Leopardo Renovating Two Suburban Libraries

August 5th, 2010

DARIEN and LAKE ZURICH, Illinois (August 5, 2010) – Leopardo recently began renovation projects at two suburban libraries – Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien and Ela Area Public Library in Lake Zurich.

The Indian Prairie Public Library project is a renovation of the 43,000-SF, two-story facility, located at the corner of Plainfield Rd. and Clarendon Hills Rd. The project includes new carpeting, paint, fabrics, doors, furniture, plumbing and electrical work. The Reference and Readers’ Advisory desks are being combined and all service desks are being made modular to make future updates easier to complete.

The first floor plans at Indian Prairie Public Library include a new vending café as well as adult computers, magazines and newspapers. The current teen area will double in size and a brand-new family center will be unveiled for preschoolers and their parents. Planned duration of the project is 13 weeks. PSA-Dewberry is serving as architect with Leopardo as general contractor.

Ela Area Public Library is undergoing a radio frequency identification (RFID) improvement project and Leopardo is performing drywall, demolition, carpentry and acoustical ceiling trade work. RFID is a method that uses tags, attached to books and other library materials, which retrieve and store data. Ultimately, this will make check-in and check-out of materials easier and will modernize the library’s self-check system.

Earlier in the year, Leopardo broke ground on the new $6.4-million West Humboldt Park Branch Library in Chicago. Located at 733 N. Kedzie Ave., the 14,800-square-foot, one-story, full-service branch library is one of the first using a prototype design by Lohan Anderson and is seeking LEED Silver certification. The branch library will utilize geothermal systems for heating and cooling, resulting in dramatic reductions in energy consumption, and a prevegetated modular green roofing system will reduce the urban heat island effect, conserve water and decrease storm water runoff.

Tags: Darien construction, Ela Area Public Library, Indian Prairie Public Library, Lake Zurich construction, library construction, municipal construction, public construction
Posted in Community, Municipal + Recreation

Crain’s Chicago Business Highlights Leopardo’s Strength in the Marketplace via Video

August 4th, 2010

CHICAGO AND HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (August 4, 2010) — Crain’s Chicago Business today highlighted Leopardo’s strength in the marketplace, featuring Leopardo in Chicago Business Today, the publication’s daily news video. Watch the three-minute video below or click this link.

According to Crain’s description of the video, “the latest forecast shows construction activity is slower than initially expected this year. But at least one local contractor [Leopardo] says the market is improving.”

“Leopardo is breaking ground on several new projects this year. The company has hired about 10 people recently,” said Chicago Business Today Host Lisa Leiter.

In recent months, Leopardo has been awarded about 20 projects totaling approximately $70 million worth of construction.

Posted in Awards + Recognition, Education, General Corporate, Healthcare, Hospitality + Hotel, Interiors, Municipal + Recreation, Office + Industrial, Personnel, Retail, Video

Leopardo Ranks Among Top U.S. Contractors

June 8th, 2010

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (June 8, 2010) — Leopardo recently ranked No. 242 on Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) list of the top 400 general contractors in the United States. The list, which was published in the magazine’s May 17, 2010 issue, was based on 2009 revenues. Last year, Leopardo posted revenues of nearly $247 million. In April, Midwest Construction magazine ranked Leopardo No. 25 on its list of the region’s top 100 contractors.

Tags: ENR 400
Posted in Awards + Recognition, General Corporate

Leopardo Completes New 23,000-SF Mount Prospect Fire Station #14

June 2nd, 2010

Station is Pursuing LEED Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council

MOUNT PROSPECT, Illinois (June 2, 2010) – Leopardo, a leader in construction, design-build and commercial real estate development, recently completed Mount Prospect’s new 23,000-square-foot fire station.

The two-story facility, which is seeking LEED Gold certification, features greywater recycling, high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, and a predominant use of natural daylight to reduce energy requirements. The masonry and steel-constructed building also includes a basement, a three-vehicle bay and living quarters for seven firefighters, as well as a large training room. The station’s apparatus floor and living quarters are designed to accommodate future growth. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: fire station construction, Mount Prospect, public safety construction
Posted in Community, Municipal + Recreation

American Hospital Association Moves Into New 118,000-SF Headquarters at 155 N. Wacker

May 28th, 2010

Designed by Partners by DESIGN; Built by Leopardo Companies; Pursuing LEED Silver

CHICAGO, Illinois (May 28, 2010) – American Hospital Association (AHA) recently moved into its new 118,000-square-foot headquarters on four and a half floors at 155 N. Wacker Dr. The newly finished space, which is pursuing LEED Silver Certification, was designed by Partners by DESIGN incorporated and built by Leopardo Companies.

