Fifth City Commons is a new rental residential development anchoring the East Garfield Park neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. Long underinvested yet deeply resilient, the community has played a vital role in the city’s cultural history.

Built to Passive House standards, the project delivers high-quality, climate-resilient housing along with space for a neighborhood restaurant. A new corner plaza, rooftop deck, fitness center, and community rooms offer shared amenities for residents, while large-scale murals by local artists celebrate the cultural identity of the neighborhood. Located at the corner of 5th and Kedzie Avenue, the site benefits from the strong transit access and is part a broader City effort to reinvest in historically underserved areas.

The creative design process was rooted in collaboration with community members and our project partners, ensuring the architecture and design reflects local context while address real, everyday needs. From the start, the team sought to deliver housing that is dignified and welcoming within the constraints of a limited budget and complex urban site.

Balancing affordability with design ambition required an iterative approach, where efficiency, clarity of planning, and material performance were essential. Multiple programmatic needs were carefully integrated, with every design decision evaluated for both function and impact.

The project’s complexity is expressed through thoughtfully scaled massing, a carefully modulated façade, and a strategic use of durable, cost-effective materials to create warmth and character. Interior spaces emphasize natural light, intuitive circulation, and a balance of private and shared areas that support community and well-being.

For the passive house project Fifth City Commons, Skender used Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) rovers for elevation checks, laser scanners to confirm levelness prior to the concrete pour, and performed blower door tests to make sure the building was properly sealed and no air or heat leaks were present. The thermal drone was able to detect thermal inconsistencies so they could be addressed before it was too late. These advancements were especially critical for a Passive House project, which is a building concept and certification standard emphasizing airtight construction, reduced thermal bridging, and passive daylighting, heating, and cooling.

Four members of the project team are Certified Passive Home Builders who participate in bi-weekly Passive House coordination meetings to review project details and ensure the design and its implementation meet building certification requirements.

• We had 18,784.5 work hours with no lost time injuries.
• We held a sitewide safety stand-down with OSHA representatives as guest speakers and received OSHA’s Certificate of Recognition (see attached).

• Strengthening neighborhood stability
• Designing for dignity and belonging
• Inclusive, community-focused amenities
• Improved health and wellness
• Equitable access to quality design
• Catalyst for reinvestment
• Long-term community value

• Strengthening neighborhood stability
• Designing for dignity and belonging
• Inclusive, community-focused amenities
• Improved health and wellness
• Equitable access to quality design
• Catalyst for reinvestment
• Long-term community value

A New Model for Affordable, Equitable, and Sustainable Housing in Chicago

On Chicago’s Near West Side, two six-story, all-electric residential buildings introduce 140 mixed-income affordable apartments—public housing, affordable housing, and workforce housing—within a comprehensive master plan. Built on long-vacant land along a major arterial corridor, the project signals meaningful reinvestment while advancing a replicable model for resilient and equitable housing.

Efficiency and modern design thinking are tightly integrated. Standardized floor plans, structural systems, and mechanical infrastructure generate economies of scale, while each building maintains a distinct architectural identity—a unique “thumbprint.” Panelized façades respond to the speed of the arterial road, with smooth black panels emerging beneath grooved white panels in pixelated patterns that create rhythm and variation. A single window type reinforces disciplined economy, while layered textures enrich the composition.

The project challenges local norms through a fully electric central hot water system, eliminating on-site fossil fuels and supporting long-term resiliency and decarbonization goals. Conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic amid rapid cost escalation, the design leveraged a 2021 code amendment allowing PVC plumbing in buildings under 60 feet. Rather than compromising quality, floor-to-floor heights were adjusted and exposed ceiling concepts introduced, preserving spatial generosity and architectural clarity.

Accessibility and inclusion are embedded from the outset. Twenty percent of units meet Type A requirements, and five percent are Section 504-compliant. Equity also extends to the project team, with over ninety percent of design firms minority- and women-owned.

This project demonstrates that efficiency, sustainability, and design excellence can coexist—offering a replicable approach to dignified, resilient affordable housing.

Design Creativity with Constraint:

Roosevelt Square Phase 3B demonstrates design creativity through a disciplined, systems-based approach that balances architectural distinction with economic rigor. Innovation emerges from careful craft—leveraging constraint as a generative design tool.

