A major expansion and renovation project has transformed The Ark's headquarters in Chicago, creating additional capacity for healthcare, food assistance and social support services. Bulley & Andrews (B&A) served as construction manager for the 37,000-square-foot project, which increased the facility's footprint by nearly 60%.
The Ark is a nonprofit organisation providing medical, legal, financial, nutritional and social services to the Chicagoland Jewish community. The upgraded facility is designed to support the organisation's expanding programmes while improving the experience of clients, families and staff.
The renovation introduced several improvements to the building's accessibility, safety and operational efficiency. A new elevator, upgraded life safety systems and reconfigured interior spaces improved access throughout the facility.
The expansion also added The Market, a grocery-style food pantry designed to provide clients with greater choice and privacy. Additional improvements include expanded healthcare and pharmacy services, community gathering spaces and dedicated wellness areas for staff.
Building systems were also designed to accommodate Sabbath observance, reflecting the organisation's community-focused service requirements.
Working within a constrained urban site while maintaining operations at an active facility required careful planning and coordination. The construction team relocated existing utilities, developed temporary support systems to install a new elevator shaft within the existing structure and addressed longstanding drainage issues.
The drainage improvements involved replacing and rerouting underground stormwater and sanitary infrastructure.
Across more than 54,000 labour hours, the project recorded zero recordable incidents and zero lost-time accidents, highlighting the team's safety performance throughout construction.
The expanded facility is equipped to serve an additional 1,000 clients through food assistance, healthcare, housing support, mental health services, financial counselling and family wellness programmes.
The project demonstrates how renovation and expansion work can strengthen nonprofit infrastructure, improve accessibility and increase service capacity. For construction industry stakeholders, it also highlights the coordination required to modernise an active urban facility while maintaining essential community services.
Source: B & A.
