The Metra 10th Floor renovation project consists of partial demolition and build-out of Metra’s 16,000 SF office space on the 10th floor. The renovation will include mechanical additions and reconfigurations, electrical, lighting, plumbing, fire alarm, and security.
GMA was selected to complete the renovation of the Uptown-Edgewater Early Learning Center for Chicago Public Schools located at 5300 North Broadway Ave. The scope of work involves the interior build-out of former retail space into a four-classroom pre-k satellite facility.
GMA has been awarded the 6th floor renovation project for the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library in Dallas. The J. Erik Jonsson Central Library is the Main Library Branch of the Dallas Public Library system. The Government Information Center, Grants Information Center and Urban Information Center are located on the 6th floor of the Library totaling 46,000 SF. This project requires renovation work in an operating space. GMA will be implementing a site logistics plan that minimizes impact to Library operations as well as an Indoor Air Quality Plan.
This is GMA’s 2nd new project in the State of Texas so far this year.
June 3, 2020
Today, our city moves into phase 3 of the COVID-19 reopening plan set forth by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The milestone that we have hit today marks the phased reopening of many non-essential businesses such as restaurants and salons. This milestone was predicted to be a time when the entire City of Chicago would begin to bring itself back to a sense of normalcy. Unfortunately, this sense of normalcy has been delayed by the justified protest against the unjustified murder, by a Minneapolis police offer, of an unarmed Black man named Mr. George Floyd. As an African American male, CEO and a respected member of the community; I choose to address our company and our community, as a whole, because silence isn’t an option during this difficult time.
The entire world has seen the video of a Minneapolis police officer who used a dangerous police restraint technique to subdue an already subdued George Floyd during an arrest for an alleged $20.00 counterfeit bill. The Officer used his knee to apply his entire body weight to George Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes, as Mr. Floyd begged for his life, gasped for his final breath and ultimately died for no justified reason. The actions which led to the death of Mr. George Floyd happen every day in communities of color. Many police officers, who have taken an oath to serve and protect, have no real understanding of the people in the communities in which they are assigned. As a result, they pull over, detain, racially profile and target black or brown men and women, assuming the worst of them often without probable cause. This is common when it should be uncommon.
As GMA’s CEO, I am publicly denouncing the mistreatment of black and brown people at the hands of corrupt police officers who feel their badge gives them the right to take the life of another person solely based on their racial and ethnic background. We all have a responsibility to speak up when a situation arises that affects the livelihood of our friends, family, and neighbors. I understand, the distrust that people of color have with police officers across this country. Police brutality isn’t a new phenomenon. It has simply been magnified due to social media platforms and other technology which allows videos and photos of brutality to spread across the country in a matter of hours.
I grew up in the Austin and Cabrini Green communities on Chicago’s west and near-north sides. I have personally experienced the abuse of power by rogue police officers who were supposed to equally protect and serve the Chicago community and its citizens. Across the nation, similar abuses of power have led to the overall distrust in police whose ultimate responsibility is to protect “All” citizens, regardless of their color or ethnic origins. Yet, we still see countless situations where police officers have failed to provide people of color with the same set of protections as their counterparts. This racism should be denounced by our government, business leaders and the community as a whole.
The death of George Floyd has ignited protests throughout the entire world. His death has also inspired conversations within large and small corporations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. GMA has always strived to be a leader in the diversity & inclusion space, as demonstrated by the diverse work environment I have worked hard to create within our organization. One of the core missions of GMA is to “Develop People who will Transform Communities.” Our company was founded on this principle and our work focuses on building Healthcare, Education, and Affordable Housing within underserved communities. This goal has been my passion since I entered the construction industry nearly 18 years ago. I have strived to use my platform in this dynamic industry as a means to impact change within the communities I grew up in and currently reside.
GMA is definitely making a positive impact! We are building new healthcare facilities, schools, and affordable housing in communities of color within the City of Chicago and other parts of the country. We are proud of GMA’s impact, but our work doesn’t stop there. GMA has to continue to demonstrate the roadmap of how people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds can align to accomplish the mission of developing underserved communities.