The project consists of two six-story buildings that are identical in plan, structure, and mechanical organization. From project inception, the team established a unified systems framework—standardized unit layouts, structural and mechanical systems, and a single repeated window type—to maximize efficiency and constructability. Architectural identity is achieved through carefully composed, panelized façades, where each building is given a distinct “thumbprint” through layered, eroded, and pixelated expressions. These compositions respond to the speed and movement of Roosevelt Road, creating rhythm, scale, and visual depth while maintaining disciplined economy.

Regulatory constraints were similarly reframed as opportunities. Conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic amid rapid cost escalation, the project incorporated a 2021 code amendment permitting PVC plumbing in buildings under 60 feet, which required modest reductions to floor-to-floor heights late in the design process. Rather than compressing space, the team adjusted sectional relationships and introduced selective exposed ceilings and bold colored ceiling elements to create dramatic moments within the building corridors. These moves preserved spatial generosity while reinforcing a clear, deconstructed architectural language that expresses systems honestly and legibly.

The project also challenges local norms by pioneering a fully electric central hot water system, eliminating on-site fossil fuels and supporting long-term resiliency and decarbonization goals. This forward-looking strategy anticipates emerging carbon-neutral policies while maintaining affordability through high-performance envelopes, centralized systems, and energy performance exceeding code by more than 10 percent.

From community-scaled placemaking to system-level innovation, Roosevelt Square Phase 3B demonstrates how design excellence can emerge from clear priorities, repeatable systems, and constraint-driven creativity—quietly establishing a replicable model for equitable, resilient, and forward-thinking urban multifamily housing.

Project Challenges / Complexity of Construction

Roosevelt Square Phase 3B was designed and delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, amid significant cost escalation, supply-chain disruption, and labor uncertainty. Maintaining high construction quality under these conditions required a disciplined, systems-based approach, proactive construction management, and close coordination across all trades.

To manage complexity and control costs, the project was organized around a unified systems framework. Two six-story buildings—identical in plan, structure, and mechanical systems—were standardized to simplify coordination, procurement, and sequencing. Architectural distinction is achieved through differentiated panelized façades built around a single repeated window type. Through layering and erosion within a limited material palette, the façades create dynamic visual expressions that respond to the scale and energy of Roosevelt Road while remaining economical and constructible.

Late in the design process, economic pressures prompted a reduction of the building height to 60 feet, enabling the use of PVC plumbing under a 2021 code amendment. This shift required careful recalibration of floor-to-floor heights and intensive coordination among architectural, structural, and mechanical systems to maintain performance, durability, and spatial quality.

Additional complexity arose from public agency coordination, including the Planned Development approval process, City design reviews, and the integration of advanced sustainability strategies. Both buildings are fully electric, include 3 inches of continuous exterior insulation, and exceed energy code requirements by over 10 percent—adding technical coordination demands while supporting long-term operational efficiency.

Throughout construction, regular OAC meetings, early trade engagement, and continuous quality-control reviews ensured design intent was maintained despite market volatility and logistical challenges. Through clear priorities, repeatable systems, and collaborative delivery, Roosevelt Square Phase 3B transformed economic and regulatory constraints into a high-quality, resilient, and architecturally expressive project.

There are no known safety incidents to report on these buildings.

Impact on the Community & Inclusion:

Roosevelt Square Phase 3B is part of a long-term master plan focused on reinvestment and opportunity on Chicago’s Near West Side. In addition to delivering mixed-income housing, the project was intentionally structured to extend its impact beyond the buildings themselves and into the community.

Construction was led by 100 percent minority-owned general contracting firms, aligning project delivery with the master plan’s equity goals. Through a partnership with Hire360, the team supported workforce development by recruiting and preparing candidates for union trade apprenticeship programs, helping create pathways to stable, long-term careers in the construction trades.

The same commitment to inclusion guided the composition of the design and consultant team. More than 90 percent of the design team under the Architect of Record was composed of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises, including over 80 percent Minority Business Enterprise participation—well above the project’s 30 percent M/W/DBE goal. This outcome reflects a deliberate effort to elevate underrepresented firms and voices within the architecture and construction professions.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate how Roosevelt Square Phase 3B advances the master plan’s vision of equitable development—where high-quality housing, inclusive economic participation, and community investment move forward together.

