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The Cubes at Country Club Hills

With all of the recent increase in demand for warehouse developments along with the rise of e-commerce, we’ve been hard at work on a lot of projects like The Cubes at Country Club Hills. It’s currently being developed by CRG and it’s our first industrial development in the Chicago market, but it’s also pushing the boundaries on another front. We’re putting a lot of emphasis on hiring minority and women-owned firms to help us build it and opening opportunities for historically underrepresented groups to participate. It directly relates to our efforts as part of Clayco Rising to recruit more diverse candidates onto our teams and further strengthen our partnerships with minority and women-owned subcontractors and suppliers. The model behind this project is one that we’re going to continue to implement and build on, and it’s another big step we’re taking to help increase inclusion and equality in the construction industry.

September 2, 2021

2021
Business
Clayco

August’s Architect of the Month: Adrian Smith

Adrian Smith is another architect with ties to Chicago that I admire, and he is the mind behind some of the most recognizable and enormous buildings in the world. He’s also the amazing architect who designed the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest structure in the United Arab Emirates. Smith’s towering skyscrapers have fundamentally changed skylines in cities across the globe, and all of them are real triumphs of design. Born in Chicago in 1944, Adrian Smith had an early interest in drawing that led his mother to suggest that he go on to study architecture. He started his schooling at Texas A&M University and finished his Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Illinois, Chicago in 1969 while working at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

August 26, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Architecture

FDA Approves First Covid-19 Vaccine

The Food and Drug Administration just announced that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is approved for the prevention of COVID-19, and this is a huge milestone in the fight against the pandemic that has upended so many lives across the globe. Having full FDA approval will hopefully assure those who have been holding out on getting vaccinated that it’s safe, effective, and incredibly important to not only protect their health, but also the health of their families, friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Scientific and medical experts are assuring the public that this is a great tool to combat the virus, and the best thing is that it’s already widely available. It’s definitely a leap forward, and the time is now to get vaccinated.

August 24, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

Thank You to Clayco’s Teams

It’s been a tough year and a half for so many of us at Clayco, and we’ve been asked to deal with so many new challenges that could have very easily set us back as a business. But I can definitely say that it’s the dedication, talent, and unity of our teams that have allowed us to not only grow, but also succeed in all of the projects we’ve been working on since the start of the pandemic. There’s a lot of talk in the media right now about people quitting their jobs after being called back to in-person work environments. A lot of time has been spent covering the differences in productivity, teamwork, and communication that arise when companies move towards new hybrid models of working. I think so much of this kind of talk is unfounded, and we should call B.S. I’m glad to say that no one at Clayco has quit due to being called back to work together in person.

August 17, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

Illumination 2021: A Return to the Light

There’s no denying that 2020 was a dark year for all of us, but we still have a whole lot to look forward to. After a year of postponement, Illumination is coming back this fall on October 23rd, 2021. Held at the Vertiport Chicago Heliport, it’s going to be our largest and most experiential event to date, and we can’t wait to share what we’ve been planning. Illumination 2021: A Return to the Light will be the 5th event we’ve hosted to help raise funds to find a cure for RVCL, a rare genetic disease that affects the central nervous system. Held annually around Halloween, it offers the opportunity for everyone to dress up in their best costumes and immerse themselves in an experience unlike any other.

August 10, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

In Memory of Hung Liu

I was deeply saddened to learn that Hung Liu has passed away. She was a prolific Chinese-born American painter and an artist whose work captivated people around the world, and she leaves behind an incredible legacy that is sure to inspire fellow artists for generations to come. Born in Changchun, China in 1948, Liu immigrated to the United States in 1984, where her distinct style of using layered brushstrokes and linseed oil to give her work a dripping appearance became widely known and celebrated. She went on to produce a variety of great paintings, mixed media creations, and installations that captivated audiences with her unique vision and ability to humanize her chosen subjects that are often drawn from traditional Chinese painting and even pottery.

