CHICAGO (Jan. 11, 2021) – James McHugh Construction Co., one of the country’s largest commercial contractors with a concentration in high-end multifamily projects, has completed the ground-up construction of two apartment developments in Chicago: NEMA Chicago by Crescent Heights in the South Loop, and the 11-story Westerly by Fifield Cos. in the River West neighborhood.
At 76 stories, NEMA Chicago is the tallest all-residential building in Chicago and fifth tallest in North America.
"These two projects are indicative of the range of multifamily work McHugh excels at – whether it’s a mid-rise for a repeat client or a supertall, a product we know how to build like the back of our hand," said Michael Meagher, President of McHugh Construction. “While the pandemic added another layer of complexity, our quick pivot to adopting new social distancing protocols allowed us to stay on time and on budget for both of these high-end buildings.”
NEMA CHICAGO SOARS TO 896 FEET IN CHICAGO'S SOUTH LOOP
McHugh Construction recently completed the final phase of the 896-foot NEMA Chicago, the city’s tallest apartment tower. McHugh broke ground in 2016 for the 76-story building and topped off the concrete-framed structure in 2018. Residents began moving into the building in May 2019, while McHugh continued interior build-out of floors 48 through 76. Final completion, including the Skyline Collection residences and the Signature Amenity spaces at Level 48, was achieved in September 2020.
“Thoughtful design and impeccable finishes – from coffered ceilings to ornamental metalwork – were carried throughout the development, requiring us to carefully select a team that could work with the custom materials while hitting timing goals,” said Dave Steffenhagen, McHugh Construction Senior Project Manager on NEMA Chicago. “Through constant collaboration with the owner, architect, and subcontractors, the project met the intent of the designers and was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule.”
DEVELOPER CRESCENT HEIGHTS SWITCHES GEARS ON USE OF WHITE BOX AMENITY SPACE
Developed by Miami-based Crescent Heights and designed by world-renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, the 76-story NEMA Chicago,1210 S. Indiana Ave., offers 800 apartments. The building’s 70,000 sf of amenity space includes several indoor and outdoor lounges and terraces; two swimming pools; sauna and steam rooms; a glass-enclosed event space with an immersive sound system and catering kitchen; and a private bar lounge with 22-foot ceiling heights and floor-to-ceiling windows. The fitness center includes strength and cardio areas as well as a boxing ring, yoga studio, basketball and squash courts, and a golf simulator.
NEMA Chicago also gave McHugh the opportunity to complete one of the few “real time” design spaces it’s seen in the multifamily sector. A large section of the building’s 48th floor was intentionally left as a “white box” amenity space until most of the building was completed and residents had already begun to move in. While the space was tentatively earmarked for a yoga studio, the pandemic and popularity of the building’s coworking spaces prompted Crescent Heights to change the design for the space into office/business suites. This meant McHugh had a condensed schedule to order materials and complete construction within the set time frame.
“Tastes, trends, and tenant preferences can change drastically between groundbreaking and first move-ins,” Steffenhagen said. “By leaving this space purposely vacant until the last possible moment in the construction schedule, we were able to work closely with the developer and architects to change course and create additional coworking space for residents.”
WESTERLY ADDS 188 LUXURY UNITS IN CHICAGO'S RIVER WEST
Located at 740 N. Aberdeen St., Westerly is a mixed-used development by Chicago-based Fifield Cos. offering 188 apartments and 2,400 sf of ground-floor retail space.
Designed by FitzGerald Associates Architects, the mid-rise building features a brick and glass façade and includes a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, ranging in size from 544 to 1,513 square feet, with interiors by Morgante Wilson Architects. McHugh broke ground on the project in July 2019 and completed the building in October 2020. Substantial completion was received on the project three weeks ahead of schedule despite the pandemic.
“Westerly marks the eighth project we have completed for Fifield Cos. in the last 12 years,” said Ray Cisco, Project Executive with McHugh Construction. "Our previous history with Fifield and FitzGerald facilitated a seamless experience, especially when something unexpected like a pandemic comes up.”
Westerly, a 188-unit mixed-use apartment building in Chicago by McHugh Construction for Fifield Cos. Photo: Courtesy Fifield Cos.