As we continue to monitor the reactions around the world to the death of George Floyd; I want our clients, employees, partners and community members to know that GMA is a place where racism and bigotry does not exist. GMA’s Executive team and Board of directors is made up of a diverse group of the best and the brightest men and women the industry has to offer. We believe in diversity, equity, and inclusion and it represents who we are as a company and as a team. Our clients choose GMA because they share our beliefs that their projects should reflect the diverse makeup of their communities. We applaud our clients for committing themselves to diversity and residency goals with or without local mandates.
GMA will continue to work with our local and national leaders to ensure that the example we are setting within our firm resonates outside of the four walls of GMA and within our City, State and Country. With this sentiment in mind, GMA commits to partnering with Leaders for Tomorrow (L4T) to contribute $25,000 dollars toward local and national clean up and rebuilding efforts. Please join us in standing for and against the maddening normalcy of racism by funding organizations that are being the change we want to see in America.
We are all in this together and it’s our responsibility to stand for something, not to fall for anything. This is a conversation that we can no longer avoid. We are all Americans and we should never be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character (MLK).
Respectfully,
Cornelius D Griggs, President
GMA Construction Group
May 28, 2020
CHICAGO - GMA Construction Group (GMA) today announced the appointment of Eric Griggs as Vice Chairman.
Mr. Griggs has more than 25 years of experience in policy-making, workforce development, and public and private procurement. He spent 18 years with the City of Chicago where he served as Assistant to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Office of the Mayor), Deputy Commissioner of Concessions, and Chief Procurement Officer. Grigg’s was responsible for managing a concessions program that generated more than $300 million annually for the Chicago Department of Aviation. As Chief Procurement Officer, Grigg’s was responsible for awarding more than $2 billion in contracts annually.
Mr. Griggs also served as the Provost for the Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Program for the City Colleges of Chicago from 2005 to 2008. Mr. Griggs was responsible for establishing construction work-based learning opportunities and various union apprenticeships for students and graduates with support from Chicago’s construction community.
Mr. Griggs was also responsible for developing a Small Business Entrepreneurship program that assisted companies with strategic growth plans including identifying potential business opportunities.
In June 2008, Mr. Griggs founded EJG13 Enterprises, Inc., a strategic management consulting firm, where he helped businesses develop and implement workforce development programs.
“We are thrilled that Eric has agreed to join the Board of Directors as Vice Chairman,” said Cornelius Griggs, President. “His experience in workforce development, small business entrepreneurship, and public and private procurement directly aligns with GMA’s mission to develop people that transform communities. Eric will be a wonderful resource to GMA as we continue to develop and implement our internal programs aimed at increasing opportunities for underserved communities.”
Mr. Griggs holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration with an emphasis in Urban Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Northern Illinois University.
About GMA
Founded in 2009, GMA is licensed, bonded, and insured in the State of Illinois, and is a Minority and Veteran-Owned Small Business. GMA is fully integrated to provide General Contracting, Construction Management, Design-Build and Cost Engineering services. GMA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with regional offices in Dallas, Texas and New York, New York. GMA is committed to developing people that will transform communities. GMA lives its mission through mentorship of its employees as well as providing job and training opportunities for members of the communities in which the firm works. GMA seeks work that improves quality of life for underserved communities, increases operational efficiency for the federal government, and provides sustainability for future generations.
Congratulations to Erica Kirkwood, GMA VP and General Counsel, on being selected as Chicago Daily Law Bulletin & Chicago Lawyer 50 Inaugural Women in Law honorees!
Congratulations to Kelly Kahn, Chief Innovation Officer, on being selected as one of Crain’s 2020 Notable Women in Construction and Design! The honorees were selected for their “notable career achievements in traditionally male-dominated sectors.”
Read the full list here: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/awards/crains-2020-notable-women-construction-and-design
Congratulations to Erica Kirkwood, Vice President and General Counsel, on being selected as one of Crain’s 2020 Notable Women in Construction and Design! The honorees were selected for their “notable career achievements in traditionally male-dominated sectors.”
Read the full list here: https://www.chicagobusiness.com/awards/crains-2020-notable-women-construction-and-design
Source: Yahoo via PR Newswire
CHICAGO — A Safe Haven Foundation is proud to announce the closing on the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Funded 90 Unit Apartment Project called The Rauner Family Veteran Studios by A Safe Haven Foundation.
