Clark to Break Ground on Chicago's New 10,000-Seat Arena

May 26, 2015

McCormick Place Arena

CHICAGO - The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority has awarded Clark, as the lead member of Prairie District3 Partners, a $150 million design-build contract for the McCormick Place Event Center.

The team will construct the 300,000 square-foot event center, which will be located on Chicago’s McCormick Place campus across Prairie Avenue from the new 40-story Marriott Marquis—also is being built by Prairie District3 Partners under a separate contract. The event center will be wrapped in glass and other translucent materials to allow daylight to fill the interior space and provide views of the surrounding community.

The structure will feature a 10,500-seat arena, 22 suites, club seating, team and support service spaces, broadcast facilities, and food and beverage concessions. The multipurpose arena will be home to DePaul University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams; it also will serve as a venue for concerts, special events, and general sessions for McCormick Place conventions.

The McCormick Place Event Center is designed to achieve LEED® certification.

The design of the facility is underway and construction will begin this summer. Substantial completion is slated for September 2017.

The Clark-led Prairie District3 Partners also includes Bulley & Andrews, LLC of Chicago, Old Veteran Construction, Inc. of Chicago, McKissack & McKissack of Chicago, Goettsch Partners of Chicago, and Moody•Nolan of Columbus, Ohio.