CHICAGO, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) today announced the selection of Mc4West, LLC as the design/build team for the McCormick Place West Expansion project. The Authority's Board of Directors made the selection following presentations given by two proposing teams on April 10, 2003. The two teams had responded to a request for proposals issued by the MPEA. The Mc4West team is comprised of essentially the same team members that delivered the McCormick Place South Building Expansion on schedule and under budget.
"We are extremely pleased with the selection of the Mc4West team. They have extensive experience nationwide in the design and construction of convention centers. In addition, they have a history of success and understanding of McCormick Place," said Kelly R. Welsh, Chairman of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. "We are confident the West Building will be a first-class facility that will exceed the expectations of our customers."
"This expansion is not simply about being the biggest convention center, it is a long-term investment that will provide economic benefits for the city and the state for many years to come," said Leticia Peralta Davis, Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. "I look forward to working closely with the Mc4West team to see the expansion through to a successful completion."
Key partners of the Mc4West design/build team include: The Clark Construction Group, Inc.: Founded in 1906, Clark Construction is one of the nation's most experienced and respected providers of construction services. Clark Construction offers a strong focus on convention centers and is noted for the development of the McCormick Place South Building and convention centers in Washington, D.C., Boston, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Antonio, Knoxville, Miami Beach and Palm Beach County. Hunt Construction Group: With $1.4 billion in annual revenues, Hunt Construction has been ranked as one of the nation's top 25 builders by Engineering News Record and is a frequent partner of the Clark Construction Group. Hunt Construction is a leader in convention center construction including the McCormick Place South Building, Orange County Convention Center and the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. A. Epstein and Sons International, Inc.: For more than 80 years, Chicago-based A. Epstein and Sons has provided superior architecture, engineering and construction services, most notably with convention centers including the McCormick Place South Building and the Miami Beach Convention Center. The firm currently has in-progress projects valued at over $2 billion. Mesirow Stein Development Services, Inc.: Since 1971, Chicago-based Mesirow Stein Development Services has been consistently recognized as one of the best-of-class real estate service enterprises in the country, with an impressive portfolio including the McCormick Place South Building, University Village and the Glenview Naval Air Station Redevelopment. Mota Construction Company: A premier construction services firm located in Chicago for more than 25 years, Mota Construction, a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) firm, has brought its experience to several MPEA projects including the McCormick Place South Building, the Platt Building Build-Out and the Navy Pier Reconstruction. II in One Contractors, Inc.: For nearly 20 years, II in One Contractors, an MBE firm, has provided a broad range of general contractor and construction management services to many high-profile Chicago projects including the McCormick Place South Building, the renovation of Navy Pier and the Harold Washington Library. Globetrotters Engineering Corporation: Over the last 25 years, Globetrotters Engineering Corporation, an MBE firm, has grown from a small engineering consultant to a full-range professional architectural, engineering and construction management services firm employing over 150 people. The firm was an integral part of the McCormick Place South Building Expansion and has an impressive client portfolio that includes the Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Housing Authority and the General Services Administration. McKissack & McKissack Midwest: Founded in 1905 by Moses McKissack, McKissack & McKissack represents a third generation owned firm with a cumulative project value of over $3 billion. Providing exceptional programming and planning services, this MBE/WBE/DBE certified firm has contributed to many larger scale projects including the Washington D.C. Convention Center and the New National Headquarters Building for the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Fire Arms. Cotter Consulting, Inc: A certified WBE/DBE firm based in Chicago, Cotter Consulting provides program management, project management, construction management and construction engineering services for a variety of clients. The firm's client list includes the MPEA for the renovation of Navy Pier, Chicago Public Schools, the Public Building Commission and the Illinois Department of Transportation. Pentad, Inc.: Established in 1995, Pentad, Inc., a certified WBE, was established in 1995 as a direct response to the growing need for third party Affirmative Action program management for construction projects in the Chicagoland area. The firm's expertise includes the McCormick Place South Building Expansion, the Chicago Police Headquarters, the Chicago Park District and the Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building.
The $850 million expansion will include approximately 500,000 square feet of exhibition space and approximately 200,000 square feet of meeting space. Currently, the McCormick Place complex includes 2.2 million square feet of exhibit space and 360,000 square feet of meeting room space. The new McCormick Place West will be constructed in an area bordered by Cermak Road, Martin Luther King Drive, Indiana Avenue and the Stevenson Expressway.
Financing for the construction of the McCormick Place West Expansion project was secured in 2002 through the sale of bonds. Enthusiasm for the expansion on Wall Street was demonstrated by an insured triple A rating and the strong demand for the $1 billion bond issue. This interest affirms the strength of the meeting and trade show industry and investor confidence in the ability of the MPEA to build on-time and on-budget projects. Construction of the new McCormick Place West Building will require no new taxes. Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
CONTACT: Marilynn Kelly Gardner, +1-312-595-5032, or Mary Kay Marquisos,+1-312-791-6237, both of Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Web site: http://www.mpea.com/
