The ambitious beginnings of Chicago's Marina City

Mom was so excited to be able to tell others that she worked at James McHugh Construction...the one that had built Marina City in downtown Chicago. Mom was a 35-year employee for James McHugh Construction after my father died; becoming a single mother to just me, her only child, in 1968. As general contractor for the iconic Marina City, James McHugh is known for his comment that if we can build 7 stories, we can build sixty! The company's innovation and excellence in production was true to form in any work they were involved. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on November 22, 1960. The commemorative ceremony, exactly two years later, celebrated America’s tallest apartment building at the time, Marina City.

Today, Marketing Manager Sima Bhakta and President, Michael Meagher at McHugh describe the 1,500,000 square-foot project consisting of two 60-story apartment buildings with 896 apartments and a parking garage. In the construction of Marina City, this was the world’s tallest reinforced concrete building when it was built. McHugh used fiberglass forms designed and fabricated by its own personnel. Climbing cranes were utilized in one of the country’s first applications of such equipment which has since become a standard item in high-rise concrete construction. These new techniques provided notable cost reductions despite the unusual shape of the structure.

James McHugh Construction Co. used 16,000 tons of concrete to sculpt two 65-story residential towers, a 300,000 square foot commercial platform, a 16-story office building, and later a 100,000 square foot theater. McHugh started on the project before plans for Marina City were entirely finished, and right from the beginning there were challenges. The hardest part were the forms that contained the concrete while it hardened. The unusual shapes required the forms to be made from fiberglass, assembled at McHugh’s plant near South Cottage Grove Avenue & East 79th Street and transported to the site.

Clarence Ekstrom, a man my Mom praised for his work excellence, was the project manager and began his career as a field engineer at McHugh in 1954. Clarence was a proud World War 2 veteran in the Navy and studied architectural engineering at the University of Illinois. He would begin his work at 4am and sometimes work until 9pm because he would be responsible for coordinating plumbers, electricians, and other trades to work on the project. Marina City architect Bertrand Goldberg met with Ekstrom every day to make sure plans and construction were working efficiently. Ekstrom worked for McHugh until 1978, retiring to North Carolina. Clarence lived to be 95 and passed away in 2016.

While Mom worked for McHugh, the company would build Arlington Park racetrack, Water Tower Place and expand McCormick Place; wonderful places we visited together. James McHugh's company mission has always been to promote a positive experience to those that visit, work or live in their buildings.

McHugh has renovated Marina City and also built The Goodman Theatre, Vista Tower, Trump Tower, Aqua Tower, Blackstone Hotel, Navy Pier (including the 200-foot-tall Centennial Wheel and most recently, the Sable Hotel at Navy Pier, Curio Collection by Hilton, and the Offshore Rooftop and Bar), as well as other noteworthy projects in regional markets such as Loring Park Tower in Minneapolis, Two Twelve Clayton and Westin Cupples Station in the St. Louis area, and multiple projects in Nashville and Miami.

The chairman is fourth generation, Patricia McHugh, and the company continues to be known for its unwavering commitment to its clients, its ability to deliver exceptional results on time and within budget, and its dedication to develop strong partnerships with subcontractors. It is also known for its amazing commitment to those who work for James McHugh Construction directly. McHugh has won several awards for being the best place to work. Some of the benefits include the following:

• Full health insurance, including medical, dental, vision programs, are available as well as health and wellness programs.
• They currently provide an on-site fitness facility.
• Paid Time Off and Parental Leave are offered.
• Life Insurance, long-term care and disability, accidental death and dismemberment
• 401(k) with employer matching is an option.
• Flexible spending accounts and health saving accounts are also provided.
• Tuition reimbursement, educational assistance, career skills and training can be utilized.
• Community involvement opportunities and workforce development programs are available.

From heaven, Mom smiles... celebrating her 99th birthday. For over a century, James McHugh Construction, like family, continues to provide the best for all who experience their passion and loyalty. Ultimately, making dreams come true, over and over again.