The General contracting teams that led Roosevelt Square 3B was composed of 100% minority-led firms and collaborated with Hire 360 in order to recruit candidates into union trades apprenticeship programs and prepare them for work opportunities on the project. Additionally, this project demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the architecture profession through the intentional composition of its design team. Over 90% of the team is comprised of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), including more than 80% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation—significantly surpassing the project’s stated goal of 30% M/W/DBE involvement. This outcome reflects not only a project-level priority, but also a broader effort to elevate underrepresented voices and firms within the architectural industry

Impact on the Community & Inclusion:

The General contracting teams that led Roosevelt Square 3B was composed of 100% minority-led firms and collaborated with Hire 360 in order to recruit candidates into union trades apprenticeship programs and prepare them for work opportunities on the project. Additionally, this project demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion within the architecture profession through the intentional composition of its design team. Over 90% of the team is comprised of Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs), including more than 80% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation—significantly surpassing the project’s stated goal of 30% M/W/DBE involvement. This outcome reflects not only a project-level priority, but also a broader effort to elevate underrepresented voices and firms within the architectural industry

United Yards 1A is a catalyst for reinvestment on Chicago’s South Side, delivering 45 apartments of 100% affordable housing within a mixed-use, majority-electric development along the historic 47th Street corridor. The project advances high-quality, dignified affordable family housing, future youth-centered community space, and a revitalized public streetscape within the Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Conceived as both neighborhood infrastructure and a civic anchor, the building responds to its context through a terraced and carved massing strategy that reduces perceived scale while introducing landscape above the ground plane within a dense urban corridor. A bold architectural gesture—an inset, or “crack,” in the masonry—terraces across the street-facing façades and bows down to the corner, orchestrating a visual and spatial connection from the public realm to the building’s elevated community terrace and multi-purpose room, reinforcing its civic role and public-facing uses.

A biophilic façade strategy—paired with a palette of durable, light-toned masonry and textured metal panels selected for longevity and stewardship of public investment—draws inspiration from the terra cotta craftsmanship of nearby historic landmarks. Familiar materials are reinterpreted through contemporary detailing, establishing continuity with the past while signaling reinvestment and forward momentum.

As the first phase of the broader United Yards redevelopment and a key project within the INVEST South/West initiative, United Yards 1A demonstrates how architectural ambition, environmental responsibility, and community-centered planning can align to support long-term neighborhood vitality.

The design of United Yards 1A delivers 100% affordable housing within an architectural vision intended to excite, grounded in a rigorous, context- and community-driven design process. From the outset, the team set out to demonstrate that the Back of the Yards community deserves high-quality architecture—capable of catalyzing reinvestment while complementing the historic landmarks that define the 47th Street corridor. Drawing inspiration from the Goldblatt’s Building and the former Depositors Bank Building, known locally as the Rainbow Building, the project establishes a strong civic presence through a confident contemporary expression.

Prominently sited at 47th Street and Justine, the building employs a dynamic massing strategy that responds to the scale of its historic neighbors while asserting a clear identity along the corridor. A bold architectural gesture—an inset, or “crack,” in the masonry form—reveals planted terraces that step across the street-facing façades and bow down to the corner, orchestrating a visual and spatial connection from the public realm upward to the elevated community terrace and multi-purpose room. Additional terraced step-backs further reduce perceived mass while introducing biophilic elements through integrated planters and green screens, creating moments of light, air, and greenery within a dense urban environment.

Material exploration was central to the design process. Earth-toned masonry and textured metal panels draw from the terracotta craftsmanship of nearby landmark buildings, reinterpreted through contemporary detailing to balance continuity with forward momentum. Throughout the project, architectural ambition was carefully aligned with durability, sustainability, and cost discipline. Majority-electric systems, a high-performance envelope, and long-term adaptability were integrated to ensure environmental responsibility reinforced—rather than constrained—the design vision.

United Yards 1A required a high level of coordination and technical rigor to translate its architectural ambition into a durable, cost-effective building—all within a disciplined 15-month construction timeline. From early design through construction, the project team relied on comprehensive BIM coordination, regular OAC meetings, and energy modeling to align architectural intent with constructability, performance, and budget constraints.