With Westerly’s location along the city’s Hipster Highway bikeway, McHugh constructed ample bike storage and a bike kitchen for maintenance and repairs, in addition to a parking garage with 80 spaces. Building amenities include a fitness center, resident lounge, penthouse-level party room, coffee bar, conference center, and dedicated coworking space. Outdoor amenities include a landscaped sun terrace on Westerly’s third level, featuring a pool, shade cabanas, grilling stations, and private seating and dining areas.
JAMES MCHUGH CONSTRUCTION CO.: FOUNDED IN 1897
Since its founding in 1897, James McHugh Construction Co. has earned its reputation as a builder of landmark, one-of-a-kind structures in Chicago and other areas of the country. The company specializes in managing multimillion-dollar projects, from ground-up new construction to complex renovations and high-end interiors. As a multi-faceted general contractor, McHugh constructs high-rise concrete towers; steel structures; and buildings using alternative materials such as cold-formed steel, heavy timber, and cross-laminated timber.
McHugh has built and renovated iconic structures such as Chicago’s Marina City, Vista Tower, Trump Tower, Aqua Tower, Blackstone Hotel, Navy Pier (including the 200-foot-tall Centennial Wheel and most recently, the Sable Hotel at Navy Pier, Curio Collection by Hilton, and the Offshore Rooftop and Bar), as well as other noteworthy projects in regional markets such as Loring Park Tower in Minneapolis, Two Twelve Clayton and Westin Cupples Station in the St. Louis area, and multiple projects in Nashville and Miami.
For more information on the company, visit www.mchughconstruction.com.
Related Stories
Contractors | Apr 19, 2023
Rising labor, material prices cost subcontractors $97 billion in unplanned expenses
Subcontractors continue to bear the brunt of rising input costs for materials and labor, according to a survey of nearly 900 commercial construction professionals.
Airports | Apr 18, 2023
India's mammoth new airport terminal takes ‘back to nature’ seriously
On January 15, 2023, Phase 1 of the Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal 2, in Bengaluru, India, began domestic operations. The 2.75 million-sf building, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), is projected to process 25 million passengers annually, while providing its travelers with a healthier environment, thanks to extensive indoor-outdoor landscaping that offers serenity to what is normally a frenzied experience.
Contractors | Apr 18, 2023
New York City construction fatalities, injuries rise in 2022 as activity booms
New York City’s construction fatalities rose from nine in 2021 to eleven in 2022, according to a report by the New York City Department of Buildings. Recorded injuries also rose to 554 last year after leveling off in 2020 and 2021.
Resiliency | Apr 18, 2023
AI-simulated hurricanes could aid in designing more resilient buildings
Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have devised a new method of digitally simulating hurricanes in an effort to create more resilient buildings. A recent study asserts that the simulations can accurately represent the trajectory and wind speeds of a collection of actual storms.
Green | Apr 18, 2023
USGBC and IWBI unveil streamlined certification pathway for LEED and WELL green building programs
The U.S. Green Building Council, Green Business Certification Inc., and the International WELL Building Institute released a streamlined process for projects pursuing certifications for the LEED green building rating system and the WELL Building Standard. The new protocol simplifies documentation for projects that are pursuing both certifications at the same time or that have already earned one certification and are looking to add the other.
K-12 Schools | Apr 18, 2023
ASHRAE offers indoor air quality guide for schools
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released a guide for educators, administrators, and school districts on indoor air quality. The guide can be used as a tool to discuss options to improve indoor air quality based on existing HVAC equipment, regional objectives, and available funding.
Data Centers | Apr 14, 2023
JLL's data center outlook: Cloud computing, AI driving exponential growth for data center industry
According to JLL’s new Global Data Center Outlook, the mass adoption of cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) is driving exponential growth for the data center industry, with hyperscale and edge computing leading investor demand.
Healthcare Facilities | Apr 13, 2023
Healthcare construction costs for 2023
Data from Gordian breaks down the average cost per square foot for a three-story hospital across 10 U.S. cities.
Higher Education | Apr 13, 2023
Higher education construction costs for 2023
Fresh data from Gordian breaks down the average cost per square foot for a two-story college classroom building across 10 U.S. cities.
Office Buildings | Apr 13, 2023
L.A. headquarters for startup Califia Farms incorporates post-pandemic hybrid workplace design concepts
The new Los Angeles headquarters for fast-growing Califia Farms, a brand of dairy alternative products, was designed by SLAM with the post-Covid hybrid work environment in mind. Located in Maxwell Coffee House, a historic production facility built in 1924 that has become a vibrant mixed-use complex, the office features a café bordered by generous meeting rooms.