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The 90 studio apartments will showcase fully furnished apartments, a flexible meeting space/community room, exercise room, computer room and lounge, laundry room, bike storage and a beautifully, professionally landscaped outdoor patio courtyard, gazebo and a rooftop garden. The five-story building will have unobstructed views of 200 acre Douglas Park located across the street and south of the building. Seventy-five of those units will be designated for Veteran Affairs Supportive voucher recipients while fourteen units will be subsidized by Chicago Low Income Trust Fund and one unit will be market rate.
Source: Crain’s Chicago Business
PULLMAN — When the pundits and the public wrote off the once-thriving Pullman community as another victim of a changing global economy, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives began imagining the positive impact that could flow from leveraging the neglected attributes and assets of the community to catalyze new developments.
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And we're working with the National Park Service and state of Illinois to transform Pullman's historic clock tower building into a visitors center and its 12-acre campus into a living museum. CNI developed the first food hall on the Far South Side with local entrepreneurs, offering residents the first sit-down casual dining option in the community. It will serve the more than 300,000 visitors expected at the monument site annually.
March 4, 2019
CHICAGO - GMA Construction Group (GMA) today announced the appointment of Mel Meyer as Board Member
Mr. Meyer is an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University’s McCormick School of Engineering, a position he has held since 2013. Mr. Meyer teaches Finance and Accounting for Executives as part of the Executive Management for Design and Construction degree program. He also teaches graduate students enrolled in the Masters of Project Management (MPM) Program.
Mr. Meyer also serves as Principal of Mel Meyer CFO Advisory Services LLC, a firm he started in 2016. He specializes in advising clients on financial and general business opportunities using his experience as a known leader in the construction and real estate industries.
Prior to starting his own firm, Meyer spent 17 years as Chief Financial Officer for The McShane Companies comprised of McShane Construction Company, Cadence McShane Construction, and Conor Commercial Real Estate. He was responsible for overseeing all debt restructuring and planning for the three companies with a combined construction volume of more than $600 million.
Mr. Meyer also served as Chief Financial Officer for Bulley & Andrews for five years where he directed the restructuring of the company with a strategic financial focus.
Mr. Meyer is a past Board Member for both the McShane Companies and Bulley & Andrews.
“We are thrilled that Mel has agreed to join the Board of Directors,” said John Hooker, Board Chairman. “His experience and guidance will be invaluable as GMA continues to grow. Mel will help ensure the company’s strategic plans continue to drive profitability.”
“As a former student of his at Northwestern University, I am fully aware of the value Mel brings to GMA,” said Cornelius Griggs, President. “The addition of Mel’s leadership will ensure GMA successfully navigates opportunities for growth in the coming years.”
Mr. Meyer holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting and Finance from Northern Illinois University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Western Illinois University.
About GMA
Founded in 2009, GMA is licensed, bonded, and insured in the State of Illinois, and is a Minority and Veteran-Owned Small Business. GMA is fully integrated to provide General Contracting, Construction Management, Design-Build and Cost Engineering services. GMA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois with regional offices in Dallas, Texas and New York, New York. GMA is committed to developing people that will transform communities. GMA lives its mission through mentorship of its employees as well as providing job and training opportunities for members of the communities in which the firm works. GMA seeks work that improves quality of life for underserved communities, increases operational efficiency for the federal government, and provides sustainability for future generations.
The Pullman clock tower building in Chicago's Pullman neighborhood, Feb. 19, 2020. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)
Source: Chicago Tribune
Five years ago, then-President Barack Obama designated the historic Pullman neighborhood a national monument. Now supporters say they finally have the money to bring more of their restoration plans to life.
More than $34 million in public and private funds has been raised for the renovation of the clock tower building and factory grounds, and the final two phases of construction have begun. Last month, the National Park Service announced the award of a $5.8 million contract to minority-owned Griggs Mitchell & Alma of Illinois to stabilize the tower building and develop the visitors center.
Credit: Emily Hays/Charlottesville Tomorrow
Source: Charlottesville Tomorrow
GMA Construction founder Cornelius Griggs (center) holds the color combination that won the most votes on Tuesday, Jan. 28 for the future apartments in Crescent Halls.
Residents of the public housing complex Crescent Halls have chosen cherry wood floors, espresso-colored cabinets and white countertops for their future apartments.
