Chicago CRE Construction and Development Summit
Tue Apr 14, 2026
Chicago CRE Construction and Development Summit
LG Group, ZSD Development, The City of Chicago and more on how they're working together across the project team and financing challenges to transform the skyline
$129.00
Registration Questions?
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Speakers and Panels
From Concept to Completion: Building and Managing the Modern Project Team
How developers, engineers, contractors, and public partners collaborate to deliver complex projects from concept through construction.
Jewell Walton
Financing, Building, and Realizing the Value of New Developments in Today’s Market
How developers, contractors, and city leaders are financing, building, and delivering projects in today’s market.
Building the Future of Chicago
Bisnow's third annual double-header returns! Join us for a full day of all things construction, architecture, design, and development. In the morning, we'll hear from city's visionary developers and GCs in conversation on what's next for the skyline, and the city at large. In the afternoon, we'll unpack the art and design behind them, welcoming archiects, designers for a conversation on the practicality, and possibilities, for the built environment in 2026.
With representation from every part of the project timeline, and perspectives from across the public and private sectors, it's a CRE networking extravaganza you won't want to miss.
Topics Include:
- Collaboration and Assembling the Project Team
- Realizing mutual visions and finding success across the project timeline
- Traits and Characteristics of Modern Developments
- Internally and externally, what traits are defining new projects in today’s landscape?
- Lessons in success from other markets
- What can be learned from developments in more receptive regulatory and municipal environments?
- Investment and Finance
- Sourcing and structuring the project’s capital stack
- Design-Build Best Practices
- Best practices for optimizing and preparing a project’s design teams
Who You'll Network With At This Event:
Owners, developers, investors, brokers, GC's, architects, engineers, designers, lawyers, accountants, bankers and city and government officials.
Why You Should Attend:
Bisnow events bring together the biggest power players in the industry to identify opportunities, build your network and expand your business. With the largest audience of commercial real estate professionals in the world, no one knows how to help your business more than us. Join Bisnow as we jump into the market to analyze its strengths and strategize on its areas of opportunity. You don't want to miss this event!
Projects to be covered and in the news:
- Chicago aims to save landmark Congress Theater with $25.2M federal loan backed by city funds
- Developers get $44M in construction financing for River North apartments
- LG Group pushes hot Fulton Market’s edge with mid-rise multifamily
- Fulton Market buzz reaches West Loop with $96M construction loan
Questions about your ticket purchase or interested in sponsoring?
Reach out to customerservice@bisnow.com for customer support. For questions, recommendations, comments or press inquiries please email our Chicago event producer Will Follett at will.follett@bisnow.com. To request disability-related accommodations, please contact janet.fernandez@bisnow.com no later than seven business days prior to the event.
DON'T MISS OUR PREMIER NATIONAL DATA CENTER INVESTMENT CONFERENCE AND EXPO IN MAY
Join us for our annual National Data Center Investment Conference And Expo (DICE) May 12 - May 14 in Rockville, Maryland! Learn more about our largest data center event of the year by clicking here.
Venue
The Drake
140 E Walton Pl
Chicago, IL 60611
Ballroom: Gold Coast Room
Parking Information:
$35 Event Valet Parking
Agenda
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
|
8:00 AM 9:00 AM |
Breakfast & Networking
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9:00 AM 9:45 AM |
From Concept to Completion: Building and Managing the Modern Project Team
In this conversation, Jewell Walton (Evergreen Real Estate Group), Matt Wilke (LG Group), Jim Panella (RDM Companies), representatives from BEAR Construction, and Andrew Pomatto (IMEG) will discuss how project teams are assembled, how responsibilities and risk are shared across the development lifecycle, and how public-private partnerships and affordable housing initiatives are shaping the way projects get built today. Join us as we explore strategies for navigating procurement rules, coordinating with municipalities and housing authorities, and delivering projects that balance cost, community needs, and long-term operational success.
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9:45 AM 10:30 AM |
Financing, Building, and Realizing the Value of New Developments in Today’s Market
Bringing new developments to market today requires careful coordination between the public sector, developers, builders, and capital partners. From navigating city approvals and financing structures to managing construction costs and delivering projects that meet evolving tenant and community needs, the path from concept to completion has become more complex than ever.
In this discussion, Jeffrey Cohen (City of Chicago), James Fifer (Milhouse Construction), Sam Kimmerly (ENC Construction & Development), Justin Pelej (Focus), Zev Salomon (ZSD), and Michael Campo (The Baldwin Group) will explore how project teams are structuring deals, financing construction, and managing the buildout process in today’s environment. The panel will also examine how public policy, capital markets, and construction realities are shaping development timelines, project feasibility, and long-term value creation across Chicago’s real estate landscape.
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10:30 AM 11:30 AM |
Closing Networking
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Tickets
Full Access Combo Pass
$239.00 /ticket
With this ticket type you'll receive access to our Chicago CRE Construction and Development Summit AND our Chicago Architecture and Design Real Estate Summit which will be held in the same space directly after our Chicago CRE Construction and Development Summit event.
For more details on our Chicago Architecture and Design Real Estate Summit, see our event page here.
Group Tickets
$119.00 /ticket
Save on your registration when you register with 3+ colleagues!
Sponsors
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Want to get a recap of everything covered at the event?
Purchase the post-event summary and get the highlights sent to you in a post-event summary. Purchase here.
