2021 Notable Women in Construction and Design

2021 Notable Women in Construction and Design

Molly McShane, Chief Operating Officer, was named to Crain’s Chicago Business‘ list of Notable Women in Construction and Design for the second year in a row. The list honors women in the Chicago area for their career achievements in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

Molly has proven herself as a trailblazer in the construction industry. In October, she became McShane’s second CEO and first female CEO. She was also named NAIOP Chicago’s first female President in 2018 and was a founding co-chair of Women’s Leadership Initiative Chicago’s executive board. In 2020 she directed efforts at The McShane Companies that contributed to $1.6 billion in revenue.

McShane to Build 302-Unit Community in Oconomowoc, WI

McShane Construction Company has been selected by repeat client, Mandel Group to provide general construction services for Hackney House Apartments at Pabst Farms. Located in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, the new development will offer 302 units. Last fall, McShane completed the construction of The West Living, a 177-unit luxury apartment community for Mandel Group in West Allis, Wisconsin.

“Hackney House will be a very welcoming development with plenty of green space,” shared Scott Hoppa, Senior Vice President at McShane. “The ample on-site amenities will give tenants the opportunity to take full advantage of living in a garden-style community.”

Positioned on a 34.45-acre site, the community will be comprised of 18 two-story garden-style buildings and 2 three-story townhome buildings that exude a modern farmhouse aesthetic. Inspired by the “mews house” concept, the development is designed to leverage the large site acreage by creating intimate courtyards that offer access to natural environs and encourage resident interaction.

Designed to achieve National Green Building Standard (NGBS) certification, sustainable materials such as board and batten siding, stone masonry and native plants will be used in the buildings and landscaping.

Community amenities will include a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse with a gourmet-style kitchen and fitness center, an outdoor pool with a Baja lounge shelf, a grill and patio dining area, a dog wash and bike storage. The property will also incorporate 11 detached garages.

Units will be available in one- to three-bedroom configurations and will incorporate high-end finishes, including quartz countertops, designer cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and vinyl plank flooring.

The development is funded utilizing HUD 221(d)(4) financing. As a seasoned HUD contractor, McShane is well-versed in the details and execution of HUD 221(d)(4) projects and uses this experience to ensure that the process moves smoothly.

Completion of Hackney House Apartments is slated for April 2023. The architect of record is BSB Design.

Multi-Family Development Underway in Tempe

McShane Construction Company is underway with construction on Banyan North Tempe on behalf of Banyan Residential and Milhaus. Located in Tempe, Arizona, the new multi-family development will offer 310 units across three four-story, garden-style buildings. The development is one of seven apartment communities that McShane is currently building in the greater Phoenix area.

“Positioned at Miller and Curry Roads, Banyan North Tempe is an Opportunity Zone project located in a very active development corridor,” shared Jim Kurtzman, Senior Vice President at McShane. “Tenants will not only have a beautiful, amenity-filled development to call home, they will also have easy access to downtown Tempe, Phoenix and Sky Harbor International Airport.”

The 11.12-acre site will also incorporate 8,000 square feet of amenity space with elaborate wood work including a commercial-grade fitness center, live-work units, an outdoor pool and spa, fire pits, barbecues and a dog park overlooking downtown Tempe. Additionally, there will be parking for 510 vehicles.

Each unit will contain high-end finishes including LVT and carpet flooring, smooth-finish drywall, quartz countertops and frameless glass shower enclosures.

The buildings will feature wood frame construction with a façade of stucco, thin brick and wood-look metal lattice.

McShane worked closely with the owners, architect, civil and geotechnical engineers during the pre-construction phase to determine best practices and provide improved constructability methods. The team participated in early and frequent estimate and value engineering cycles to ensure the project achieved budgetary goals while maintaining quality and finish standards during a time of volatile material costs.

Completion of Banyan North Tempe is expected in April 2023. The architect of record is Todd & Associates.

McShane to Build CityGate Mixed-Use Development

Lincoln Property Company and Calamos Real Estate have selected McShane Construction Company to add a new mixed-use multi-family development to Naperville, Illinois’ CityGate Centre. Known as Lincoln at CityGate, the project will consist of 285 luxury multi-family units, a precast parking garage and the shell for a future event center.

“CityGate is an innovative and art-minded center complete with a hotel, bars and restaurants, a spa, a fitness center and office space,” stated David Rintz, Vice President at McShane. “The addition of apartments and an event space will transform the area into a true community where people can live, work and have fun.”

Residents will have access to generous amenities, including a resident lounge, library/work space, fitness and yoga rooms, a bike lounge, storage and a dog spa. Outside, they will be able to enjoy a pool area with a pergola, grills and fire pits. The precast parking garage will incorporate 430 parking spaces.