A primary challenge was delivering the architectural vision established through the original City RFP while meeting the technical and financial realities of a 100% affordable housing project. The public review process placed a clear emphasis on affordability, architectural quality, and long-term durability along the 47th Street corridor. Maintaining this design intent—rather than value-engineering key elements away—required deliberate technical decisions and, particularly in the façade design, an acceptance of added complexity and cost to uphold the project’s civic and architectural commitments.

The building’s terraced massing and façade-integrated planters added significant construction complexity. Structural systems were evaluated for constructability and cost, with cast-in-place concrete selected for its ability to integrate structure and planter formation seamlessly. These exterior planters function much like “bathtubs,” incorporating internal drainage along the façade and requiring precise coordination between structural, enclosure, and landscape systems—an approach that would have been difficult or cost-prohibitive using alternative systems.

Given this complexity, robust waterproofing strategies were essential to long-term performance. Layered waterproofing assemblies, drainage systems, and enclosure details were developed through BIM and refined through close collaboration among the architect, structural engineer, waterproofing consultants, and general contractor.

Through disciplined coordination, early and continuous collaboration between the architect and general contracting team, and a firm commitment to design standards established by public stakeholders, the project team delivered a technically complex and architecturally ambitious building on an accelerated schedule—demonstrating that design excellence, public accountability, and construction efficiency can coexist within affordable housing development.

There are no known safety incidents to report on this project.

The planning and delivery of United Yards 1A both benefited from and contributed to the City of Chicago’s INVEST South/West corridor strategy. From the outset, the project engaged in multiple publicly hosted community meetings and roundtables convened by the Chicago Department of Planning & Development (DPD), bringing together residents, local stakeholders, business owners, and neighborhood organizations. These sessions—including virtual neighborhood roundtables held in May 2021, September 2022, and June 2023—provided critical platforms for community input along the 47th Street/Ashland corridor, helping shape development priorities while addressing concerns related to affordability, inclusion, and displacement.

The project also underwent review through the City’s Committee on Design, where an interdisciplinary panel of architects, planners, and civic leaders offered public design critique. This process reinforced transparency and accountability, strengthening the project’s architectural response while aligning design excellence with civic responsibility.

Following selection, the development team sustained its engagement through additional community meetings, listening sessions, and partner workshops. This continued dialogue informed refinements to United Yards 1A and guided the integration of the adjacent United Yards 1B phase within the ground floor of the historic Goldblatt’s Building. Community and stakeholder feedback directly shaped the expanded program, prioritizing community-driven, locally owned retail—including Back of the Yards Coffee, Araceli’s Bakery, a barbershop, and an apparel shop—and securing Friend Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center, as a neighborhood anchor.

By aligning program, design decisions, and public-realm improvements with the expectations embedded in INVEST South/West and the Committee on Design process, United Yards reflects a development shaped through sustained community partnership—advancing equity, access, local ownership, and long-term neighborhood vitality.

United Yards 1A is a strong candidate for the CBC Community Impact Award because it demonstrates how design excellence can be a catalyst for equity, dignity, and long-term reinvestment in an historically underinvested community. Located in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, the project delivers 45 units of 100% affordable housing within a mixed-use, majority-electric building that intentionally brings world-class architecture to a corridor long shaped by disinvestment.

Rather than treating affordability as a limitation, the project embraced architectural ambition as a core strategy for community impact. United Yards 1A was conceived to signal that residents of underinvested neighborhoods deserve buildings of the same quality, durability, and civic presence typically reserved for higher-income areas. This commitment to design quality—reinforced through the City’s INVEST South/West initiative, public review processes, and the original RFP—resulted in a building that elevates everyday experience, reinforces neighborhood pride, and affirms the dignity of its residents.

For residents, the impact is both tangible and intangible. High-quality materials, daylight, greenery, and well-designed community spaces contribute to healthier living environments, improved mental well-being, and a stronger sense of belonging. For the broader neighborhood, the project establishes a visible standard for future development—demonstrating that new investment can enhance the public realm without displacement or erosion of community identity.

