Project Scope

Graycor completed a vertical retail expansion for a two-level H&M retail store at the Chicago Ridge Mall in Chicago Ridge, Ill. The project, completed in a live retail mall environment, included demolition of seven tenant spaces near center court as well as a vertical expansion that involved raising of the mall’s existing roof to accommodate a second floor for an H&M store. The 11,000-square-foot roof was moved 20 feet higher than its original height in three-day’s time.

Raising a roof at an operating mall is not common practice for the reason being that there are just too many safety risks and issue in live environments where tenants and shoppers are within a few feet from the construction work. In fact, only a handful of malls have performed roof raisings and typically the roof is raised no more than 10 feet. The successful execution of this project expanded the existing footprint of the store by 60% and was completed without disruption to ongoing mall operations.

Upon completion, a 24,745-square-foot shell was successfully turned over to Starwood for the H&M store.

Graycor also completed retail renovations involving the construction of H&M shells for Starwood Retail Partners (Owner) and Development Management Associates (Owner’s Representative) at two additional locations: Southlake Mall, Merrillville, Ind. and Louis Joliet Mall, Joliet, Ill.