August 8, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

Clayco Named One Of Fast Company’s 2021 Best Workplaces for Innovators

Clayco just made Fast Company’s 2021 list of Best Workplaces for Innovators, amongst other industry leaders such as Google, Gensler, and Oracle and this is an honor that we’re really proud of. Recognizing the leading organizations around the world that are empowering their employees to improve processes, create new products, or invent new ways of doing business, the annual list highlights the companies that have continued to excel by innovating during a period of so many challenges. We’re the only builder to make the list, and it shows that we are really the best at what we do. When I started Clayco, finding innovative ways to do business was at the core of the company’s foundation, and it still is after over 37 years. From the people we bring on to the projects we build, innovation defines our culture, our values, and our mission. We have found that our practice fosters innovation that goes beyond the bounds of tradition, and this is why we’ve been able to hire the best and brightest in the industry and create a culture where everyone can thrive.

August 4, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

Washington University School of Medicine’s Ambulatory Cancer Care Center

We’re excited that after two years of planning, construction will finally begin on Washington University School of Medicine’s new Ambulatory Care Center. It’s going to consolidate nearly all outpatient cancer treatment in one building, which will allow patients to get more comprehensive care at a single location as opposed to visiting multiple locations in the current medical complex. As anyone who has experienced a serious illness like cancer knows, it’s so important for doctors and medical providers to do as much as possible to make the treatment process streamlined and comfortable for patients. The Ambulatory Care Center will help fulfill this promise and obligation. It’s a huge step forward in making cancer care a better experience for those who are undergoing treatment as well as their families who are there to support them.

August 2, 2021

2021
Impact
Health & Research
Education

July’s Architect of the Month: Carlos Martinez

When I think of an architect who has made an impact on my life in a personal way, I’d say that Carols Martinez definitely holds that title. He’s a genuine and talented person who is deeply dedicated to his craft, and his passion for innovation is evident in the projects he has designed throughout his career as an architect. Carlos Martinez attended The Ohio State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1982. He then went on to attend the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he graduated with a Master’s of Architecture in 1984. His professional career took off at Holabird & Root, and today, he’s been with the renowned architectural firm Gensler for over twenty years. Among his many accomplishments, he’s been inducted into the International Interior Design Association’s College of Fellows and he’s also a recipient of Gensler’s prestigious Don Brinkmann Award for design excellence.

July 31, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Architecture

Canopy at Centene Park

Artist Liam Gillick designed the canopy at Centene Plaza in Clayton, Missouri, which makes use of the light-diffusing capabilities of glass to illuminate the walkway between two buildings in a new and captivating way. In addition to protecting walkers from the weather and elements overhead, the canopy was also designed to offer a visual distraction and encourage a moment of mindfulness apart from the hustle and bustle of the vibrant commercial center it’s located in. Using Vanceva® color interlayer technology, the canopy lights up the space beneath it in a dazzling array of bright, translucent colors. A passerby using the walkway for its utilitarian purpose also can take an opportunity to observe the canopy’s beauty and functionality, and it plays upon the concepts, similarities, and differences between utility and art.

July 28, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Innovation

Chicago Committee on Design

It was great to be selected as a member of the Chicago Committee on Design. We recently had our inaugural meeting, and I’m glad that I was a part of it. The Chicago Committee on Design is made up of 24 local leaders and urban design professionals hand selected by Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development to work with Commissioner Maurice Cox on important development projects and urban design initiatives. Its main purpose is to offer expertise, guidance, and suggestions for DPD as well as the members of the project’s development team, and meetings are also open to the public for feedback and testimony. The Committee will advise the city and developers about innovative, attractive, and cost-effective elements with members who are leading architects, artists, academics, and real estate professionals.

