PBC’s 1ST Quarter Report Shows Strong Participation by Minority and Women-Owned Firms Report Highlights Completion of YOUmedia Centers, Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center

The Public Building Commission (PBC) today released its 1st Quarter 2015 performance results that highlighted the completion of projects that benefit Chicago children and teens, showed exemplary project management controls and strong participation by minority and women-owned firms.

The report was presented to the PBC’s Board of Commissioners at its regular monthly meeting.

“I am pleased to present a report that highlights the innovative YOUmedia centers at the Chicago Public Library and the expansion of the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, projects that demonstrate a commitment to our children and  youth,” said Erin Lavin Cabonargi, Executive Director of the PBC.  “The report also shows how the PBC remains committed to the stewardship of the public fund through exemplary cost and schedule control and how strong fiscal and project  management allows us to consistently deliver  quality public facilities, either new or renovated, and important  infrastructure and technology projects, on time and under budget.”

The Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (CCAC) expansion increased space at the West Side center, allowing CCAC to provide assistance to more children. CCAC offers critical mental health services, community training, and support services for children and families traumatized by sexual abuse.

The completion of three new YOUmedia centers at Chicago Public Library (CPL) facilities enabled CPL to expand the nationally-recognized YOUmedia program, which provides teens across the city with digital learning experiences and helps them to develop the skills needed for their adult lives.

PBC’s 1st Quarter Report illustrated the PBC’s commitment to economic sustainability. Through Q1, the PBC’s multi-year program authority for projects completed and in development exceeds $2.8 billion. Projects included in the multi-year program are trending under budget by 10.51% representing a variance of $299 million under the current budgets, inclusive of a limited number of scope revisions. On active capital construction projects, the PBC’s budget to actual variance is less than 1%.

The PBC is also strongly committed to economic sustainability and includes provisions for minority and women-owned business (M/WBE) participation and workforce goals in its contracts.  In Q1 2015, a combined total of 36.96% M/WBE participation has been achieved on two capital construction projects completed in the first quarter: Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center Addition and CPL YOUMedia Renovations at the Legler, Sulzer, and Woodson Libraries.

In addition to project level professional services, the PBC also tracks compliance on program-wide professional administrative services. These professional services are not project specific and include but are not limited to: financial services, information technology, insurance broker services, legal / IG, office management, payroll, staffing, and property management. A combined total of 36.98% M/WBE Participation was achieved on professional administrative services paid through Q1 2015.

The report also showed PBC’s commitment to environmental sustainability.  In the first quarter of 2015, the PBC achieved LEED certification on one project: Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School and Chicago Public Library (LEED Gold). Through Q1 2015, PBC had achieved LEED Certification on 68 facilities, bringing the total number of LEED-certified, municipally-owned facilities to 88, surpassing Mayor Emanuel’s goal of doubling the number of LEED-certified municipal buildings in the City by 2015.

Also highlighted is the PBC’s diverse portfolio of 13 projects in construction, including the new Chinatown Branch Library, two new elementary schools and eleven school addition or modernization projects. Beyond capital construction projects, PBC’s work includes energy, technology and planning projects throughout the metropolitan Chicago area ranging from region wide energy conservation work and enhanced security networks, as well as unique suburban municipal projects to spur economic development and improve transit access.

About PBC: The Public Building Commission of Chicago manages construction and renovation projects for the City of Chicago and its sister agencies. Mayor Rahm Emanuel serves as the PBC’s chairman. Erin Lavin Cabonargi serves as the Executive Director of the PBC.  Additional information about the PBC and its projects can be found at www.pbcchicago.com.  You can also follow the Public Building Commission of Chicago on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Pinterest.