Apartments

58,000-square-foot independent, affordable senior living facility that includes 70 residential units. This energy-efficient project includes 20 solar panels on the roof for domestic hot water heating. LEED Silver certified.

Dentons

Three-floor interior build-out of law firm at Willis Tower. Project included two communicating stairs, demountable office fronts, and high-end custom millwork and finishes.

ESD Global

2,500-square-foot corporate office refresh that included AV upgrades, furniture feeds and installation, IT closet build and interior finishes.

Northwestern Medicine Glenview

Expansion of existing imaging department with a new Siemens 3TMRI, Rad/Flouro Machine, and relocated Carestream Rad. Also builtout an Immediate Care Center with seven additional exam rooms, adding a new cancer treatment facility with private and semi-private infusion rooms with all supporting rooms for each space including expansion of the building’s lab.

Erie Family Health Center Evanston

Renovation of a former warehouse and recording studio space into a 17,000-square-foot free and low-cost medical clinic. Contains 15 exam rooms and five dental suites and was completed almost two weeks ahead of schedule.

Enova

Three-floor interior build-out of open-plan corporate office space. Project includes full-floor call center with 24-hour supplemental heating and cooling.

Elgin Tower

60,000-square-foot, 15-floor renovation of the historic Elgin Tower Building in downtown Elgin, IL. Condemned in 2014, the building underwent a complete gut rehab transformation into 44 market-rate apartment units with modern finishes. Skender and the design team worked with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to protect and preserve the building’s historic elements, which involved retaining and restoring original terrazzo in the corridors, modernizing elevators, replacing historic windows and much more.

Echo Global Logistics

Two-floor interior build out for a tech firm. Project included open office for more than 1,000 employees, graphic panel murals, oversized communicating stair, elevated café with video wall, exposed concrete structure and custom millwork bar.

Eastgate Village

300,000-square-foot large residential development that includes 48 town homes; two simplex and four duplex units; one three-flat and one six-flat; model sales office; and the renovation of 40 units for the Mercy Hospital intern residential building.

DeVry University

Skender managed the 87,000-square-foot expansion plus improvements to approximately 5 acres of property for the educational institution. This involved the introduction of a new two-story building and a connecting link. The building features a green roof, 22 classroom spaces, and adjacent staff offices. The environmentally conscious project earned LEED Silver certification.

150 N. Riverside Restaurants – Four Corners Tavern Group

Two restaurant build-outs for Four Corners Tavern Group at 150 N. Riverside. The two eaters total nearly 15,000 square feet of space for Small Cheval and Porter Kitchen & Deck. Porter Kitchen, a restaurant and bar, occupies the ground level and includes warm and elegant décor as well as a riverfront patio with seating. Small Cheval, a retro-style burger venture between Four Corners Tavern Group and Hogsalt Hospitality, is located on the main floor. Above Small Cheval, Porter Kitchen occupies the roof deck and offers views of the river and Chicago architecture. The interior construction project also included some restaurant administration office space.