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Situation:
Krusinski Construction Company received a contract from Blue Island Retail Venture, LLC, to build a 17,800-square-foot, one-story retail center to house up to 15 tenants at the southwest corner of 122nd Street and Western Avenue in Blue Island, Ill.

Challenge:
The contract called for the center to be built on spec, before any retailers committed to the space. Without knowing who would occupy the space, or what size unit each retailer would require, Krusinski Construction Company needed to devise a plan that would allow for flexibility, and also meet specific requirements from the owner for MEP (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing) systems.

Solution:
Through several meetings with the owner, the Krusinski team determined a course of action. Instead of one central MEP system, Krusinski designed stand-alone utilities for each 1,200-square-foot bay. As a result, both small and large retailers could have their own utilities. This setup provided flexibility to accommodate tenants of several different sizes.

Results:
The center was completed in 25 weeks through the winter, and several tenants have signed leases, including an 1,100-square-foot Advance America store and 3,500-square-foot Dental Dream store.