Chicago, Illinois, known as “the Windy City,” is the largest city in the state of Illinois and the third most populous city in the United States. As of 2021, the city’s estimated population was 2.7 million people. The city comprises 77 community areas and around 100 neighborhoods.
The area’s large and diverse population offers an endless range of business opportunities. Medical and life science facilities are a vital niche, catering to the health needs of people in the Chicago area and beyond.
The general contractors listed here have a proven track record in the healthcare and life science sectors and are well-acquainted with the industry’s particular nuances.
Skender
1330 W. Fulton Market, Ste. 200, Chicago, IL 60607
Skender is a large national contractor that has been in operation for over 66 years. This award-winning contractor is included by the Engineering News Record on its list of the 400 Largest U.S. Contractors. The firm has built countless commercial and corporate buildings for multinational organizations and businesses. It is an accredited member of the U.S. Green Building Council for sustainable construction.
The firm’s work spans healthcare, multifamily homes, hospitals, science facilities, and educational institutions.
Skender’s principal, Justin Brown, is a graduate of Purdue University, with a degree in building construction management. He is an active member of the Economics Club of Chicago and the Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Committee.
Skender has been featured numerous times in various industry publications, including Construction Drive, REBusiness Online, Crain’s Chicago Business and the Daily Herald.
The team is composed of more than 200 industry experts. The firm prides itself for having a lean approach to construction project management and strives to establish deep, meaningful relationships with each client. What sets Skender apart from the competition is the company’s desire to focus on people and experiences—not just building structures.
The firm delivers exceptional results consistently. Its 60-plus years in the industry have seasoned this contracting firm and given it the industry expertise to build truly remarkable structures and spaces across various sectors and businesses.
Clune Construction
10 S. Riverside Plaza, Ste. 2200, Chicago, IL 60606
Clune Construction is another award-winning general contracting firm, specializing in commercial, recreational and corporate building construction. The firm, established in 1997, has been operating in the Chicago area for over 24 years. Over the years, Clune Construction has accumulated countless awards for its excellence in construction, design, and customer service.
The team is composed of more than 600 professionals based in six offices across the United States. The firm operates on a national scale and is able to deliver quality work that exceeds expectations wherever it operates. The firm’s clientele includes some of the most respected companies and businesses in the world.
The firm believes its level of success is due to its dedication to being trustworthy, honest, reliable and ethical. It’s the Clune Way to include both staff and clientele as members of its family.
Clune is recognized by the Engineering News Record as one of the Top 400 Contractors in the United States and was also listed as one of the Top 115 Contractor Firms by Building Design + Construction in 2016. The company has been named Interior Contractor of the Year by Chicago Commercial Real Estate. Other awards include a Torch Award by the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois and a Safety Recognition Award by the Chicagoland Associated General Contractors.
Pepper Construction Group
643 North Orleans St., Chicago, IL 60654
Pepper Construction Group is a renowned general contractor based in Chicago, Illinois. The firm is a seasoned veteran in the industry, with over 90 years of work under its belt. Pepper Construction Group was established in 1927 and has grown into a nationally recognized construction firm.
Pepper has earned numerous awards. Most recently, it received the 2021 AGC Innovation Award and the 2021 Most Innovative Company in the Construction Industry award by the AGC. The company was also recognized for excellence in safety in 2018, winning that year’s Construction Safety Excellence Award.
The firm has been featured in several industry publications, including the Daily Herald, Building Design + Construction, the Chicago Tribune, and Architectural Record.
Pepper Construction Group approaches each client with the goal of achieving a lasting partnership. The firm also develops trusting and transparent relationships with its designers and subcontractors to achieve a working environment that advocates communication and cooperation.
The firm works across several industries, specializing in construction for non-residential, private and government sectors. Pepper Construction Group has earned a reputation for reliable, sustainable, and high-performing facilities and buildings. Its repertoire includes civic and cultural structures, commercial interiors, corporate buildings, entertainment, gaming, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and manufacturing.
The Walsh Group
929 W. Adams St., Chicago, IL 60607
The Walsh Group is one of the largest and oldest construction firms active in the United States. The firm was founded in 1898 and now has a 123-year history of broad experience in the construction industry. The Walsh Group is run by the Walsh family. The company’s management is now in its fourth generation and is currently led by Daniel J. Walsh, Matthew Walsh, Daniel P. Walsh and Sean Walsh.
In the firm’s long tenure in the industry, it has completed projects across the United States as well as in Canada. The firm is responsible for several major civil construction projects. Its well-known projects include the Dan Ryan and Kennedy Expressways, the Ohio River Bridge, and the LaGuardia Airport Redevelopment in Los Angeles, California.
