CHICAGO, Illinois (November 8, 2011) – The Sullivan Center, formerly the Carson Pirie Scott building, recently received Landmark Illinois’ 2011 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Restoration Project of the Year.

The juried award honors excellence in historic preservation. “The level of detail of this project sets the bar for future restoration projects of this scale,” stated the awards jury.

In 2007, Leopardo began gutting eight floors and 600,000 square feet of old retail space as the Sullivan Center began its interior repositioning by Joseph Freed & Associates into a modernized space for retail, commercial and educational tenants.

In 2010, Leopardo completed the interior build-out of 20,000-square-foot at the Sullivan Center for Walgreen Co’s first-ever downtown offices, which housed 65 marketing and technology employees.

In 2011, Leopardo managed nearly 150,000 square feet of white-box build-outs at the Sullivan Center for the retail spaces that would eventually house Target and DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse.

In addition to the Restoration Project of the Year, the Sullivan Center has earned 10 industry awards, including the Friends of Downtown 2010 Best Restoration Award and Landmark Illinois’ 2009 Outstanding Preservation Award.

CHICAGO (August 15, 2011) — The eco-office of the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC), built by Leopardo during the summer of 2010, was recently awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

According to a statement by ELPC, “This achievement reflects not only the hard work of many to envision and create our modern, naturally lit, beautiful open office inside the historic Jewelers Building, but also the long-term commitment of many green building advocates and professionals who have raised the bar for green building throughout the country.”

Leopardo helped ELPC combine innovative technology and forward-thinking design to create 12,000 square feet of workspace that protects the environment, is healthier to their staff and makes economic sense. The renovation was completed in 11-weeks, finishing in August 2010, and boasts the following green features:

• Maximum use of natural day-lighting, efficient lighting systems and state-of-the-art HVAC building automation system (BAS) control systems to dramatically cut energy consumption utility bills
• Installation of low-flow plumbing fixtures (using 40% less water) and Energy Star appliances to further reduce operation costs
• Materials selected reduced VOC’s for improved air quality, were constructed from recycled and locally sourced materials and 81% of the wood used in the new offices was FSC-certified
• Diverted 94% of construction waste from landfills

See ELPC’s new www.elpc.org/greenoffice webpage for facts, figures, photos, and videos.

Since 2007, Leopardo has managed five LEED Platinum construction projects.

Legal Assistance Foundation: This 60,000-square-foot, two-floor build-out at 120 S. LaSalle will include 100 private offices, two multi-media conference rooms, and seek LEED Silver Certification. Construction for the non-profit law firm starts mid-August and completion is scheduled for December 1, 2011.

Leo Burnett: Chicago-based advertising agency Leo Burnett is updating its corporate look with a four-floor demolition/remodeling project at its 35 W. Wacker headquarters. With 25,000-square-foot floor plates, the combined project totals approximately 100,000 square feet. Leopardo is the general contractor with Nelson Architects. The final phase of the project is scheduled to wrap by the end of July 2011.

Target (Sullivan Center): As part of the Sullivan Center historic landmark redevelopment by Joseph Freed and Associates, this 121,000-square-foot, first- and second-floor, white-box build-out is for the future Target store at the corner of Wabash and Monroe, one block west of Millennium Park. The DePalma Group is architect. The project began in April and is expected to be completed in December 2011. Leopardo is also repairing the sidewalks on Monroe and building a 3,500-square-foot loading dock to be used exclusively by Target.

DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse (Sullivan Center): Also as part of the Sullivan Center historic landmark redevelopment by Joseph Freed and Associates, this 26,000-square-foot, white-box build-out of the basement level with escalators from the first floor is intended for the DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse store. In conjunction, Leopardo began construction on a 20,000-square-foot exiting/freight corridors project for the landlord.

Financial Services Firm (name withheld at client’s request): Leopardo is currently on phase two of a four-phase build-out of a financial services firm headquarters. Phase two is a 26,356-square-foot build-out of the 29th floor, which includes all new offices, high-end finishes, new technology infrastructure, extensive millwork and wood flooring. Phase two completion is scheduled for July 22, 2011 with all four phases expected to conclude in May 2012. In the end, Leopardo will have renovated nearly 170,000 square feet for this financial services client.

Taking over the space formerly occupied by Charlie’s Ale House, Leopardo completely remodeled the existing dining and kitchen facilities, including plumbing and mechanical systems. The restaurant features high-end millwork, an outdoor tiki bar with retractable awning and views of Lake Michigan.

“I couldn’t be more excited about Margaritaville arriving on the shores of Lake Michigan,” said Jimmy Buffett in a statement read during the ribbon cutting. “From my earliest days in the city playing the Quiet Knight on Belmont, to the pinnacle of live performances singing in front of the ivy wall at Wrigley Field, I have always thought of Chicago as a beach town – a pretty big one, but still a beach town. I am happy to call Navy Pier home to Margaritaville Bar & Grill.”