The facility maximizes transparency through spatial arrangement of offices, workstations and ancillary functions. Use of transparent, translucent and reflective materials in combination with warm wood tones and natural materials provides a relaxing spa-like environment in which to work. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: AHA, American Hospital Association
Posted in Healthcare, Interiors, Sustainaiblity + LEED

Leopardo Breaks Ground on New Medical Office Headquarters for Barrington Orthopedic Specialists

April 9th, 2010

SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (April 9, 2010) – Leopardo today broke ground on the new 53,000-square-foot medical office headquarters for Barrington Orthopedic Specialists.

Located in Schaumburg at 929 W. Higgins Rd., just west of the Higgins Rd. (Rt. 72) and Golf Rd. (Rt. 58) intersection, the medical office building will house Barrington Orthopedic Specialists’ full-service orthopedic practice with physical therapy, work hardening, work conditioning, MRI and physician offices. It will open for business in January of 2011.

Leopardo is serving as general contractor with Tinley Park-based Arete 3 as the architect.

Tags: Barrington Orthopedic Specialists, healthcare construction, medical construction, medical office construction, office construction, Schaumburg construction
Posted in Healthcare

Leopardo Wins Public Works Project of the Year

March 25th, 2010

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (March 25, 2010) – The Village of Mount Prospect, SRBL Architects and Leopardo were awarded Project of the Year – in the projects under $5 million category – at today’s Best of the Best in Public Works awards luncheon of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Chicago Metro Chapter.

The Project of the Year Award was in recognition of the Mount Prospect Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which was one of three projects Leopardo built simultaneously on three different sites in Mount Prospect. The projects were 1) the new 24,000-square-foot fire station No. 14, which is seeking LEED Gold certification; 2) the EOC, which was designed in accordance with Miami-Dade building codes; and 3) two new additions to the existing public works building, a renovation of existing office space and a new storage facility. Combined, the three projects totaled 35,000 square feet and $11.85 million. Leopardo served as construction manager with SRBL as the architect.

This is the fourth “project of the year” award Leopardo has won in recent weeks. Leopardo’s Children’s Specialty Care Clinic at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital won Project of the Year by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA). The Aurora Police Headquarters won Build to Suit Project of the Year at the Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards, and Project of the Year by the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO).

Posted in Awards + Recognition, Community, General Corporate, Municipal + Recreation

Leopardo Building $24-Million, 73,000-SF Community Center in South Suburban Chicago

March 24th, 2010

MATTESON, Illinois (March 24, 2010) – Leopardo recently began construction on the new 73,000-square-foot community center on a 19.3 acre site in Matteson, Ill.

The $24-million facility will include an indoor competition pool, gymnasium, locker rooms, spa rooms, salon, pre-school, childcare rooms, youth dance studio, multi-purpose rooms, and meeting rooms. Outdoors, the community center will feature a spray pool, running track, football stadium, two baseball fields, soccer field, three tennis courts, two basketball courts, a storage garage and four parking lots. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Community, Municipal + Recreation

Leopardo Wins Contractor of the Year and Project of the Year

March 19th, 2010

CHICAGO, Illinois (March 19, 2010) – Leopardo was awarded the coveted Contractor of the Year and Project of the Year awards at last night’s 31st annual banquet of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA).

The Project of the Year Award was in recognition of Leopardo’s Children’s Specialty Care Clinic project at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. The 24,000-square-foot renovation project included a substantial renovation to the fourth floor of the children’s hospital, exterior façade replacement, a stair tower addition, and installation of a new air handling unit and chillers in the existing building shell. The emergency room and hospital remained open around the clock during construction.

According to HACIA, its awards banquet is consistently recognized as the largest construction industry event in the Midwest.

In addition to the two HACIA awards, Leopardo has recently received multiple prestigious honors from its peers, clients and the media, including:

>> 2010 Communitas Leadership Award for Corporate Social Responsibility by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP)
>> 2009 Build to Suit Project of the Year by the Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards for the Aurora Police Headquarters project
>> 2009 Safety Award for Excellence by the Fox Valley Associated General Contractors (FVAGC)
>> 2009 Robert M. Farrell Memorial Safety Award, presented to Leopardo’s safety director by the FVAGC
>> 2009 Project of the Year by the Construction Industry Service Corporation (CISCO) for the Aurora Police Headquarters project
>> 2009 Award for Business Excellence by the Business Ledger, a suburban Chicago business publication
>> 2008-2009 Outstanding Project by the Association of Subcontractors and Affiliates (ASA) for the Ronald McDonald House project
>> 2008 Interior Contractor of the Year at the Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards (Leopardo has won this award four of the last eight years)