BOLINGBROOK, Illinois (August 5, 2011) — On August 3, 2011, Leopardo attended the 2011 Will County Governmental League golf outing and sponsored the party trailer on the 15th hole. It was a very hot day at the Bolingbrook Golf Club and we enjoyed spending time with our Will County clients and peers.
Leopardo Sponsors Party Trailer at Will County Government Golf Event
August 5th, 2011Leopardo Hosts ROOF Party for Clients and Industry Friends
July 28th, 2011
Chicago (July 28, 2011) — On July 26, 2011, Leopardo hosted a casual get-together event for clients and industry friends at Chicago’s famous ROOF at theWit. Thank you to all those who were able to join us!
Leopardo Awarded Half Million Square Feet of Tenant Interior Construction in Chicago
July 13th, 2011CHICAGO, Illinois (July 13, 2011) – Since April, Leopardo has been awarded more than 500,000 square feet in tenant interior construction contracts. Below are five of the interior projects Leopardo has recently won.
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.
Leopardo Completes Margaritaville Bar & Grill at Navy Pier
July 5th, 2011CHICAGO, Illinois (July 5, 2011) – Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bar & Grill chose the shores of Lake Michigan for its first Midwest location and Leopardo as its contractor to manage the 150-seat, 4,600-square-foot themed restaurant remodel at Navy Pier.
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.
Leopardo Ranks Among Top U.S. Contractors
May 19th, 2011HOFFMAN ESTATES, Illinois (May 19, 2011) — Leopardo recently ranked No. 222 on Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) list of the top 400 general contractors in the United States. Published in the magazine’s May 16, 2011 issue, the list is based on 2010 revenues. Leopardo posted revenues of nearly $236 million last year and climbed 20 spots since the previous ENR Top 400.
Leopardo Wins 2011 Good Neighbor Award
May 19th, 2011
CHICAGO (May 19, 2011) — Last night, Leopardo and @properties were awarded the 2011 Good Neighbor Award for Mixed-Use Renovation by the Chicago Association of Realtors. The award recognizes Leopardo’s residential and retail renovation work at 6 N. Michigan Avenue based on the criteria of architectural significance, distinctive characteristics, quality construction and craftsmanship, restoration and unique use.
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.
Leopardo, as seen in The Wall Street Journal
May 18th, 2011
A full-page, color Leopardo advertisement appears in today’s national edition of The Wall Street Journal, within the Money & Investing section. The ad speaks to the talented people who make our company stand out. Click here to view a web optimized version of our ad.
“Our clients say Leopardo is different. We tell them it’s because of our people. We believe our talent, professionalism and employee bond are the reasons for our success. That’s why hiring and retaining the right people are Leopardo’s highest priorities,” writes CEO Jim Leopardo and President Rick Mattioda in the ad. “If you’re interested in working with construction experts who care — as a client or as a part of the Leopardo team — we’d personally like to hear from you. It won’t take long for you to realize why Leopardo is different.”
Behind our Wall Street Journal advertisement, Leopardo lives up to its every word about quality service and craftsmanship. Don’t just take our word for it, take our clients. Click the video below to watch a montage of Leopardo clients explaining their experiences building with us.
Video link: Client Testimonials – Leopardo Companies, Inc.
4 Hours of Leopardo CANstruction in 75 Seconds
May 12th, 2011Video link: CANstruction 2011: “sNOw more hunger”
UPDATE 5/16/11: Leopardo and Eckenhoff Saunders won the coveted BEST IN SHOW, JURORS’ FAVORITE honor at the “aCANemy Awards”. Click here to see event photos published in RedEye.
While the great “Snowmaggedon” of 2011 has finally melted, Leopardo and Eckenhoff Saunders Architects teamed up to rebuild the iconic Chicago snow plow as part of the 5th Annual CANstruction Chicago competition. Just as all Chicago residents came to depend on this snow plow to clear their streets this past winter, we remember that the less fortunate depend on charitable organizations like the Greater Chicago Food Depository every day. We hope that our donation and that of our contributors will help make a difference in lives of those in need.
Our plow features a variety of can sizes and colors, and several distinctive structural ingenuities. For example, our wheels are bundles of cans turned sideways, bound together with tie straps, and kept circular by the outer tension. The plow face is a gently curving wall, made possible with selectively placed shims between layers of cans. Our plow is clearing a fluffy marshmallow snow cover, and dumping some Morton salt to keep the street ice free. An iconic Chicago-style “parking space saver” has gotten overturned in the process. Read the rest of this entry »
Leopardo’s Private CoreNet Event Attracts 250 Corporate Real Estate Professionals
May 3rd, 2011
Leopardo and Catalyst Group, leaders in construction and commercial real estate strategic planning, hosted a private VIP event May 2, 2011, at Chicago’s famous Vertigo Sky Lounge on the 26th floor of the dana hotel. The special event attracted 250 corporate real estate professionals who were in town for the CoreNet Global Summit Chicago.
During the evening, guests enjoyed a special acoustic performance by Jim Peterik, legendary musician, member of the bands Survivor (Eye of the Tiger) and The Ides of March (Vehicle), and songwriter for .38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cheap Trick, Sammy Hagar, REO Speedwagon, etc.; Alex Ligertwood, best known as the lead singer of Santana; and singer/songwriter Lisa McClowry, who has performed on more than 25 albums.
Leopardo Completes Medical Office HQ for Barrington Orthopedic Specialists
March 21st, 2011SCHAUMBURG, Illinois (March 21, 2011) – Leopardo recently completed the new 53,000-square-foot medical office headquarters for Barrington Orthopedic Specialists and Sports Medicine.
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 Orthopedics’ full-service practice with physical therapy, work hardening, work conditioning, MRI and physician offices.
To help manage construction costs, the building envelope was built of precast concrete wall panels featuring brick liner. A full basement, spanning nearly the entire footprint of the building, houses the mechanical systems and emergency generator.
The second floor includes a procedure room with recovery bays as well as a 1,400-square-foot conference center with commercial kitchen that will be used for training and large group functions.
The project, including parking lot and landscaping, was completed in less than 11 months. Leopardo was the general contractor with Tinley Park-based Arete-Knight, a division of Knight E/A, as the architect.
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