NORTHBROOK, ILL. — The Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation is partnering with the United Center joint venture and its development site The 1901 Project for the foundation’s 18th Annual Real Estate Challenge on April 10, 2027. The Annual Real Estate Challenge is a competition welcoming college and university teams from across the country. Teams will create and present a development plan for a future phase of The 1901 Project, a $7 billion neighborhood investment on Chicago’s West Side that is dedicated to transforming the area surrounding the United Center.
Spearheaded by the Reinsdorf and Wirtz families, The 1901 Project will enhance infrastructure and create economic opportunities for West Side residents. The owners of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks will convert 55 acres of land surrounding the arena, much of which is currently surface parking lots, into an integrated district comprising housing, retail, entertainment venues, public spaces and a hotel.
Challenge teams are tasked with presenting a comprehensive analysis, vision and conclusion of how to maximize the potential of the site from both a financial and feasibility standpoint. A panel of industry leaders will serve as judges. The Northbrook-based foundation will award first, second and third place winners in both the graduate and undergraduate team divisions. The first place teams will receive a $7,500 scholarship.
The Eisenberg Foundation has hosted the challenge since 2010. A record number of 27 graduate and undergraduate teams participated in last year’s challenge. Registration for this year’s event is now open and must be completed by Dec. 6.