Chicago Union Station. Photo: courtesy of Amtrak.
In its search for a Master Developer for its owned commercial elements of Chicago Union Station (CUS) and other neighboring properties, Amtrak has narrowed the field to four teams for the contract.
“We are excited to be a step closer to securing a master developer to assist us in realizing the full potential of Chicago Union Station and our other Chicago properties,” stated Bart Bush, Amtrak vice president, asset and real estate development. “The firms selected to advance to the next phase of the process represent some of the best developers in the business, complete with the financial capacity to dream big for Amtrak and the city of Chicago.”
The “short-listed” firms considered for the developer are the following:
- Chicago Union Station Partners: Macquarie Corporate Holdings Pty, Ltd, Golub & Company LLC, and Walsh Investors, LLC. Primary General Contractor: Walsh Construction Company II, LLC; Master Plan and Architect: Gensler Architecture, Planning & Design P.C.; Engineering: Arup; Operations & Maintenance: Golub & Company LLC.
- JLL Consortium: Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc., John Buck Company Fund V, Chicago Union Station Development Company, LLC, LaSalle Investment Management, Inc.; Design & Engineering: Pelli Clarke Pelli, Arup, Studio Gang; Operations & Maintenance: John Buck Co.; Property Management: Jones Lang LaSalle Americas Inc.
- Riverside: Riverside Investment & Development; Structural Engineer: Magnusson Klemencic Associates; Rail Operations Interface Manager & Civil Engineer: WSP Parsons Brinkerhoff; Construction Management: Clark Construction Group; Operations, Maintenance & Retail Concession Manager: CBRE Inc.; MEP and Technology Engineer: ESD Global.
- Sterling Bay LLC: SB Capital Partners II, LP, SBCP II Qualified Purchasers, LP; Design–Build Contractor: James McHugh Construction Co.; Design & Engineering: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; Operations & Maintenance: Sterling Bay LLC.
“By transforming Union Station into a modern transit hub we are creating economic opportunities that will reach every part of the city of Chicago,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Today we are taking a major step that will move this transformation forward and help Chicago continue to grow and succeed in the 21st-century economy with 21st-century infrastructure.”
Amtrak owns 14.07 acres within the request for quotation (RFQ) area. The site includes 613,075 square feet of total land area; 1,328,804 total square feet of building area; 1,679 parking spaces; and approximately 3,000,000 total buildable square feet of excess air-rights.
Amtrak, working with the City of Chicago, Metra commuter rail and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), assisted by KPMG, reviewed the RFQ’s to select teams considered capable of all aspects of project delivery, including a Master Development plan; design; construction; financing the potential operation; maintenance of non-rail assets; and identification of expansion opportunities and commercial development in the surrounding West Loop neighborhood.
The developer must harmonize commercial development with growing passenger volumes at CUS that are being addressed in a Master Plan. The Master Developer will also engage the community and incorporate feedback from West Loop stakeholders into any development plan.
Don Orseno, Metra executive director and CEO, said, “We look forward to working with our partners at Chicago Union Station to review each proposal and choose the right developer to transform this historic facility for the benefit of Chicago and Metra customers.”
“The RTA is proud to be a partner in this work to return this iconic landmark to its original glory,” said RTA Executive Director Leanne Redden. “Further, as a daily Metra rider, and frequent user of Union Station, I personally understand how these improvements will benefit regional public transportation riders every day.”
The next step in the process to choose a developer will be a Request for Proposals from the four teams. Amtrak plans to choose a Master Developer this winter.