BLOOMINGDALE, Illinois (September 30, 2011) – Leopardo, tvsdesign and Core Project Management recently gave reporters a sneak peak at the construction progress of the new, $35 million Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago headquarters.

Building Design + Construction, Illinois Real Estate Journal and Real Estate Bisnow sent their respective editors to tour one of the most exciting construction projects underway in Chicagoland.

According to Illinois Real Estate Journal Editor Mark Thomton:

After a year-long search that included 60 different sites, the organization settled on Bloomingdale, where it paid $10 million for a 16.25-acre-site. The group would invest another $25 million into the new, 61,000-square-foot facility. The $35 million was an all-cash investment with many of the proceeds coming from the sale of the Dearborn St. location.

Scottish Rite is one of the numerous appendant organizations associated with Freemasonry. There are three degrees of Freemasonry: Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. When a member obtains the Master Mason designation, he may decide to continue other Masonic pursuits by joining one of the appendant bodies, such as the Scottish Rite.

The Freemasons describe themselves as a fraternal organization, and although words such as cathedral, ritual, or ceremony, are often used when discussing the group’s activities, it does not have any religious or political affiliation. Its roots can date back to the late 16^th century and now it boasts six million members worldwide, including 2.5 million in the U.S. and 68,000 in Illinois. The order has counted many prominent Americans among its ranks, including 14 U.S. Presidents, Benjamin Franklin, astronaut John Glen, politician Bob Dole, and military leader and statesman Colin Powel.

Winning such a large build-to-suit in an otherwise stagnant construction market was a significant achievement for Leopardo and tvsdesign, which have both been associated with the project since March of 2010.

• Click here to read the full Illinois Real Estate Journal article.
• Click here to read the Real Estate Bisnow story.
• The Building Design + Construction article is expected to be published in its December issue.

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.

Fornelli Hall
At the historic Pittsfield Building on Jewelers Row at 55 E. Washington, Leopardo converted nine floors and 135,000 square feet of office space into 177 student apartments and 360 bedrooms. The entire building is 40 stories and 392,000-SF. The residences are occupied by students from Roosevelt University and Robert Morris College for the 2008-2009 school year. Leopardo Construction was the project’s general contractor.

Tailor Lofts
Leopardo is beginning the conversion of the entire 10-story, 230,000-square-foot building at 847 W. Jackson into 135 student apartments and 432 bedrooms. Each apartment will feature its own kitchen and each bedroom includes a private bathroom. The first floor will have 10,000 square feet of retail. The residences will be occupied by students from University of Illinois – Chicago in August 2009. Leopardo is serving as construction manager-at-risk with Atlanta-based Place Properties as developer.

Building Design+Construction magazine called in progressive thinking and told its 75,000 readers to “take a page from Leopardo.”

Download the full-length Smart Construction report. [Updated February 2009 with the most current data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.]

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (January 30, 2008)

The article, which discusses our history, success, employees, clients and growth, was the longest feature story written by the monthly trade magazine in eight years. To article, which you can read in its entirety by clicking here, quoted several Leopardo clients who raved about Leopardo’s work.

“For me, they’re almost perfection,” said Laura Radosevich, vice president at PPM America Inc., a money management firm. Leopardo has performed PPM’s office build-outs for the last decade.

“They lived and died for that project just liked we did,” said John Maggiore with the Archon Group in reference to the 400,000-SF Poplar Creek Crossing shopping center project that Leopardo completed in 2006.

“They set the standard on quality for our MinuteClinic program across the country,” said Richard Smart, construction project manager for CVS/pharmacy.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (January 28, 2008)

“What this list represents is a one-stop shop for the best the professional world has to offer, including the fields of development, property management, architecture, brokerage, multifamily – you name it,” according to Midwest Real Estate News, one of the industry’s leading trade magazines. “If they’re over 40 and they’re the best, they’re here!”

As president, Rick oversees all of Leopardo’s operations, which spans three offices, hundreds of job sites, multiple service offerings and several specialty groups. With over 30 years of industry experience, Rick directs the company’s vice presidents and executives to customize client project teams, develop new markets and set the highest construction performance standards. He manages all strategic planning and goal-setting, as well as recruiting, job performance and team building.

In 2006, Rick and Leopardo were awarded Contractor of the Year by the Coalition for United Community Action. Rick serves on the Building Review Board for the City of Naperville and is an Advisory Board Member for Roosevelt University Chicago School of Real Estate.