The Walsh Group has also received several awards and recognitions for its contributions to national civil construction. It consistently ranks high in Contractor of the Year lists and has been recognized nationwide as one of the country’s leading general contractors.
The firm’s projects span a multitude of industries. The firm has constructed several laboratories, healthcare facilities, aviation projects, correctional facilities, data centers, water treatment facilities, and several other large-scale civil construction projects.
Development Solutions, Inc.
322 S. Green St., Ste. 508, Chicago, IL 60607
Development Solutions, Inc. is a large-scale general contracting firm based in Chicago, Illinois. Its operations have expanded from its home state to include the entire Midwestern United States. The firm specializes in public buildings, office spaces, retail and industrial buildings, education, corporate and banking offices, residential projects and renovation, and healthcare and education facilities.
The firm was established in 1992. In its 29 years, it has earned a reputation for being a young powerhouse construction company, capable of delivering both small and multimillion-dollar projects. The firm is led by experienced, LEED-certified professionals. Development Solutions makes sustainable construction a priority and considers it a part of its corporate responsibility to construct environmentally-sustainable structures,
Development Solutions has been featured in numerous publications, including REJournals, the Chicago Sun Times, McKinley Park News, and Crain’s Chicago Business.
For over 29 years, the firm’s commitment to its clients has been to build quality construction projects, meet deadlines, and over-deliver on its promises. The firm ensures that it has the right people for any job it takes on, so clients can have a stress-free experience working with Development Solutions.
G3 Construction Group, Inc.
7575 Plaza Court, Willowbrook, IL 60527
G3 Construction Group has been in the business of large-scale construction since 2004. It is a design-build and construction management firm that has collected a vast amount of experience creating structures for various clients across a range of industries.
The firm is a recognized member of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, the Building Owners and Managers Association of Suburban Chicago, the Chicago Loop Alliance, the International Facility Management Association, and the Chicago Real Estate Network. By patronizing the G3 Construction group, clients also support organizations such as the Tom Hopkins Foundation, the Andrew Weishar Foundation, Sertoma Centre, Inc., and the Special Olympics of Chicago.
G3’s scope of work has included a variety of both large and small projects. The firm has tackled high-rise commercial office spaces, high-end restaurants, and retail stores. It has also constructed state-of-the art healthcare facilities, research laboratories, and academic buildings. It has completed more than 1,500 projects, including the $52-million development of the Rosalind Franklin University Innovation and Research Park.
G3 has a solid track record of projects and a lengthy list of clients to its name. It is also an advocate for sustainable construction and ensures that its facilities meet established LEED construction standards.
CCC Holdings, Inc.
18660 Graphics Dr., Ste. 200, Tinley Park, IL 60477
CCC Holdings, Inc., is a commercial contractor serving the Chicago area. It is currently owned / managed by president Jennifer L. Cullen, an experienced lawyer with over 15 years of experience in the construction industry. She is aided by Mark Douglass, vice president of the firm, with extensive knowledge in the fields of architecture and construction.
The firm was established in 2013 and is now recognized as one of the top commercial contracting firms in Chicago. It has built a significant portfolio of projects across various industries, but the company’s primary focus is the construction of educational, institutional, and science facilities. One example is the UIC Medical Science Building project, which involved the renovation of two adjoining buildings—the Medical Science Building and the College of Medicine’s West Tower. The LEED GOLD certified renovation included the installation of state-of-the-art prototype equipment for its research labs, upgraded mechanical, plumbing, and electrical infrastructure, and expanded administrative support.
CCC ensures that each of its projects is closely monitored to meet deadlines and stay within budget. The company has developed a reputation for excellent project planning, safety, performance and high-quality outputs. Its team of highly skilled professionals ensures that the firm has the expertise clients need to execute even the most complex designs and builds.
Kelly Construction & Design, LLC
4518 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60641
Kelly Construction & Design is a full-service general contractor based in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of the Illinois Geothermal Alliance, and a good number of its personnel are LEED-accredited professionals active in green and sustainable construction.
Kelly Construction & Design has been in the industry for over 30 years. The company was established in 1988 by Michael Kelly and has since completed countless projects, ranging from small-scale builds to large-scale projects costing upwards of $50 million.
The firm’s clients span a variety of sectors. The company’s projects include industrial and commercial spaces, healthcare and hospitality facilities, and multi-unit residential structures. The majority of its clientele consists of repeat clients and referrals—which highlights the firm’s ability to deliver quality output and excellent customer service.
The firm has regional offices in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Tennessee. Its extensive and diverse clientele has given the firm a reputation as a versatile general contractor, able to deliver a broad range of project types.
Among the firm’s many projects is the Optimum Nutrition Lab, located in Chicago, Illinois. The firm completely renovated the facility, including installing a new network of underground plumbing and installing lab casework and up-to-date lab equipment.
