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.

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.

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.

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.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (March 2, 2010)

The Communitas Award recognizes exceptional businesses, organizations and individuals that are unselfishly giving of themselves and their resources, and those that are changing how they do business to benefit their communities.

According to the judges from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), Leopardo clearly exhibited the spirit of communitas, a Latin word that means people coming together for the good of a community. Leopardo was the only Illinois recipient and the only general contractor to win.

CHICAGO, Illinois (January 6, 2010) – Leopardo was awarded the $13.5-million contract to demolish the existing Jewel-Osco at 3630 N. Southport Ave. and build a new 84,000-square-foot Jewel-Osco.

The new store will triple the size of the previous location and make use of the entire site with zero lot line construction. Underground parking will allow for 124 spaces with priority spacing reserved for hybrid vehicles.

This will be the second Jewel-Osco building in the country to seek LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) with LEED Silver status being the target. A prevegetated modular green roofing system is being installed to reduce the urban heat island effect, reduce noise, conserve water and reduce storm water runoff.

The interior will feature an entry atrium, three-person elevator and a wine cellar on the second floor. The anticipated completion date is August 2010. Leopardo is serving as the general contractor with Camburas & Theodore as the architect.

Located at 100 W. Higgins Road, the 11,000-square-foot restaurant features wood windows, a state-of-the-art stainless steel chef’s kitchen, a barrel-vault ceiling and high-end, custom millwork. This is the third Ruth’s Chris Steak House in the Chicago market and the first stand-alone location. The project team consisted of Robert A. Harris Architect and Leopardo Construction.

CHICAGO, Illinois (November 3, 2008) – Leopardo, one of the nation’s premier construction companies and a recognized leader in sustainable building practices, recently completed the 4,200-square-foot interior build-out for the new Province restaurant. Randy Zweiban is the executive chef and owner of the modern American restaurant with cuisine influenced by South America and Spain.

The eco-friendly, 140-seat restaurant is the first in downtown Chicago to seek Gold LEED-CI (commercial interiors) certification. It features cork flooring and tabletops, recycled leather chairs, PVC-free vinyl booths, organic concrete stain, floor-to-ceiling windows, highly-efficient heat pump mechanical and lighting systems, environmentally-friendly paint and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood that is from this region and formaldehyde free. The kitchen has a poured floor which is more durable and earth-friendly than standard quarry tile.

Aside from sustainable building materials, Province restaurant also incorporates green equipment and farm-to-table cuisine such as shrimp and organic grits, braised Heritage Farms lamb and slow roasted Gunthorp Farms pork.

The restaurant is located in the West Loop at 161 N. Jefferson St. in the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) building, which itself is certified Gold LEED-EB (existing building). The CTA building was the first in the State of Illinois to receive the LEED Existing Building certification.

Leopardo is also currently underway on two additional CVS stores in Joliet and Oak Forest, which will be completed in October and December, respectively. The three recent store completions include:

511 S. Plymouth Ct., Chicago, Illinois – Leopardo completed the 9,300-square-foot interior build-out of this CVS Pharmacy in the newly constructed mid-rise Library Tower condo building. The architect was Chicago-based ArchIdeas.

2250 41st St., Moline, Illinois – Leopardo finished the 13,000-square-foot, free-standing CVS, which is now open for business. The architect was Detroit-based NORR.

530 Woodlawn Rd., Lincoln, Illinois – Leopardo finished the 13,000-square-foot, free-standing CVS, which will open for business in 2009. The architect was Detroit-based NORR.

Leopardo has worked on a total of 82 CVS stores across the greater Chicago metro area, including the construction of 24 new pharmacies, the conversion of 27 Osco stores into CVS Pharmacy stores and the interior build-outs of 31 CVS MinuteClinic’s.

The newly constructed 6,200-square-foot, stand-alone branch provides full-service banking amenities, including four teller stations and two drive-thru lanes. The building features prairie stone and rustic brick exterior with a radius clerestory canopy, arched windows and standing-seam roofing. The project architect was Hague Architecture.