2017 Contractor of the Year

Jeffrey A. Raday, PE, President of McShane Construction Company, is pleased to announce that UP Development has selected the firm to complete the new Parkview Apartments in downtown Arlington Heights, Illinois. The seven-story building is under construction on a prominent infill site at the southwest corner of Dunton Avenue and Eastman Street, across from Hancock Square and in close proximity to the Arlington Heights Metra Station.

Parkview Apartments will incorporate 45 residential units, ground-floor retail, integrated parking and various sustainable features meeting NGBS Green Certification. On the exterior, the building will complement the surrounding area with design features that are indicative of classic Chicago architecture utilizing an elegant granite base, masonry and cast stone detailing.

Residences will be located on the upper five floors while the second floor and a portion of the first floor will consist of secured parking for 58 vehicles. Also on the first floor, a total of 1,314 square feet will serve as a retail component.

The property will offer 15 one-, 25 two- and five three-bedroom units serving a mix of individuals and families of all income ranges. Each apartment boasts an open floorplan, quality finishes, in-unit washers and dryers and private outdoor balconies. Tenants will also enjoy a community room and outfitted fitness center.

“McShane Construction is pleased to have been selected by UP Development for the delivery of this new mixed-use project in Arlington Heights. Our expertise and long-standing working relationship with this respected developer will support our client in filling the void of quality mixed-income housing in the area,” stated Raday.

Tinaglia Architects, Inc. is providing the architectural services for Parkview Apartments. Construction is slated for completion in early second quarter 2018.

Jeffrey A. Raday, PE, President of McShane Construction Company, is pleased to announce that construction of Park Place has been completed for long-standing and respected client, Brinshore Development.

The multi-building affordable housing development is located on a 4.6-acre site at the intersection of 50^th Street and Lawndale Avenue within the West Elsdon, Back of the Yards neighborhood. The property is conveniently positioned less than one mile away from both the Pulaski and Kedzie CTA Orange Line stations providing easy access to numerous amenities, the City of Chicago and Midway International Airport.

Park Place offers a total of 78 rental apartments with 15 one-, 42 two- and 21 three-bedroom floorplans throughout 14 three-story residential buildings. Each residence provides a spacious interior layout with quality finishes and in-unit washers and dryers.

As part of the assignment, McShane transformed an existing building located on the site into fully-featured community space through an extensive renovation program. The stand-alone building features a community room, computer lab, fitness center and on-site management. All sitework for the project including paved roads, alleys, sidewalks and landscaping was also completed by McShane.

The architectural design of Park Place purposefully complements the surrounding neighborhood utilizing masonry and fiber cement together with decorative cast stone custom panels at the entryways. Additionally, the property achieves Energy Star certification through the incorporation of sustainable features such as energy efficient appliances, high insulation windows, permeable pavement and rain gardens.

“We appreciate the opportunity to contribute our extensive experience in high-quality multi-family and affordable housing construction to meet the goals our valued client, Brinshore Development,” stated Raday. “Park Place has successfully revitalized this area of the West Elsdon, Back of the Yards neighborhood by providing quality, attractive and functional housing for individuals and families in need.”

Funding for Park Place was provided by multiple sources, including the City of Chicago. Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, one of the country’s oldest community organizations, is providing social and programming services for residents. Landon Bone Baker Architect served as the project architect for the assignment.

Jeffrey A. Raday, PE, President of McShane Construction Company, is pleased to announce that the firm has completed an on-time delivery of Clybourn 1200 – a highly anticipated mixed-use development of Brinshore-Michaels.

The 84-unit property is positioned on the corner of Clybourn Avenue and Division Street in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The seven-story building, which offers mixed-income housing, is within walking distance to numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment options as well as the CTA Clark/Division Red Line Station. The infill site is also easily accessible to the Kennedy Expressway.

Clybourn 1200 features 17,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, a 25,295-square-foot secured indoor parking garage on the second floor, and five floors incorporating 84 mixed-income apartments. The development was designed and constructed integrating numerous sustainable features such as a solar hot water system, low VOC products, permeable pavers and Energy Star lighting and appliances.

The residence was constructed of precast concrete that utilizes a blend of textures and colors adding architectural interest to the prominent corner structure. Sleek aluminum windows with varying mullion designs accent the modern design while steel and glass canopies at the retail and residential entrances emphasize the contemporary lines of the building.

Units are available in studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. Each apartment is complete with stylish fixtures and finishes together with in-unit washers and dryers, sizable closets and an in-floor radiant heat system.

