LEOPARDO COMPLETES STUDENT HOUSING CONVERSION, BEGINS ANOTHER

CHICAGO — Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Leopardo Construction has completed one Chicago student-housing conversion project and is beginning another. Acting as general contractor, Leopardo has converted nine floors within the historic Pittsfield Building, which is located at 55 E. Washington in Chicago, into student apartments. Approximately 135,000 square feet of office product has been converted into 177 student apartments and 360 bedrooms. The 40-story building measures 392,000 square feet in size. Students from Roosevelt University and Robert Morris College will take occupancy at the facility this school year.
Additionally, Leopardo is beginning the conversion of a 10-story building located at 847 W. Jackson in Chicago. The 230,000-square-foot facility will be converted into 135 student apartments and 432 bedrooms, with 10,000 square feet of retail product on the first floor. Each apartment will feature its own kitchen and each bedroom includes a private bathroom. Students from the University of Illinois — Chicago will occupy the building in August 2009. Leopardo is serving as construction manager-at-risk; Atlanta-based Place Properties is the developer for the project.