Larger Than Life
Everything about One Chicago Square — the highly anticipated mega mixed-use project on the city’s west side — is larger than life, even the amenities. Along with a 65,000-square-foot flagship Whole Foods, One Chicago features Life Time River North, an athletic resort designed to also have office space for multiple companies or individuals to share (called coworking).
If you ask Local 21 Illinois member James Fulton, Field Superintendent for D Installation, he will tell you that the scope of work that BAC members logged was even more impressive than it may appear at first glance. This was a complete custom tile job loaded with more than 50 different types of tile throughout the project. Included in the work was everything from basic quarry tile in the kitchen area, to large-format thin porcelain tile as big as 5 feet x 10 feet infused with decorative metals, giving the wall tile depth and character.
Across the country, Life Time is known as a strong non-union company, often awarding work to non-union contractors. As a union tile setter leading the D Installation team charged with creating a signature facility, Fulton says he and his BAC brothers and sisters committed to show Life Time the difference that master union craftwork makes. The feedback has been incredible. “We intend to finish strong by putting out a beautiful product,” Fulton said — the kind of beautiful product that is only produced by the best union craftworkers.
The BAC team working for D Installation averaged about 32 workers on this project, logging 20,000 hours on the primary facility and another 1,100 hours on the pools. “The schedule was condensed immensely, and we basically had about four months to complete 7,600 square feet of custom floor prep and tile work,” Fulton says.
Along with adding large porcelain tiles wrapped over 30 columns throughout the building, BAC members installed two Myrtha pools — stainless steel wrapped in a PVC liner — and six hot/cold tubs. “We got to completely tile the very first one along with four hot/cold spa tubs,” Fulton says. “We used a new urethane type mortar made by Mapei, which gives the installation flexibility.”
A project of this scope does not come without its share of challenges. For example, additional drains were added per the Illinois Department of Public Health. Fulton explained they were added to the scope after the concrete was poured and the contract was signed. “This was challenging in many ways, but from a labor standpoint, we had to float the areas where these new drains were added and the concrete was not recessed in these areas.”
Fulton says the job called for innovative thinking on a whole new level. “We had to be very creative without compromising the functionality of the drains. This took many days of planning and strategizing because not only was this a tough job in itself, but everything else on the floor was based on our floor heights – toilets, vanities, doorways, etc.”
Challenges aside, Fulton says the project is something that will leave a mark in the city’s skyline. “I am very proud of this project, and I hope this gives some insight into the hard work, dedication and commitment that our BAC brothers and sisters have for our craft day-in and day-out.”
Nadine LaPointe, an Account Executive for D Installation, says that the detailed work in the One Chicago Square project is the kind that sets BAC apart. “It was one of the best projects I have ever worked on. The Power Construction and JDL teams were great to work with. They answered all of our questions and resolved any issues we had quickly. That makes a difference. You don’t get this teamwork on all projects.”