In addition to thoughtfully configured residences, tenants are offered an array of amenities located throughout the property including a community room, computer lab, party room with a kitchen and fitness center. An elegant roof deck located on the third floor provides outdoor amenity space with comfortable seating, a gas grill and fire place. Unique to Clybourn 1200 is the rooftop vegetable garden for residents to utilize and an apiary, or a bee keeping area.

“Clybourn 1200 has successfully transformed a prominent corner in Chicago’s north side into a dynamic and productive destination benefitting the surrounding community,” remarked Raday. “McShane Construction is honored to have served Brinshore-Michaels in bringing their vision of a mixed-use property that balances quality mixed-income housing and retail to this strategic urban site within the City of Chicago.”

Pappageorge Haymes Partners served as the project architect for this notable mixed-use assignment.

For more information about Clybourn 1200, visit www.clybourn1200.com.

With the evolution of consumer behavior, rising labor costs and focus on security and sustainability, we are experiencing numerous trends impacting the cold storage construction industry. Let’s talk about five important factors.

Increased Demand — A key reason we’re seeing growth in demand for temperature controlled facilities is the trend toward fresh refrigerated foods and ready-to-eat frozen foods. People are eating healthier than ever before, but want to minimize the time needed to prepare meals. This has resulted in the need for more facilities that can accommodate fresh or perishable items that need refrigeration or pre-made frozen food that requires freezer components. Given the change in consumer preferences, we are seeing an increase in multi-temperature facilities to serve the growth from ports to last mile applications such as Amazon Fresh.

Growth in Automation — Automation is increasing as a result of several factors, but one in particular can be realized as companies try to increase productivity and efficiency. The state of the labor force is also impacting this push for automation. The once thriving population of production workers is getting older making it harder to fill positions while young people have less interest in entering the warehouse environment. The cost of talent is also being heavily affected by the increase in minimum wage, pension and healthcare costs. As a result, automation is becoming the more affordable and long-term solution.

Focus on Employee Satisfaction — For those employees that are essential to the operation of a cold storage facility, we are seeing a shift in priorities toward employee comfort in order to stay competitive with other companies. Office areas are gaining attention with the use of social areas, collaboration spaces and elaborate break rooms. The use of natural light has also become popular, with clerestory windows being utilized.

Enhanced Security — Efforts have increased to safeguard climate-controlled environments from potential tampering or other malicious actions with food products. Securing a facility not only encompasses the building itself, but employees and visitors as well. Users are implementing high-resolution cameras that identify product-related errors and improve processes, while sophisticated scanning systems are assisting with the vetting of guests and truck drivers.

Sustainability — More of our clients are implementing solar panels, energy management systems, refrigerated trailer plugins, alternative fuels, water reclamation systems and even electric car plugins. Cold storage users are also utilizing CO2 and ammonia-based refrigeration systems, specifically cascade refrigeration. These systems require less ammonia, which is kept outside the building, minimizing the risks of contamination or personal safety.

McShane understands these needs and with over 30 years of experience in the construction of temperature controlled facilities, our clients experience the advantages of working with a skilled team that can deliver an efficient, sustainable and high-quality facility benefiting both short- and long-term business objectives.

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Jeffrey A. Raday, PE, President of McShane Construction Company, is pleased to announce the completion of Apex 41, a 181-unit luxury apartment development of GlenStar Properties.

Located on a three-acre site at 2760 South Highland Avenue in Lombard, Illinois, the upscale property is situated across the street from the popular Yorktown Shopping Center mall. This prestigious location offers direct access to numerous shops, restaurants and businesses together with optimal convenience to I-88 and downtown Chicago.

Apex 41 was constructed in a podium format with a five-story metal-framed residential component atop a two-story, 242-vehicle precast concrete parking deck. The complex incorporates a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units complete with granite and quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and in-unit washers and dryers. Each apartment also includes a spacious aluminum balcony for private outdoor space.

Residents enjoy a wide selection of amenities within a 3,000-square-foot community clubhouse that features a lounge with full kitchen, fitness center, yoga and fitness on-demand studio, business center and a luxurious resort-style swimming pool located directly outside. Additional outdoor space is offered within a 16,000-square-foot park-like raised plaza with lush landscaping, gourmet grill stations, fire pits, a putting green and various seating areas.

“The I-88 corridor is home to a number of Fortune 500 companies and continues to attract large businesses making the area an increasingly desirable place to live,” remarked Raday. “Apex 41 provides a much needed rental option to the area’s expanding young workforce who desire the amenities and locational benefits offered by this superior development.”

Stephen Rankin Associates provided the architectural services for Apex 41. Greystar is serving as the exclusive management and leasing team. For more information and leasing inquiries, visit www.liveapex41.com.