McHugh in the News:
McHugh Building Apartment Tower at 161 W. Kinzie St.
December 10, 2008
CHICAGO - James McHugh Construction Co. has begun construction of EnV, a new luxury apartment tower at 161 W. Kinzie St. in Chicago's River North neighborhood
San Antonio, Texas-based developer Lynd Development Partners is making its first move into the Chicago market with the tower, which was designed by Chicago architects Valerio Dewalt Train. Completion is slated for early 2010.
The 300,000-square-foot, 249-unit building will be constructed of post-tensioned concrete, a departure from the cast-in-place concrete construction typical of most apartment towers. By using post-tensioned concrete, the design team was able to eliminate the need for columns around the exterior and reduce the number of structural columns in the building to 18, instead of the typical 24 to 28 required for a cast-in-place structure of this size.
EnV will be one of the city's first LEED certified rental buildings, featuring environmentally sensitive design and construction. Green features will include high efficiency mechanical systems; a green roof; carpeting made with recycled fibers; low VOC paint; and recycled building materials.
The building will offer unusual design elements such as exposed structural columns and cantilevered balconies that extend out from the building at its corners with full-height glass on three sides. EnV's window wall exterior will feature an entirely smooth surface, with dark blue glass, no mullions and painted aluminum cover at each floor slab. McHugh will be installing eight different types of glass on the building, including 1 ΒΌ -inch-thick glass along the El tracks to block noise.
Building amenities will include a rooftop deck and pool, dog run, fire pit, full kitchen and wine storage lockers. High-tech features will include an automated, 24-hour convenience store, virtual concierge, and V-Connect, which allows residents to integrate security and other preferences via iPods or iPhones. Inside, units will feature luxury finishes, including granite counters, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors and European-style cabinets.
The first three floors of the building will hold 27,000 square feet of retail space, along with a 129-space parking garage.
McHugh's experience with congested city sites will be key to keeping the project running smoothly, said Project Manager Dave Riordan, with Chicago Transit Authority Brown Line El tracks only eight feet from the property line. A busy El stop and the Merchandise Mart, one of Chicago's largest buildings, also adjoin the site, making logistics and access a key issue.
WMA Consulting Engineers is performing design services for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing and McHugh is performing design-build for the fire protection systems. It also is self-performing concrete work and handling interior build-outs for all residences.
Founded in 1897, McHugh is one of Chicago's oldest and largest general contracting, construction management and consulting firms. Current projects include the concrete structure for Trump International Hotel and Tower Chicago, the high-profile Aqua mixed-use high-rise with its distinctive rippled exterior; and renovation and expansion of Riverside Brookfield High School.
