Significant Projects

Infinium Capital Management

600 W. Chicago

CMC was called in to work with ICM on the expansion of their space at the CBOT by 10,000 sq. ft. The decision was made rather quickly to move to a new location. There were two locations under consideration.

ICM wanted an employee to be responsible for watching everything that went on during the process. That person was Rob Lee. Rob’s duties were to learn and to be responsible for all internal paperwork. ICM got weekly reports from Rob.

CMC developed a budget for all work that ICM required. This budget became our bible. CMC then wrote the RFP’s for, and conducted all meetings to select the architect, engineer and general contracting firms. ICM made all final selections. Once we had the team in place we all toured both Buildings. The architects had already drawn space plans and the engineers had determined the power needed. Working with the GC, CMC prepared budgets for each space.

Based on all financials (including The Buildings build out allowances) and the fact that 600 W. Chicago had two power grids and the space was “raw”, that location was selected.

While the architects and engineers were preparing all drawings, CMC worked with ICM (Aaron LaSota) to order all CRAC units, main electrical gear and distribution panels and our battery back-up system. Our reasons for this were two fold; first to assure delivery and second to save ICM over $200,000 in fees from sub-contractors.

CMC also helped the GC write all RFP’s for all sub-contractors. CMC sat in all meetings to determine the scope of work and to arrive at the best prices possible for the work required.

It should be noted here that because the space was raw (only sprinklers existed) the building asked that they give us money and that we take responsibility for all base building electric service, HVAC and distribution and all bathrooms for the entire 60,000 sq. ft.

This work was all taken into consideration for our revised overall budget.

By the end of the process, the GC and subs were in line with CMC’s original budget for our overall project.

In addition to the work described above, CMC took on the added responsibility of writing the RFP for the structural engineering necessary for the completion of our battery back-up room.

CMC also worked with the architect for the building to get the City of Chicago historical preservation committee to allow us to relocate windows and air intake grilles.

The architect for our project should have handled both these items. They informed us that they did not have this in their contract and did not have time to do it.

CMC performed both duties and charged no extra fees.

It should be noted that the office of the building (600 W. Chicago) used our approval of window relocations for other work that they wanted to do.

Once construction began, CMC wrote the RFP for and selected the wiring contractor and the battery back-up installer as well as the mover.

We had an excellent GC on the project. Every item was kept on schedule and although the architect made changes on a weekly basis, all construction was completed in four months.

The project included a kitchen area, four bathrooms, two fan rooms, a 3,000 sq. ft. IT facility capable of handling 500 traders, battery back-up, 250 trading desks and stations, offices, conference centers, feature wall (150 LF) and a greeting/reception area.

CMC watched over all change orders and approved all payouts.

The job was completed and ICM moved in ten months after CMC was hired.

The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulations

122 S. Michigan Ave.

CMC worked with The Buildings broker (Red Weller) to develop a budget based on a written specification. In addition to construction these specifications wanted furniture (workstations) as well as wiring and the cost of their move (from three locations) included in the budget.

CMC’s budget was instrumental in The Building getting the lease.

CMC hired the architect, engineer, general contractor, demo contractor, wiring contractor, carpet supplier and furniture vendors.

The state wanted a green LEED job, the first of its kind in Chicago for a State of Illinois office.

The job included the recycling or reuse of all demoed items. The project was designed to be LEED certifiable and all construction followed those written guidelines. Recycled drywall, acoustical ceiling, carpet and workstation panels were used. Electrical saving lamps and devices were used as well as special HVAC controls. All adhesives were non-toxic.

The team believed that we could have had LEED status, had the State been willing to pay for all extra paperwork by architect/engineers and all suppliers to apply and confirm to the LEED certify rules.

The job included two new building fan rooms. There was an addition to the project that included two new fan rooms. Besides this addition, the project’s final cost was within 1% of CMC’s original budget.

The job was completed in eight months once CMC was released to start the project.

Illinois Housing Authority (1992-1993)

IHA occupied 50,000 sq. ft. at 401 N. Michigan. They liked their location, but the space needed a face lift and quite a bit of technology added to bring it into the 90’s.

John Balanoff was hired as Construction Manager. Working with IHA, John hired the architect, engineers and general contractor. Because IHA didn’t have anywhere to move its people, it was decided that 5,000 sq. ft. of space would be remodeled during a one month period. To complicate the project there was asbestos in all ceiling cavities.

Working with the General Contractor and the IHA representatives, the project was completed in eleven months. It involved nineteen moves and not one employee lost anytime.

Stern Electronics

In the early 80’s ICM (under the guidance of John Balanoff) completed a build out for Stern Electronics (at three locations).

Diversey Avenue - Two Locations

• Three loading docks
• 100,000 sq. ft. of office space
• Added a 30,000 sq. ft. production facility for video games

Elk Grove Village Location

• Eight loading docks
• 20,000 sq. ft. of new office space (decked over 10,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space)
• Production for micro-chip factory, converted 40,000 sq. ft. of warehouse to manufacturing
• Added 2,000 sq. ft. electrical vault
• Built new parking lot for 200 cars