The project’s design quality has also played a catalytic role in broader reinvestment along the 47th Street corridor. United Yards 1A helped set the foundation for subsequent phases of the United Yards redevelopment, including community-serving retail and healthcare uses, while signaling to public and private partners that Back of the Yards is a place worthy of long-term investment. This alignment of design excellence, affordability, and public accountability reinforces investor confidence while keeping community benefit at the forefront.

By combining high-quality affordable housing, inclusive planning, and a commitment to architectural excellence, United Yards 1A demonstrates how design can function as critical neighborhood infrastructure—improving quality of life for current residents while supporting sustainable, equitable growth. This approach directly aligns with the CBC Community Impact Award’s focus on projects that deliver lasting, positive change in economically disadvantaged communities.

The United Yards 1A project team exemplifies the values of the CBC Equity Champion Award through an intentional, equity-centered partnership that embeds inclusion, diversity, and accountability across both project delivery and community impact. Central to this effort is the collaboration between Celadon Partners and Blackwood Group, a minority-owned development and general contracting firm, whose leadership and shared vision positioned equity as a foundational project principle rather than an ancillary goal.

From the outset, the partnership between Celadon Partners and Blackwood Group fostered inclusive leadership and shared accountability, aligning development, design, and construction decision-making around community benefit. Blackwood Group’s dual role as both developer and general contractor strengthened continuity between vision and execution, while elevating minority leadership within a complex, publicly supported development. This structure helped remove traditional barriers that often limit minority-owned firms’ participation in large-scale, catalytic projects.

The development team engaged deeply with residents, local stakeholders, and public agencies through the City’s INVEST South/West initiative, Committee on Design reviews, and multiple publicly hosted community meetings. This sustained outreach ensured that underrepresented voices directly informed programmatic priorities, design decisions, and public-realm investments—reinforcing transparency and trust throughout the process.

Equity leadership was further demonstrated through the team’s shared commitment to upholding the architectural and civic standards established in the City RFP, even when doing so required additional coordination, technical complexity, or cost. Celadon Partners and Blackwood Group jointly affirmed that underinvested communities deserve the same level of design quality, durability, and care afforded to more affluent neighborhoods—treating architectural excellence as an equity imperative rather than a luxury.

Beyond the construction site, the partnership advanced community-centered economic inclusion by supporting locally owned, minority-serving businesses and anchoring neighborhood services, including the integration of Friend Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center. These partnerships address systemic barriers to healthcare access, small business growth, and neighborhood stability while reinforcing local ownership and long-term community trust.

Through its leadership structure, inclusive engagement, and commitment to design excellence, the United Yards 1A team—led by Celadon Partners and minority-owned Blackwood Group—demonstrates how equitable development partnerships can elevate industry standards, expand opportunity, and deliver lasting impact. The project stands as a model for how the design and construction industry can actively advance a more inclusive and equitable future.

Westhaven Park Station is a 96-unit mixed-income apartment community and the final phase of a 20-year transformation of the former Henry Horner Homes on Chicago’s West Side. Spanning 121,800 square feet, the precast concrete structure rises 12 stories and includes three ground-floor retail spaces and thoughtfully designed one- and two-bedroom residences featuring open layouts, designer finishes, Energy Star appliances, and in-unit laundry. Residents enjoy premium amenities such as a fitness center, rooftop deck, secure parking, and conference facilities, all steps from the new CTA Green Line station for unmatched transit access.

Delivering this vision required innovative solutions to overcome tight site constraints, proximity to active tracks, and coordination with a concurrent CTA station build. Throughout construction, safety remained paramount. More than 160,000 man-hours were completed with an incident rate of 1.2, far below the national average, thanks to McShane-Ashlaur’s comprehensive safety program.

With 66% of units designated affordable, Westhaven Park Station restored a lack of affordable housing while fostering inclusion through 29 percent MBE, seven percent WBE, and 43 percent local labor participation. Outreach events, job fairs, and Section 3 hires strengthened workforce development, making this project a catalyst for equity, mobility, and neighborhood vitality.