The vote on color scheme occurred Tuesday as Cornelius Griggs, founder of GMA Construction, prepares to begin renovations on the apartment complex in April. The arrival of construction crews and equipment will be the necessary evidence for many residents that the long-promised goal of public housing redevelopment has finally begun.
A rendering from the 2015 “Positioning Pullman” study.
Source: Block Club Chicago
PULLMAN — Long-awaited construction on a visitors center at the Pullman National Monument is expected to kick off this month as the massive renovation of the neighborhood’s iconic clock tower rolls on.
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“We will have exhibits, a meeting space, public restrooms and a small store,” said Sue Bennett, acting superintendent of Pullman National Monument. “We’re excited [because] once we start this project we get closer to when we can actually open to visitors.”
The contract for the construction of the visitor center was awarded to Griggs Mitchell & Alma of Illinois, a small minority-owned and veteran-owned business, through a national competition.
“It’s a fairly complicated process and you’re looking for people with skills, qualifications and experience,” Bennett said. “We were very pleased that a local contractor competed and was awarded the contract.”
Texas Health and Human Services awarded GMA Construction Group of Texas the $3.8 million Abilene State Supported Living Center Renovations. The Abilene State Supported Living Center serves a vital role offering a broad range of services to Texans with developmental disabilities. The people who live on campus are supported with increased independence and dignity while maintaining their safety and optimum health. The scope of work includes exterior renovations, window replacement, roofing, interior and exterior ADA upgrades, and Masterlock.
The National Park Service has selected GMA Construction Group to deliver the $5.8 million Administrative Building and New Visitor Center at Pullman National Monument. The scope of work for this historic building includes tenant improvements to the three story administration building, approximately 10,000 SF for the purpose of creating a fully functional public area that will house interpretive exhibits, bookstore, central lobby area, multipurpose meeting rooms, staff offices, and conference space. The project will include new plumbing/fire protection, HVAC, telecom, and electrical systems, and exterior building repairs. This will be GMA’s second historic renovation in Pullman.
To learn more about the Pullman National Monument visit: www.nps.gov/pull
GMA was selected by Northwestern University to deliver the $3 million Black House Renovation located at 1914 Sheridan Road. GMA is collaborating with University stakeholders and designer Moody-Nolan to deliver this exciting project. The project is rooted in a shared vision of what the Black House could be while respecting its historical significance to students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Evanston community.
To learn more about The Black House project visit: www.northwestern.edu/inclusion/reviews-and-reports/bh-renovation-pages/
To learn more about the history of The Black House visit: www.northwestern.edu/magazine/spring2011/campuslife/black_house
Cook County Health selected GMA Construction Group to provide CMAR services for the $11.5 million Harrison Square Tenant Improvement project. Harrison Square is the redeveloped site of the former old Cook County Hospital, a historically significant building. GMA will be transforming 71,055 SF of space on seven floors into medical clinics and offices. This exciting project will be completed in June 2020.
To learn more about Harrison Square visit: www.harrisonsquarechicago.com , www.som.com and www.mbres.com
Photo Credit: Chicago Housing Authority
GMA Construction Group was selected by the Chicago Housing Authority for the $4.3 million Las Americas Apartment Renovation, a fully occupied Senior building located in the Pilsen neighborhood. GMA will implement care safeguards and construction sequencing to ensure resident safety, reduce impact to building operations, and minimize resident inconvenience. The scope of work includes exterior restoration, new building entries, mechanical system replacement, interiors renovation, and site improvements.
Subcontractors may now prequalify to work for Turner Paschen Aviation Partners on the O'Hare 21 Program! Follow Turner Paschen Aviation Partners on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram! There you will receive updates on career opportunities, procurement information, and O'Hare 21 updates. To prequalify and for more information, visit their website at www.tpapord.com
Come out and network at the Industry Day on January 16th! Meet the Construction Managers at Risk from 10am to 2pm at the UIC Forum.
CHICAGO
3520 South Morgan, Suite 222-224
Chicago, IL 60609
Phone: 312-690-4205
Email: info@griggsandmitchell.com
TEXAS
13355 Noel Road, Suite 1134
Dallas, TX 75240
Phone: 972-348-5521
Email: info@griggsandmitchell.com
NEW YORK
420 Lexington Ave., Suite 330
New York, NY 10170
Phone: 917-677-1802
Email: info@griggsandmitchell.com