July 28, 2021

2021
Impact
Community

Broadway Chapter

Broadway Chapter in Fort Worth, Texas offered a special opportunity to work closely with the Near Southside community and its Art South program to offer a local emerging artist the chance to design a mural for the project’s facade. After receiving submissions from over 84 talented artists, Eric ‘Drigo’ Rodriguez was selected by the community as the winner. Drigo’s mural is titled “Cosmic Journey” and is a 5,000 square foot, five-story piece that speaks to the diversity and vibrancy of its surrounding community with its colorful imagery. Covering the southern facade of the parking garage, the mural is emblematic of a community-first approach to building and also building stronger bonds with people throughout the neighborhood. It was just unveiled in June and has added an entirely unique dimension to the project.

July 26, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Innovation

July’s Artist of the Month: Kehinde Wiley

This month’s featured artist is one whose paintings and growing body of work have become instantly recognizable to so many of us who are passionate about the arts. Kehinde Wiley has an incredible talent for reinterpreting past artistic styles and traditions, making them entirely his own. His use of the Old Masters as a source of inspiration has encouraged all of us to look at paintings and their subjects in a new light. Born in Los Angeles, California, to an American mother and a Nigerian father, Kehinde Wiley began his artistic journey at a young age, participating in an after-school art program to keep him and his brother off of the streets. After being selected to study at a conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wiley discovered an avid interest in portraiture and decided to continue his studies in painting. He went on to earn a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1999, and later earned an MFA from Yale University in 2001.

July 22, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Art

Blue Origin’s Historic Launch

Today’s launch of Blue Origin’s first crewed mission is a first on so many fronts, and it was really exciting to watch. It also signals that we’ve entered into a whole new era in space exploration and travel. The mission’s success is sure to open a lot of new doors for even more people to get to experience what was once unthinkable and unimaginable not too long ago. From the start, I knew that Clayco’s work on the Blue Origin Engine Facility project would be so important to the manufacturing process of their rocket engines. Designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative, Blue Origin's Engine Plant in Huntsville, Alabama won Engineering News-Record's Best Manufacturing Project in the Southeast for 2020. This facility manufactures seven of the LNG fueled BE-4 rocket engines that provide nearly 4 million pounds of thrust to Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket.

July 20, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

Your Boardroom Sets the Tone Op-Ed

I just wrote an op-ed article that’s featured in Crain’s Chicago Business on the topic of diversity in our boardrooms. It’s something that I really care a lot about, and I think other CEOs need to take a more active role in addressing the barriers that prevent many people from underrepresented backgrounds from becoming members of a company’s senior leadership team. For me, diversity is a core part of doing business and ensuring that everyone has an equal chance to succeed. We have a responsibility to elevate and support the people who work hard for us each day, and Clayco is proud to have a strong set of diversity initiatives that are some of the most groundbreaking and impactful in the construction industry. We set an example for others to follow, and it’s inseparable from who we are as a company.

July 16, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

The Debra and George W. Couch III Biomedical Research Building

One of the most important causes that I support is the search for cures and therapies in the field of rare disease, and it’s part of the reason why I continue to be involved with the Board of Trustees at the University of Chicago Medical Center, the Central Institute for the Deaf, and the Scientific Advisory Council for the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. When Clayco was chosen to help design a new 6-story, 215,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art research lab facility for Washington University School of Medicine, we brought all of our planning and building expertise to the project and ultimately maximized its budget and scope, including adding an additional floor, an additional bay, lab convertibility, and floor-to-floor heights that contained the coordinated MEP systems without excess or costly plenum space.

July 12, 2021

2021
Business
Clayco

June's Featured Architect: Ralph Johnson

Ralph Johnson is an award-winning architect who has a deep understanding and appreciation of his hometown of Chicago. His work is instantly recognizable by many who know the city well, and he has added to a long and proud tradition of the Windy City setting new standards with its innovative architectural landscape. Born on the South Side of Chicago, Ralph Johnson was destined for a bright future in architecture, since he grew up right down the street from Frank Lloyd Wright’s infamous R.W. Evans House. He received his Bachelor of Architecture in 1971 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and he went on to receive his Master of Architecture from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design in 1973. Johnson found that by entering numerous architectural competitions in the years after graduating, he began to develop his own personal approach to design and forge his own path. It would eventually take him back to Chicago to work for a firm he dreamed of being a part of. He joined Perkins&Will after coming back to his hometown, where he has worked ever since.

