James McHugh Construction Co
Encyclopedia
James McHugh Construction Co. is a privately owned company, and one of the largest construction managers and general contractors in the U.S. Today, McHugh is known for constructing some of Chicago’s most recognizable landmark
s and one-of-a-kind structures including Marina City
, Water Tower Place
and Trump Tower
, all of which were the world’s tallest reinforced concrete
structures at the time.
’s south side, McHugh Construction originally specialized in masonry
work.
By the mid-1920’s, James McHugh Construction Co. had established itself as a general contractor
specializing in elaborate masonry work. During the Great Depression
, McHugh continued to grow through projects funded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
’s Public Works Administration
. From approximately 1930 on, McHugh Construction began sending crews across the country for heavy construction work, including water treatment systems and transportation tunnels. The postwar era of the 1940’s and 1950’s saw a rebirth of the market for vast institutional facilities and public works structures as Chicago struggled to keep pace with its booming population. To accommodate the growing need for health-care facilities, McHugh built additions to Cook County Hospital and a residence hall for Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center
in 1955.
In the late 1950’s, McHugh continued to centralize and grow in Chicago. Marina City
was one of their next large projects. Designed by the architect Bertrand Goldberg
, Marina City
consists of two corn-cob-shaped towers that have since become one of Chicago’s most recognizable landmarks. For this project, McHugh pioneered the use of fiberglass concrete forms that are still used for high-design curved concrete construction. Other than being the world's tallest concrete structure at the time, this project also marked the first use of the climbing crane, which paved the way for speedier, more efficient high-rise construction.
When a change in ownership occurred in the mid 1970’s, the McHughs chose to sell a portion of the company to the employees, which predated the employee stock option
trend by decades. Today, employees still own part of the company.
Today, the founder’s grandson, James P. McHugh serves as chairman of the firm and Bruce Lake is the company’s current president. Lake was appointed this position in 1997, becoming the first non-family member in 100 years to lead the company.
after the fall of Communism
. Between 1991 and 1999, McHugh had built for local and non-Russian clients including Dialog Bank, ABC News
, Boeing Co. and Morgan Stanley
.
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
s and one-of-a-kind structures including Marina City
Marina City
Marina City is a mixed-use residential/commercial building complex occupying an entire city block on State Street in Chicago, Illinois. It lies on the north bank of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, directly across from the Loop district...
, Water Tower Place
Water Tower Place
Water Tower Place is a large urban, mixed-use development comprising a shopping mall and 74 story skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The complex is located at 835 North Michigan Avenue, along the Magnificent Mile. It is named after the nearby Chicago Water Tower...
and Trump Tower
Trump International Hotel and Tower (Chicago)
The Trump International Hotel and Tower, also known as Trump Tower Chicago and locally as the Trump Tower, is a skyscraper condo-hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The building, named after real estate developer Donald Trump, was designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill...
, all of which were the world’s tallest reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
structures at the time.
History
Founded in 1897 by James D. McHugh, an Irish bricklayer from ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
’s south side, McHugh Construction originally specialized in masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
work.
By the mid-1920’s, James McHugh Construction Co. had established itself as a general contractor
General contractor
A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades, and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.-Description:...
specializing in elaborate masonry work. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, McHugh continued to grow through projects funded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
’s Public Works Administration
Public Works Administration
The Public Works Administration , part of the New Deal of 1933, was a large-scale public works construction agency in the United States headed by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. It was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act in June 1933 in response to the Great Depression...
. From approximately 1930 on, McHugh Construction began sending crews across the country for heavy construction work, including water treatment systems and transportation tunnels. The postwar era of the 1940’s and 1950’s saw a rebirth of the market for vast institutional facilities and public works structures as Chicago struggled to keep pace with its booming population. To accommodate the growing need for health-care facilities, McHugh built additions to Cook County Hospital and a residence hall for Rush-Presbyterian St. Luke’s Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center
Rush University Medical Center is a 676-bed academic medical center that includes hospital facilities for adults and children. It also includes the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center...
in 1955.
