CHICAGO, Ill., August 13, 2018 – A joint venture between Chicago-based James McHugh Construction Co. and UJAMAA announced today it has completed construction of Hilton’s first-ever tri-branded property in the Motor Row District in Chicago’s South Loop.
Operating under one roof at 123 Cermak Road is the Hilton Garden Inn Chicago McCormick Place, Hampton Inn by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place, and Home2 Suites by Hilton Chicago McCormick Place. The new property is connected to McCormick Place, North America’s largest convention center, and adjacent to Wintrust Arena and is expected to give convention-goers and visitors more lodging and dining options in the growing area.
The 22-story, 351,000-square-foot hotel features 466 rooms and a sky bridge providing convenient access to McCormick Place’s convention facilities. The property boasts nearly 7,000-square-feet of amenity space, including a fitness center, indoor pool, 24-hour business center, and 10 event and meeting spaces. The ground level features a Starbucks coffee shop, now open to the public; a street-level pub operated by Big Onion Tavern Group, and roof-top lounge, VUSkyward Bev & Eat, are scheduled to open in the fall.
Prior to commencement of the interior build-out of the hotel, McHugh-UJAMAA crews constructed full-scale, completely fitted guestrooms and corridors of each of the three brands to ensure adherence to the strictest quality standards. Additionally, this proactive process allowed the entirety of the development team to see the final product in real life, validate the design, and provide essential input that maximized aesthetics and functionality.
Since the project’s groundbreaking in January 2017, an estimated 1,200 crew members dedicated nearly 675,000 work hours to construction of the property. The hotel contains more than 14,000 cubic yards of concrete, 1,200 tons of steel, and an incredible 60,000-square-foot window façade.
“McHugh Construction and UJAMAA are proud of the work we accomplished in the Motor Row District,” said Tom Stuit, vice president for McHugh Construction. “Our crews welcomed the challenge of constructing a tri-branded property and ensuring each brand’s identity was celebrated, from the shared lobby to the smallest in-suite details. This was a truly collaborative effort, and we are thrilled to have had a part in creating lasting value for both the City of Chicago and the visitors it will welcome in the decades to come.”
The Hilton tri-branded hotel will be operated by Rosemont-based First Hospitality Group (FHG). More information about Hilton’s first tri-branded hotel can be found in the official press release here.
About James McHugh Construction Co.
James McHugh Construction Co.is the premier builder of landmark, one-of-a-kind structures in Chicago and across the Midwest. Specializing in high-rise residential projects, concrete construction, historic restoration, ultra-high luxury hospitality, entertainment, special use, rail and infrastructure works, McHugh serves clients in both the public and private sectors, delivering a seamless and positive project experience driven by excellence and innovation. Since its founding 1897, the company has constructed some of Chicago’s most complex and recognizable structures, including Marina City, Aqua Tower, Blackstone Hotel, Trump Tower, and Navy Pier’s Centennial Wheel, earning a reputation for leadership and innovation in general contracting. McHugh is known for its unwavering commitment to clients, its ability to deliver exceptional results on time and within budget, its dedication to growing and developing partnerships with subcontractors, and its steadfast pursuit of building stronger communities in the markets in which it operates.
About Ujamaa Construction, Inc.
Founded in 2002 by owner and architect Jimmy Akintonde and based on the South Side down the street from the future site of the Obama Presidential Center, Ujamaa Construction Inc. (UJAMAA) has consistently built its portfolio with successful projects and satisfied clients. Under Akintonde’s leadership, the UJAMAA team is equipped with decades of combined general construction experience from the most premier construction companies in the Midwest. In 2016, UJAMAA completed over $60+ million in local construction projects. The company believes in maintaining a balance of corporate governance and social responsibility, and very active with social issues in the community. Notable projects include the Obama Presidential Center, the New South Side High School in Englewood, and the recently completed 5acre development of Englewood Square with includes the new 18,000 SF Whole Food Market, Starbucks and Chipotle restaurants.