Westhaven Park Station is the final phase of a multi-phase redevelopment project of the former CHA Henry Horner Homes site on Chicago’s West Side – the culmination of a neighborhood transformation twenty years in the making. The building features 96 total units of affordable housing along with new residential amenities and ground-floor retail space. The building is immediately adjacent to a new CTA Green Line station at Damen and Lake, bringing vital transportation infrastructure and mobility access to residents and the neighborhood as a whole. The building will serve as a key point of orientation for residents, neighbors, and visitors between the Loop, neighborhoods to the west, and the nearby United Center. When complete, this building will be another excellent example of the city’s prioritization of ‘Equitable Transit-Oriented Development’ (ETOD).

The building concentrates the majority of its density to the north within the 12-story portion of the building affronting the ‘L tracks’ along Lake. Precast concrete panels provide visual interest to the façade while also performing double duty as an acoustic barrier to adjacent train and traffic noise. The panels feature distinctive fluted insets whose shadows change with the movement of the sun throughout the day, bringing a dynamic quality to the façade. At the base, dark grey vertical panels with distinctly colored transoms give the building a solid base as it meets the ground while also playfully reaching to the sky.

The massing steps back as the building moves south, creating a more appropriate four-story scale in conversation with existing low-rise development along Maypole Avenue. Finally, a one-story bustle provides a pedestrian-friendly experience and identifiable building entry for people walking to and from the new transit hub. Ground floor spaces include three commercial retail suites, a building management office, residential amenities including indoor bike storage, and minimal covered parking. Overlooking the entrance plaza on the second floor are the building’s community and fitness rooms, along with an outdoor roof deck and signature entry trellis reaching out to Damen Avenue.

Westhaven Park Station required innovative strategies to overcome significant logistical and technical challenges while maintaining the highest standards of quality. The site offered minimal setbacks on all elevations and was located just 18 feet from an active CTA train station, creating tight constraints that required careful planning and strict safety protocols.

Adding to the complexity, construction coincided with the development of a new CTA Green Line station across Damen Avenue on the east side of the site, necessitating close coordination with the neighboring general contractor to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Precast erection posed another challenge. Maypole Street was shut down on the south end of the site to allow for assembly of the crane. A specially engineered precast crane stone pad allowed the crane to travel over the grade beam foundations without compromising their structural integrity. Additionally, the building’s reduced height on the south end was essential to accommodate crane limitations and restricted laydown areas.

Several external factors caused schedule delays, including delayed change-order approvals from the Chicago Housing Authority and Department of Housing, ComEd delays in delivering permanent power, funding-related labor disruptions, and weather overruns (30 days incurred versus 20 days allocated). Despite these obstacles, McShane-Ashlaur maintained exceptional quality through rigorous QA/QC processes, regular inspections, and close collaboration with design partners and trade contractors.

McShane-Ashlaur instituted a comprehensive Safety and Quality Assurance program throughout the project, led by McShane’s dedicated Vice President of Safety and Risk Management. The team’s priority on safety and its high standards of training, implementation, and on-site supervisory governance provided a superior degree of awareness and safe practices throughout the construction process. As a result, the project team was able to minimize safety incidents throughout the duration of construction. In the end, after more than 160,000 project man-hours, Westhaven Park Station was completed with an incident rate of 1.2, significantly lower than the Bureau of Labor national average of 5.4.

Westhaven Park Station is a catalyst for community revitalization and economic inclusion on Chicago’s Near West Side. The project achieved 29 percent MBE and seven percent WBE participation and had 43 percent Chicago residency hours, reinforcing opportunities for local businesses and residents.

Community engagement was a cornerstone of this effort, with 37 candidates screened and approved through intake conferences and six new hires made, including Section 3 hires and reassigned community hires. Four outreach events, held both virtually and in person, connected residents to employment opportunities, while technical assistance supported subcontractors and candidates with CHA portal enrollment and Section 3 compliance. Job fairs served as a direct link between residents and available positions, strengthening workforce development.

Beyond employment, the project fulfills the final phase of the Henry Horner Homes redevelopment, replacing affordable units lost during demolition. Of the 96 units delivered, 66 percent are affordable, ensuring long-term housing stability for the community. Through these initiatives, Westhaven Park Station not only delivers high-quality housing but also fosters economic empowerment and strengthens neighborhood ties.

The Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino and Hotel is a transformative development redefining entertainment in the Midwest. Spanning 715,000 SF across a 20-acre site in East Hazel Crest and Homewood, Illinois, this $319 million project includes a 258,000 SF casino with 1,400 gaming stations, multiple dining and retail spaces, and back-of-house facilities. The adjacent 16-story, 220,000 SF hotel tower features 255 keys, a full-service spa, skyline restaurant and lounge, and a dramatic indoor water feature. The property also includes a multi-level enclosed parking garage with 1,424 parking spaces and 532 surface spaces, integrated with landscaping and irrigation systems.

Delivered under an aggressive schedule, the project was strategically phased to prioritize the casino, garage, and sitework for early opening, followed by the hotel. Despite complex logistics and shared infrastructure between phases, the team delivered high-quality results on time, setting a new benchmark for hospitality construction in the region.
Custom Lighting Systems: Months of planning with lighting designers ensured flawless installation of intricate, one-of-a-kind lighting features throughout the casino floor and lobby.

Custom Lighting Systems: Months of planning with lighting designers ensured flawless installation of intricate, one-of-a-kind lighting features throughout the casino floor and lobby.

Gaming Infrastructure: Coordinated mechanical and electrical systems for over 1,300 gaming machines on a raised-access casino floor, requiring precision and phased sequencing.

Innovative Technology: Utilized VDC tools (Revit, Navisworks, SketchUp) for 3D modeling and clash detection; Cupix 360° imagery for real-time collaboration; Procore for QC and safety tracking; and drones for site verification and MEP layout accuracy.

Craftsmanship: Delivered high-end finishes, including custom ceiling systems and art installations, through rigorous QC inspections and trade coordination.

Meeting Complex Challenges
The site straddled two municipalities with differing approval processes, requiring extensive coordination to maintain compliance and continuity. Phased sequencing allowed casino operations to begin while hotel construction continued, demanding meticulous planning and resource allocation. Early turnover of key spaces, including the Food Hall and back-of-house areas, was achieved without impacting the overall schedule

The project required a major emphasis on safety given the scale and intricacies of the construction. A full-time safety professional was instituted for the life of the project to help plan work, conduct safety orientations, manage documentation, and serve as a subject matter expert both the O’Neil-Bowa Construction team and for our trade partners. Each superintendent served as the primary safety manager for their portion, and the safety manager is their support system.

W.E. O’Neil Concrete also self-performed the 16-story cast-in-place concrete hotel tower and other interior portions of the job, such as the FFE in the casino, which we completed safely and successfully.
A comprehensive, site specific, safety program was put into place before preconstruction began. The safety program was specifically tailored to the Wind Creek Casino Project and included the following:
· Daily safety talks each morning to discuss the days tasks, safety hazards and corrective actions.
· Safety Orientation for all employees
· Pre-installation meetings to identify potential safety concerns and plan methods for completing the work.
· Pre-construction meetings with Project Manager, Project Superintendent, and Safety Director to review scope, identify safety hazards, and develop corrective actions
· Safety lunches provided for good safety practices
· Site Specific safety manuals developed by all trade partners in congruence with W.E. O’Neil’s.
· Project wide 6-foot fall protection rule which is above and beyond OSHA standards.
· Review of subcontractor site specific safety plan in preconstruction to assure that all subcontractors meet the safety requirements for the project.
· Weekly Inspections by each superintendent of their area. Monthly Audits conducted by all members of the W.E. O’Neil/Bowa team to keep everyone aware and involved.

Our Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino and Hotel team put a major emphasis on managing safety for the hundreds of workers who were on site simultaneously, and in doing so completed a safe and successful project.

Community Impact
Wind Creek exceeded its 30% Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) participation goal, achieving 34.71%, creating hundreds of construction jobs and generating significant economic impact for East Hazel Crest and Homewood.

Permanent Employment: Wind Creek Chicago Southland is expected to create more than 1,000 full-time jobs in fields ranging from hospitality to technology. Roles will include security, gaming attendants, food service, IT technicians, and environmental services—reinforcing Wind Creek’s commitment to strengthening the local economy.

Regional Economic Benefit: The project introduced a premier entertainment destination that will drive tourism and local revenue for years to come, while fostering workforce development and training opportunities for long-term career growth. Homewood and East Hazel Crest benefits from gambling revenue, along with 42 other south suburban communities, funding essential local services and infrastructure improvements within the immediate and surrounding communities.