Most apartment units will boast a private balcony or patio, and all will offer stainless steel appliances.

The development includes four wood-frame construction stories wrapped around a precast parking garage with a 37,893-square-foot rooftop event center shell. The building’s exterior features an attractive mix of brick, Hardie and Nichiha panel siding, metal panels and glass.

During the pre-construction phase, McShane worked with the clients and their design team to ensure that the project falls within their budget. By providing pre-construction services, McShane can reduce unforeseen costs for the client and avoid unnecessary schedule delays.

Completion of Lincoln at CityGate is expected for February 2023. The architect of record is CallisonRTKL.

Fifth Avenue Apartments Completed

Interfaith Housing Development Corporation (IHDC), is pleased to announce the completion of its latest housing development, Fifth Avenue Apartments, providing 72 new affordable housing units in the Village of Maywood, a western suburb of Chicago. The development has been made possible thanks to four major financial partners along with an energy efficiency grant from ComEd. These financial partners include the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the Cook County Department of Planning and Development, the Richman Group Affordable Housing Corporation, and Bank of America. The Chicago Community Loan Fund also provided pre-development lending prior to construction.

Located at 800 South 5th Avenue, a site purchased from the Village of Maywood in 2019, the apartment development was built at a rapid pace in order to provide much-needed affordable housing support for the Maywood community. The building was designed with offsite prefabricated architectural precast panels that include thin brick, form liner and a limestone sandblast exterior finish. This smart design and construction approach meant that the entire building structure was assembled in just 35 days.

“We began accepting lease applications in the Fall of 2020 and received more than 3,000 applicants for these 72 units,” said Perry Vietti, the President of Interfaith Housing. “We knew the need for affordable housing was great in this community, but with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s clear it has become even greater.”

The new building is located on 5th Avenue, a pedestrian-oriented commercial corridor which is the main street for the Village of Maywood, providing its new tenants easy access to transit, education, and retail. The building is home to studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residential units along with interior and exterior shared community spaces for resident use. A 5,500 square foot retail space on the ground floor, not yet occupied, is slated for grocery store use.

“Affordable housing is the backbone of our communities and we’re glad to see this development open its doors to the residents of Cook County,” said Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. “Interfaith has done an incredible job of bringing this building to life quickly, and we are grateful to have them as our partner helping to fulfill this critical community need.”

This development was specifically designed to serve working families and individuals, with 19 of the residences set aside for special needs populations, 8 for homeless veterans, and 11 residences allocated for residents from the Illinois State Referral Network. The building’s first occupants are being selected based on their ability to meet the Federal income criteria for affordable housing programs. Maintaining its affordability status for a minimum of forty years, the five-story development will provide affordable housing for households at or below 60 percent of area median income (AMI).

The development has been designed by national integrated architecture and engineering firm, HED, and built by Chicago-based McShane Construction Company. The IHDC development team established early in the project a desire to achieve high levels of environmental sustainability, in an effort to best serve its resident population’s health. The project was chosen for the International Living Future Institute’s pilot program for affordable housing.  While state regulation precluded the receipt of the Living Building Challenge certification   the team’s participation in the program, will ultimately benefit countless affordable housing projects around the country as the research continues to develop.

“Through our collaborative partnership with the HED design team, and in spite of the supply chain challenges seen around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to be delivering this building for occupancy one month earlier than anticipated. As a result, residents are now moving in, finding new opportunities for their own lives and relieving pressure on the area’s shelter resources,” said Jason Breden, Vice President of McShane Construction Company.

Additional project team members supporting the design and development of the Fifth Avenue Apartments project include SITE Design for landscape architecture, and Ericksson Engineering for civil engineering. Property management will be provided by Interfaith Management Services, an affiliate of Interfaith Housing Development Corporation that currently manages the 12 additional affordable housing developments owned by Interfaith.

McShane to Build 343-unit Community in Huntsville

Gateway Ventures Real Estate has selected McShane Construction Company to provide design-assist construction services for Laurel at Dry Creek. Located in Huntsville, Alabama, the new multi-family community will provide 343 apartment units.

“We’re excited to be working with Gateway Ventures in Huntsville,” shared Scott Hoppa, Senior Vice President of McShane’s Southeast Region. “Laurel at Dry Creek is going to be a beautiful development, and we’re confident that our vast experience in the Southeast multi-family market will make this project a success for our client.”

The development is positioned on a 20-acre site and will incorporate 16 one-, two- and three-story apartment and townhome buildings. The buildings will feature wood frame construction with an attractive exterior of masonry and fiber cement.

Units will boast various luxury finishes, including luxury vinyl tile flooring, hard surface countertops and stainless steel appliances.