In the late 1950’s, McHugh continued to centralize and grow in Chicago. Marina City
Marina City
Marina City is a mixed-use residential/commercial building complex occupying an entire city block on State Street in Chicago, Illinois. It lies on the north bank of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, directly across from the Loop district...
was one of their next large projects. Designed by the architect Bertrand Goldberg
Bertrand Goldberg
Bertrand Goldberg was an American architect best known for the Marina City complex in Chicago, Illinois, the tallest residential concrete building in the world at the time of completion.-Life and career:...
, Marina City
Marina City
Marina City is a mixed-use residential/commercial building complex occupying an entire city block on State Street in Chicago, Illinois. It lies on the north bank of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, directly across from the Loop district...
consists of two corn-cob-shaped towers that have since become one of Chicago’s most recognizable landmarks. For this project, McHugh pioneered the use of fiberglass concrete forms that are still used for high-design curved concrete construction. Other than being the world's tallest concrete structure at the time, this project also marked the first use of the climbing crane, which paved the way for speedier, more efficient high-rise construction.
When a change in ownership occurred in the mid 1970’s, the McHughs chose to sell a portion of the company to the employees, which predated the employee stock option
Employee stock option
An employee stock option is a call option on the common stock of a company, issued as a form of non-cash compensation. Restrictions on the option attempt to align the holder's interest with those of the business shareholders. If the company's stock rises, holders of options generally experience a...
trend by decades. Today, employees still own part of the company.
Today, the founder’s grandson, James P. McHugh serves as chairman of the firm and Bruce Lake is the company’s current president. Lake was appointed this position in 1997, becoming the first non-family member in 100 years to lead the company.
Notable Projects
Some additional notable structures that McHugh has constructed in Chicago’s cityscape include:- Goodman TheatreGoodman TheatreThe Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of Chicago theatre, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization...
- A 125000 square feet (11,612.9 m²) theatre project that included new construction and renovation into an 850-seat Albert Ivar Goodman theatre and the 400-seat Owen Bruner Goodman theatre.
- Civic Opera House Renovation - Partnered with Mesirow Stein Real Estate, McHugh Renovated this historic theatre including lobby and auditorium upgrades, installing new MEP systems and backstage rigging and scenery-handling equipment.
- McCormick PlaceMcCormick PlaceMcCormick Place is the largest convention center in the United States. It is made up of four interconnected buildings sited on and near the shore of Lake Michigan, about 4 km south of downtown Chicago, Illinois, USA. McCormick Place hosts numerous trade shows, including the Chicago Auto Show,...
Expansion - The 1100000 square feet (102,193.3 m²), $250 million exhibition hall covers two levels and is constructed over four active commuter rail lines and two freight lines.
- Park TowerPark Tower (Chicago)Park Tower, located at 800 North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, is a skyscraper that was completed in 2000. At 844 feet tall with 70 floors — 67 floors for practical use, it is the eleventh tallest building in Chicago, the 35th tallest building in the United States, and the eighty-third tallest in...
- Designed by Lucien LagrangeLucien LagrangeLucien Lagrange is an architect and a former partner at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, who founded his own firm, named Lucien Lagrange Architects in 1985...
, Park TowerPark Tower (Chicago)Park Tower, located at 800 North Michigan Avenue in Chicago, is a skyscraper that was completed in 2000. At 844 feet tall with 70 floors — 67 floors for practical use, it is the eleventh tallest building in Chicago, the 35th tallest building in the United States, and the eighty-third tallest in...
is a 67 story high rise multiuse structure that houses the Park Hyatt Hotel as well as 475000 square feet (44,128.9 m²) of luxury condominium space. McHugh installed Chicago’s first massed tuned damper in the structure to minimize the building sway caused by high winds.
- Chicago Board of TradeChicago Board of TradeThe Chicago Board of Trade , established in 1848, is the world's oldest futures and options exchange. More than 50 different options and futures contracts are traded by over 3,600 CBOT members through open outcry and eTrading. Volumes at the exchange in 2003 were a record breaking 454 million...
