VP of MEC speaks with Safety Director at ASA Safety Conference 2021

Macy's on State Street (formerly Marshall Field's) in Chicago has undergone major renovation into commercial office space. Environmental concerns during the demolition included; asbestos-containing items, lead-based paint, silica, and heavy metals. The process was overseen by Kinsale Consulting Group and Midwest Environmental Consulting Services.

MEC Press Release: VP of MEC speaks with Safety Director at ASA Safety Conference 2021 on “Macy’s On State Street”

August 21, 2021

“A Chicago Landmark Reinvented” 

The Macy’s on State Street (previously Marshall Field’s) project in Chicago involves converting the top seven levels of the 14-story retail skyscraper into commercial office space.

When the building was renovated, there were changes to the way people enter. There will now be a street-level entrance and it will also be private. All floors from the first to the fourteenth floor will have new transit routes and all utilities (water, electric, and HV/AC) will be removed from current retail areas. 

Marshall Field’s State Street was once made up of many small buildings surrounding State, Washington, Wabash, and Randolph streets. These were conceived and erected between 1892 and 1914 and totaled over 2-7 million square feet. 

A City Landmark 

Marshall Field’s installed the first modern escalator at a retail shop in 1933. In 2005, a city law recognized this property as a Chicago landmark. The structure was renamed Macy’s the following year. 

The two famous clocks are 13 stories high. This is an open room that goes to the ceiling. There is a Christmas tree on the seventh floor and a Tiffany ceiling mosaic on the sixth floor. 

The Frango mints sweets factory, two-story-high fur coat storage vaults, and huge water storage tanks for fire suppression were among the features of the structure. It housed a walk-in bank vault, a carpentry shop, and a garment pressing and altering business that has now been demolished. 

For numerous years, the upper three stories lay empty. 

Safety

There were a variety of environmental concerns, including asbestos-containing products, lead-based paint, silica, mercury switches, PCBs, and heavy metals. The Kinsale Contracting Group and Midwest Environmental Consulting Services oversaw the process to assure the safety of all personnel and the general public. Air monitoring was an ongoing aspect of this. 

The importance of safety in the project’s execution cannot be overstated. While the public could still dine and shop in the building, 29 escalators had been removed, as well as a vast amount of debris from the destruction throughout the structure and port.

PTSAs were created and evaluated by the whole team executing the job before each day’s duties. Because the building was utilized throughout the construction, special care was given. 

The public continued to buy and dine at the building’s eight additional stories and basement. Office space, a gym, and a rooftop terrace will be included in the development. This would provide a one-of-a-kind environment for workers to work, shop, dine and entertain in a previously underused area. 

The public continued to buy and dine at the building’s eight additional stories and basement. Office space, a gym, and a rooftop terrace will be included in the development. This would provide a one-of-a-kind environment for workers to work, shop, dine and entertain in a previously underused area. 

Limitations And Outcome 

Civil upheaval and retail looting in Chicago raised the problem of improving job site equipment security and safeguarding our personnel from violence. Despite the 2020 obstacles of COVID-19 limitations and downtown looting, a total of 75,360 man-hours were expended to successfully finish this project. 

Midwest Environmental Consulting Services is an all-inclusive environmental consulting firm dedicated to helping facilities accomplish compliance with sustainable building practices and safety. They provide long-term, cost-effective solutions to environmental issues. 

View Full presentation here: https://youtu.be/ixgvjRuUMWU 

National Demolition Association Web Magazine Article: (Web Pages 24-29)

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