The community will also offer more than 7,000 square feet of amenity space, including a fitness room, lounge, swimming pool and a rain garden. Additionally, tenants will have access to surface parking for 524 vehicles.

By providing design-assist services, McShane’s engineers were able to work with both the client and architect throughout the design process and provide input into the project’s design. This process resulted in cost savings for the client from both a short-term and life-cycle basis.

Completion of Laurel at Dry Creek is slated for September 2022. The architect of record is Dynamik Design

McShane Underway with Three Spec Industrial Buildings

McShane Construction Company is providing design-build services for Industry Center at Melrose Park on behalf of LBA Logistics. Located at 2065 George Street in Melrose Park, Illinois, the industrial development will incorporate three speculative buildings totaling 651,617 square feet.

“We’ve been planning this project for quite some time, so we’re excited to get it off the ground,” stated Tom Beres, Vice President at McShane. “The development will offer tenants dedicated trailer lots for each building, efficient loading dimensions and abundant parking for employees, making it ideal for any industrial user.”

Positioned just four miles from I-290 and I-294, the site provides easy access to O’Hare International Airport, UP Intermodal II, CP Intermodal and downtown Chicago. Additionally, tenants will have access to public transportation and a strong labor pool.

Situated on a 44-acre site, Building 1 will offer 130,200 square feet with a 36′ clear height, up to 37 truck docks, two drive-in doors, 44 trailer stalls and 151 parking spaces. Building 2 will feature 350,248 square feet with a 36′ clear height, up to 72 truck docks, two drive-in doors, 142 trailer stalls and 251 parking spaces. Building 3 will provide 171,169 square feet with a 36′ clear height, up to 43 truck docks, two drive-in doors, 83 trailer stalls and 215 parking spaces. Additionally, the property will offer a 140′ truck court.

Prior to beginning construction for the new buildings, McShane demolished an existing building on the site.

As a design-build project, LBA Logistics engaged McShane before finalizing the design. McShane worked closely with both the client and architect to determine the desired shell layout and building features throughout the design process. This method allows for a shorter overall project schedule, provides an early project cost guarantee and reduces the burden on the client’s resources.

The architect of record for Industry Center at Melrose Park is Harris Architects.

Springs at Red Mountain Completed

McShane Construction Company is pleased to announce the completion of Springs at Red Mountain in Mesa, Arizona. Built on behalf of longtime client Continental Properties, the 192-unit development marks the 18th Springs project that McShane has completed. McShane is currently underway with two additional projects for Continental in the Phoenix area: Springs at Deer Valley in Phoenix and Springs at Cooley Station in Gilbert.

“Springs at Red Mountain marks Continental’s first multi-family community in Arizona, and we’re proud to have made the project a reality for them,” stated Jim Kurtzman, Senior Vice President of McShane’s Southwest Region. “The project is a win for both McShane and Continental and is an excellent addition to the Valley housing market.”

The brand new luxury apartment community features a gated entrance, private home entries and first-class amenities. Residents can enjoy an on-site clubhouse with a state-of-the-art fitness center and swimming pool. An outdoor ramada with a fire pit, a barbecue area and a car wash are also available to residents.

Additionally, the pet-friendly facility integrates an outdoor dog park for tenants and their pets to use. On-site parking consists of both surface and garage spaces.

Positioned on 10.5 acres of land on North Power Road, the complex incorporates seven two- and three-story garden-style apartment buildings with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The buildings feature wood frame construction with an attractive stucco and stone exterior. Many units boast upgraded features, including vinyl plank flooring, granite countertops and wine coolers.

The architect of record for Springs at Red Mountain is Phillips Partnership.

McShane Breaks Ground on 500 Pittsburg Avenue

McShane Construction Company has broken ground on 500 Pittsburg Avenue, a new industrial development in Richmond, California on behalf of their client, Black Creek Group, a leading real estate investment management firm. Positioned on a 34-acre site near the intersection of Pittsburg Avenue and Richmond Parkway, the development will feature a 481,500-square-foot distribution center.

“We’re excited to have another opportunity to build in the Northern California market,” shared Charlie Stone, Vice President and Regional Manager of McShane’s Western Regional Office. “The features 500 Pittsburg offers, along with its location in Richmond, make it an excellent option for businesses in the East Bay area.”

The facility will incorporate a concrete tiltwall panel exterior with storefront windows. Inside, the space will integrate a 36′ clear height with 84 truck docks, four drive-in doors, 7″ concrete slab floors and ESFR sprinklers.

Additionally, McShane will widen Richmond Parkway and Pittsburg Avenue and add turn lanes and traffic signals.

During Phase I of the project, McShane performed extensive ground improvements, including wick drains, deep dynamic compaction and grading.

