The Cubes at ORD is a state-of-the-art 66,552-square-foot industrial warehouse and distribution facility located on a 4.27-acre infill site just southeast of O’Hare International Airport. The project was developed by CRG, designed by LJC and built by Clayco. The multimodal facility offers unparalleled connectivity at Irving Park Road and Seymour Avenue with direct access to I-294 and only one mile from O’Hare’s South Cargo area. Completed on schedule in late 2024, the project has already achieved 100% occupancy, with global air cargo leader Worldwide Flight Services (“WFS”) occupying the entire building. This successful lease-up underscores the strong demand for well-located logistics facilities in the O’Hare market and reinforces the project’s positive impact on the local economy. The Cubes at ORD filled a critical gap in one of Chicago’s most supply-constrained submarkets, bringing jobs and cutting-edge infrastructure to Franklin Park.

The Cubes design lends itself to clean industrial architectural style, while providing modern industrial solutions for its tenants. Despite the utilitarian nature of warehouses, form and function converge here: the design not only meets operational requirements (with a flexible, high-clear span interior for various tenant needs) but also presents a professional frontage along a busy corridor. The building’s modern design incorporates Class A features such as ESFR sprinklers, energy-efficient LED lighting, 20 dock doors, two drive-in doors, 11 trailer stalls, and parking for 70 vehicles. By overcoming challenges such as a high-barrier-to-entry, industrial-infill site, and strict airport-area regulations through smart site planning and design ingenuity, the project achieved an innovative vision: a “smaller, cutting-edge” logistics facility inserted seamlessly into a dense urban logistics hub. This design creativity ensured that The Cubes at ORD delivers exceptional functionality for WFS while enhancing the built environment of the community.

Delivering a high-quality project in this infill O’Hare submarket required meticulous planning and execution, given the complexity of the site, schedule, and adjacency to one of the world’s busiest airports. One major challenge was the limited land area (4.27 acres) in a tightly built-out industrial corridor. The project team overcame this by leveraging Clayco’s design-build expertise: construction sequencing and logistics were carefully coordinated to make the most of the constrained site, from staging materials to configuring the building footprint for optimal flow of trucks and workers. Building immediately adjacent to one of the world’s busiest airports also introduced complexity – crane operations and site lighting had to comply with FAA and local regulations, and the team coordinated closely with local authorities to ensure construction did not disrupt surrounding infrastructure. Despite these hurdles, the project was kept on a fast-track schedule, with completion expected in just months and achieved by Q4 2024. Clayco maintained rigorous quality control and safety protocols, ensured that the highest standards were met throughout this accelerated timeline.

Ensuring top-tier construction quality was paramount. The team utilized proven methods such as precast concrete construction and advanced project management technology to deliver a durable, Class A facility. Regular inspections and an integrated QA/QC program were implemented to uphold excellence in every element – from the flatness of the floor slab (critical for high-volume warehousing) to the installation of the ESFR sprinkler and electrical systems. Furthermore, because this was a speculative development, CRG took on the challenge of building without a pre-committed tenant, which demanded flexibility and foresight in the construction process. The facility was built to accommodate multiple potential users (with a versatile design for demising or single tenancy), and indeed was leased in its entirety upon completion – validating the team’s confidence and careful planning.

The complexity of the project lay in delivering big-project features on a smaller scale without compromise. The Cubes at ORD incorporates all the advanced features of CRG’s larger projects (docks, trailer storage, modern tech) in a fraction of the size, which meant every construction detail had to be executed with precision.

The project logged 21,289 work hours with zero recordable injuries. From the outset, Clayco implemented a proactive safety program built on daily coordination meetings, task-specific planning, and consistent on-site supervision. Clear communication and shared accountability among all subcontractors reinforced a culture where every person took ownership of safe work practices. The result was a seamless build completed without incident, reflecting disciplined execution and adherence to Clayco’s zero-incident safety standards.

The Cubes at ORD filled a critical gap in one of Chicago’s most supply-constrained submarkets, bringing jobs and cutting-edge infrastructure to Franklin Park. The project supported local economic growth by attracting new businesses and providing Class A space tailored for mid-size users that fuel the region’s logistics and manufacturing economy. Clayco and CRG partnered with local subcontractors and workforce programs to promote inclusion and opportunity, ensuring community benefits extended beyond construction through long-term employment and sustainable industrial revitalization.