June 30, 2021

2021
Inspiration
Architecture

Clayco Named ENR 2021 Midwest Contractor of the Year

It is a real honor to be recognized by ENR’s editors as Midwest Contractor of the Year, and it’s something that speaks to the hard work and commitment of our team members across the country who helped make this happen. Last year was a challenge for everyone and being able to come out on the other side stronger than before is something that I’m grateful for. When other companies were cautiously pulling back, we decided to spring forward into action. We made a lot of decisions to fight back against COVID-19, and we always went with what felt right and did so with the safety of our people in mind. From working with the Center for Disease Control to develop better guidelines to keep the construction industry working, to encouraging employees to get vaccinated and doing $3.8 billion in 2020 revenue, Clayco has proven that we can always get it done, no matter what.

June 29, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

June's Featured Artist: Nathaniel Mary Quinn

Nathaniel Mary Quinn is an artist whose incredible work stays with you. Known for his captivating collage-like portraits, Quinn has created a distinct style that is a unique blend between mixed media drawings and paintings of fragmented figures that play with the viewer’s perception of identity. Quinn was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, where he grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes public housing project. It was here that he discovered an early passion for drawing, and when was in the ninth grade, he received a scholarship to study at Culver Academy boarding school in Indiana. While enrolled there, Quinn was told that his mother had passed away suddenly, and when returning home from school for Thanksgiving, he also found that the rest of his family had abandoned his childhood home with no explanation.

June 26, 2021

2021
Impact
Inspiration
Clark Art Collection
Art

Ride the Wave Continues

Yesterday we picked up our Ride the Wave tour in my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. We visited several of our job sites across the metro area and it was great to see all of the progress being made on these ambitious projects. First, we stopped off at Project Millie, a 270,000 square-foot warehouse distribution center near the St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Next, we checked up on our Delmar Divine project, which is a renovation and reimagining of the former St. Luke’s Hospital campus that will transform a historic building into an innovative hub for social innovation and enterprise. Our final stop took us to Chesterfield, Missouri, where we visited Wildhorse Village. Once completed, it will be a brand new 80-acre urban center that includes cutting-edge offices, beautiful apartments, and natural public spaces.

June 23, 2021

2021
Business
Clayco

The Importance of Finding Your Core Values

When I was in junior high school, my principal, Mr. Graham, made a big push for all of us students to identify and develop our own set of values. Of course he gave some great examples to follow. The assignment stuck with me, and years later after getting married and starting a family, I made it a point to write down and remember some of the values that would become a guiding light for me through some tough challenges. They’re still the ones that hold true for me to this day, and I can’t stress enough how important it is for each of us to find what we value in life and do everything we can to remember and stick to those ideals. My values have shaped me into the person I am today, and I think it’s also important to constantly share your values with others.

June 9, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays

LGC’s Building an Inclusive Chicago Event

On Friday, I had the opportunity to join with Chicago’s Deputy Mayor for Economic and Neighborhood Development Samir Mayekar in an important conversation organized by Leadership Greater Chicago for its 2021 Daniel Burnham Fellows cohort. “Building an Inclusive Chicago Part 1: Race, Equity and Economic Development” focused on how we can all pitch in to make our city a more level playing field for every Chicagoan, and I was happy to be a part of it. During our conversation moderated by Maria Wynne, the CEO of LGC, we spoke in-depth about the ways that we can work together to help ensure an equitable reopening of Chicago and its core business district. As more and more people return to downtown offices after working remotely during most of the pandemic, it’s more important than ever that we help build our city back stronger and more inclusive than before.

June 7, 2021

2021
Adventure
Life Lessons
Essays
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