The restaurant officially opened for business on June 20. Below is a WBEZ 91.5 video from the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bar and Grill opens at Navy Pier from WBEZ on Vimeo.

Built in 1898, 27 years after the Great Chicago Fire, 6 N. Michigan was the original Montgomery Ward headquarters and remains a historical icon of Chicago’s early “skyscraper age” as it was Chicago’s tallest building for 20 years. Serving as general contractor, Leopardo helped reposition the building into a residential condo tower with 119 one-, two- and three-bedroom units and space for two first-floor retail tenants.

More information about the building, which stands over the heart of Millennium Park, can be found at sixnorthmichigan.com.

Located at 325 N. LaSalle St., the space features working kitchens, laundry rooms, garages, outdoor entertainment area and flexible meeting space. The interactive, state-of-the-art showroom will be used for training and continuing education.

According to the Whirlpool Corporation news release, “The eco-focused facility was built at this Chicago historic landmark building using locally-sourced construction materials; materials made from recycled, renewable and/or recyclable content; low-flow plumbing fixtures; and low VOC coatings. Even the construction waste was carefully recycled throughout the project. The location uses extensive day lighting, and includes a large outdoor space with an herb garden providing fresh ingredients for cooking demonstrations and events.”

Leopardo served as the general contractor with Valerio Dewalt Train and Associates as the architect.

The project consisted of the demolition and build-out of a private ground floor entrance lobby and high-tech classrooms, conference rooms, library, collaborative spaces and administrative offices on the upper two floors. A two-story open atrium with grand staircase at each end connects the upper floors.

Extensive use of glass and natural lighting create a pleasant learning and working environment, and state-of-the-art audio/visual systems can be found throughout the campus.  The urban campus incorporates environmentally friendly materials and energy efficient plumbing, HVAC and lighting systems, and is seeking LEED for Commercial Interior Gold certification.

Leopardo served as the general contractor with OWP/P Cannon Design as the architect. ConopCo was the project manager.

The new two-story Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago, located at the corner of Lake Street and Medinah Road, will feature a museum and library, traditional lodge hall, kitchen facilities, dining room for 290 people, bar and game room, grand hall, administrative offices, and theater with seating for 270.

“The history of the Scottish Rite will be evident in the interior by integrating symbology, patterns, artwork, and historic items from the former Scottish Rite Cathedral on North Dearborn Street in Chicago,” said Valley of Chicago Executive Secretary and Chief Operating Officer Gregory Klemm.  “By integrating these historic elements in a creative way, the building will convey a sense of mystery and discovery to visitors as they explore the new spaces and discover familiar elements from the Scottish Rite’s history.”

Designed to tell the story of Freemasonry’s symbolic origins through the future of society, the interior and exterior will feature traditional Masonic structures executed in a timeless and contemporary composition that incorporates traditional masonry materials like stone and brick as well as modern construction systems like precast concrete.  The heavily wooded 16-acre site will be nicely landscaped for stunning views, and include a parking lot to accommodate approximately 190 vehicles.

“Given the Scottish Rite’s great history in artisanry, architecture and construction, we are honored to be building such a prestigious and significant facility for the fraternal organization,” said Leopardo Senior Vice President Michael Behm, AIA.

Leopardo was selected as construction manager and general contractor, and is working hand-in-hand with Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates (tvsdesign) as the architect and Core Project Management Group as the owner’s representative. The Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago will be finished by the end of 2011.

CHICAGO, Illinois (October 4, 2010)

Located at 315 S. Peoria, the building features 135 student apartments containing 441 bedrooms. Each apartment is fully furnished with its own kitchen, granite countertops, dishwasher, microwave, 42” plasma TVs per bedroom, and individual bathrooms with almost every bedroom.

The first floor amenities include a tanning room, fitness center and custom lounge area with upgraded finishes, including a glass block wall with color-changing LED lighting, and 11,400 square feet of retail space. As part of the project, Leopardo also built a new two-story, 15,000-square-foot parking garage.

“Leopardo overcame several unexpected challenges to the already compressed 10-month schedule by aggressively managing its own self-performed trades of metal stud, drywall, rough and finish carpentry, taping and painting,” said Pierre Cowart, senior vice president at Leopardo. “We also design-built and self-performed the entire low-voltage infrastructure, including structured cabling, access control, audio and television, surveillance and telephony low-voltage. It was a massive project made successful by Leopardo’s active involvement at all levels of design and construction.”

The project utilized federal historic tax credits as the building required a combination of re-use, salvage and custom replacement of existing historical features, including perimeter windows, lobby areas and façade.

Leopardo served as the construction manager along with Fitzgerald Associates as architect.

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.