- A 400000 square feet (37,161.2 m²) addition to the CBOT that includes the world’s largest trading floor. McHugh developed the unusual structural table design – four concrete cores at each corner of the building topped by structural steel trusses – which provide a column-free trading floor.
- Arlington ParkArlington ParkArlington Park is a horse race track in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Horse racing in the Chicago region has been a popular sport since the early days of the city in the 1830s, and at one time Chicago had more horse racing tracks than any other major metropolitan area...
- Designed by SOMSkidmore, Owings and MerrillSkidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is an American architectural and engineering firm that was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill. They opened their first branch in New York City, New York in 1937. SOM is one of the largest...
, built in 21 months, this project included 325 acres (1.3 km²) of site work.
- Trump TowerTrump International Hotel and Tower (Chicago)The Trump International Hotel and Tower, also known as Trump Tower Chicago and locally as the Trump Tower, is a skyscraper condo-hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The building, named after real estate developer Donald Trump, was designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill...
- Designed by Adrian SmithAdrian SmithAdrian Frederick "H" Smith is an English musician and one of three guitarists in the heavy metal band, Iron Maiden. He is also one of the band's regular songwriters and, along with bassist Steve Harris, performs backing vocals on some songs.-Biography:While at school, Smith purchased his first...
of SOMSkidmore, Owings and MerrillSkidmore, Owings and Merrill LLP is an American architectural and engineering firm that was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill. They opened their first branch in New York City, New York in 1937. SOM is one of the largest...
, Trump TowerTrump International Hotel and Tower (Chicago)The Trump International Hotel and Tower, also known as Trump Tower Chicago and locally as the Trump Tower, is a skyscraper condo-hotel in downtown Chicago, Illinois. The building, named after real estate developer Donald Trump, was designed by architect Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill...
is the world's tallest concrete structure, a 92 story tower consisting of 2600000 square feet (241,547.9 m²) that will rise to 1145 feet (349 m) topped with a 217 feet (66.1 m) spire bringing its total height to 1362 feet (415.1 m). It will contain about 472 residential condominiums, a 286 unit condominium hotel, 1000 space parking garage, and retail space. McHugh has the task of pouring the concrete structure and will pour more than 180000 cubic yards (137,619.9 m³) of concrete in just under three years.
- Battle Stations 21 - A 500 feet (152.4 m) long reduced scale replica of a portion of a ship, floating in water, within a 171000 square feet (15,886.4 m²) building. This structure includes layer upon layer of the latest technology to create a realistic battle experience.
- AquaAqua, ChicagoAqua is an 86-story mixed-use residential skyscraper in the Lakeshore East development in downtown Chicago. Designed by a team led by Jeanne Gang, the building is the tallest in the world to have a woman as lead architect, at . It includes one level of parking below ground...
- The design of the 82-story, mixed-use tower has received international attention for the undulating waves of concrete that will make up the balconies. Its exterior features a rippling effect that architect Jeanne GangJeanne Gang-External links:* official website* "Jeanne Gang: The Art of Nesting"...
says mirrors the striated limestone outcroppings and formations that can be seen throughout the Great Lakes.
- The Peggy Notebaert Nature MuseumPeggy Notebaert Nature MuseumThe Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - The Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is a nature museum located in Chicago, Illinois. The museum, which opened in a new facility in October 1999, is located at the intersection of Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park. The museum focuses on...
- A 73000 square feet (6,781.9 m²) facility and the first new museum built in Chicago's parks in more than 60 years.
Expansion
Though most projects are located in the Chicago area today, McHugh was the first American contractor to open an office in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
after the fall of Communism
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
. Between 1991 and 1999, McHugh had built for local and non-Russian clients including Dialog Bank, ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
, Boeing Co. and Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm headquartered in New York City serving a diversified group of corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. Morgan Stanley also operates in 36 countries around the world, with over 600 offices and a workforce of over 60,000....
.