McShane joined the project during the pre-construction phase where they provided oversight on budgeting, constructability review and coordinated the ground improvement strategy. By getting involved early in the process, McShane is able to help clients avoid unforeseen costs and mitigate schedule delays.

Completion of 500 Pittsburg Avenue is slated for November 2021. The architect of record is HPA, Inc.

McShane Expands Nashville Presence

McShane Construction Company is underway with NOVEL Harpeth Heights on behalf of repeat client Crescent Communities. Located in Nashville’s vibrant Bellevue neighborhood, the NGBS Bronze development will incorporate 322 units.

“We’re excited to start construction on our third multi-family project currently active in the greater Nashville area,” shared Scott Hoppa, Senior Vice President & Regional Manager of McShane’s Southeast Region. “NOVEL Harpeth Heights will offer an excellent array of amenities just minutes from Downtown.”

Positioned on a 22-acre site on Nashville’s southwest side, NOVEL Harpeth Heights will set a new standard for luxury in the area. It will feature various studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartment homes ranging in size from 549 square feet to 1,529 square feet. The first residences are available in late 2022.

The development will incorporate nearly 28,000 square feet of shared amenity space for tenants to enjoy. The main clubhouse will resemble a country farmhouse with outdoor spaces and lap pools that lend to residents’ entertainment and leisure. The community will also feature a state-of-the-art fitness and movement studio, game room patio with fire pit, dog spa, gear lounge, library, business center with micro offices, demonstration kitchen with bar and dining lounge, and a dog park.

The vision for the community’s design centers around the idea of “Tennessee Heritage,” and was inspired by the history and rural architecture found in and around the Middle Tennessee area.

As part of the project, McShane is demolishing an existing building on the site and providing infrastructure improvements for an adjacent townhome development.

McShane’s pre-construction team was heavily involved in value engineering at NOVEL Harpeth Heights and worked extensively with the owners, architects, engineers, and consultants during design and construction plan development. This collaborative approach to the value engineering process allowed McShane to present alternate design recommendations and up-to-date pricing to meet the owner’s market and financial needs.

Completion of NOVEL Harpeth Heights is expected for October 2022. The architect of record is HEDK Architects.

McShane to Build 242-Unit Community in Phoenix

McShane Construction Company is underway on a new apartment community on behalf of LIV Development, a firm based out of Birmingham, Alabama. The new multi-family project will be located in Phoenix, Arizona and will offer 242 units with various on-site amenities.

“We’re very excited to be building these apartments, our eighth multi-family project currently active in the Phoenix area,” commented Jim Kurtzman, Senior Vice President at McShane. “We’ve been working with the owner for the past several months, so we’re excited to get the project off the ground.”

The three-story, multi-building complex is positioned on a 10.8-acre site and will incorporate wood frame construction covered with a stucco exterior that takes design cues from both Art Deco and Modern Architecture. It will offer studio, one- and two-bedroom layouts. The units will feature vinyl plank and carpet flooring, granite countertops, full-height kitchen backsplash tile, stainless steel appliances and lots of natural light.

Residents will enjoy over 1.5 acres of shared amenity space, including a 4,000-square-foot clubhouse, 60,000-gallon outdoor pool, dog park and courtyards filled with ample outdoor seating, barbecues and cabanas.

The apartments will be completed in August 2022. The architect of record is Humphreys & Partners Architects.

McShane Begins Construction on NOVEL Val Vista

Crescent Communities has selected McShane Construction Company to provide construction services for NOVEL Val Vista. Located in Gilbert, Arizona, the new multi-family community will contain 317 units.

“We’re thrilled to work on another multi-family development in Phoenix,” shared Jim Kurtzman, Senior Vice President at McShane. “NOVEL Val Vista is one of eight multi-family projects we are currently underway with in the area, so it’s an exciting time for the market.”

The development is positioned on an 8.6-acre site and will feature wood frame construction with three 4-story garden-style buildings and three 2-story carriage house buildings. The garden-style buildings will feature an attractive exterior of stucco and multiple brick types, and the carriage houses will incorporate fiber cement board and corrugated metal panels.

Each unit will boast upgraded matte black plumbing fixtures, black quartz countertops and level 4 drywall finish.

Tenants will also be able to enjoy 11,500 square feet of amenity space, including a dog park, swimming pool, cold plunge spa, outdoor kitchen with a pizza oven, outdoor fireplaces and fire pits.

McShane also provided pre-construction services for NOVEL Val Vista. They worked closely with both the owner and architect to provide market standards and extensive value engineering recommendations. This will enable McShane to maintain the owner’s budget throughout construction while delivering a high-quality product that will be a great addition to the town of Gilbert.

NOVEL Val Vista will be complete in Q4 2022. The architect of record is Craine Architecture.