To see a copy of Rick Mattioda’s Forty Over 40 listing, click here.

Condo Projects Less Than One Mile Apart Total 644,000 Square Feet and 397 Units

CHICAGO, Illinois (March 5, 2007) – Leopardo Construction, a leading construction services firm, completed Lakeside Tower and topped off Vision on State, both of which are 20-story condominium projects in Chicago’s South Loop. The two projects – Lakeside Tower and Vision on State – are poured-in-place concrete structures with a combined size of 644,000 square feet and 397 units.

Located less than one mile apart, both condominiums are steps away from the South Loop’s rapidly expanding restaurant and retail offerings, as well as Grant Park’s southern-most edge, which provides access to Chicago’s museum campus, Soldier Field and the lakefront.

Lakeside Tower

Lakeside Tower, located at 1600 S. Indiana Avenue, is a 20-story, 144-unit condominium totaling 243,000 square feet. The units feature upscale finishes with hardwood floors and granite countertops. Private terraces or balconies are also included.

Unit sizes range from 683 to 1630 square feet with one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include a fully-equipped fitness center, an outdoor landscaped plaza with terrace, grilling area, spacious sunning deck and a 163-space indoor parking garage. The project also features a contemporary façade with floor-to-ceiling windows and 10-foot ceiling heights throughout. The street level of Lakeside Tower features 4,300 square feet of retail space.

The owner/developer is a joint venture of Central Station and New West Realty. Leopardo Construction served as construction manager and Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture served as project architect.

Vision on State

Vision on State, located at 1255 S. State Street, is a 20-story, 253-unit condominium totaling 401,000 square feet. The units feature upscale finishes with hardwood floors and granite countertops. Private terraces or balconies are also included.

Unit sizes range from 610 to 1,600 square feet with one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include an on-site fitness center, business center, hospitality room, individual storage units, a bike room and an indoor parking garage that can accommodate approximately 300 automobiles. The street level of Vision on State will feature 14,000 square feet of retail space.

The Vision on State project team is headed up by Renaissant Development Group. Leopardo Construction is general contractor and Pappageorge/Haymes is project architect. Construction will be completed July of 2007.

CHICAGO, Illinois (October 20, 2005) – Leopardo Construction, a leading construction services firm, today announced it broke ground on Vision on State and will soon top off Lakeside Tower, both of which are 20-story condominium projects in Chicago’s South Loop. The two projects – Vision on State and Lakeside Tower – are poured-in-place concrete structures with a combined size of 644,000 square feet and 396 units.

Located less than one mile apart, both condominiums are steps away from the South Loop’s rapidly expanding restaurant and retail offerings, as well as Grant Park’s southern-most edge, which provides access to Chicago’s museum campus, Soldier Field and the lakefront.

Vision on State Vision on State, located at 1255 S. State Street, is a 20-story, 253-unit condominium totaling 401,000 square feet. The units feature upscale finishes with hardwood floors and granite countertops. Private terraces or balconies are also included. Unit sizes range from 610 to 1,627 square feet with one-, two- or three-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include an on-site fitness center, business center, hospitality room, individual storage units, a bike room and an indoor parking garage that can accommodate approximately 300 automobiles. The street level of Vision on State will feature 14,000 square feet of retail space. Leopardo Construction is general contractor. 13^th & State LLC is the developer of the project with Pappageorge/Haymes providing architectural services. Construction will be completed July of 2007.

Lakeside Tower, located at 1600 S. Indiana Avenue, is a 20-story, 143-unit condominium totaling 243,000 square feet. The units feature upscale finishes with hardwood floors and granite countertops. Private terraces or balconies are also included.

Unit sizes range from 683 to 1630 square feet with one- or two-bedroom floor plans. Amenities include a fully-equipped fitness center, an outdoor landscaped plaza with terrace, grilling area, spacious sunning deck and a 163-space indoor parking garage. The project will also feature a contemporary façade with floor-to-ceiling windows and 10-foot ceiling heights throughout. The street level of Lakeside Tower will feature 4,300 square feet of retail space.

Leopardo Construction is construction manager. 1600 Lakeside LLC is the developer of the project with Hartshorne and Plunkard providing architectural services. Ground was broken in February of 2005, topping off will take place in late November and construction will be completed in August of 2006.