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PBC Executive Director Erin Lavin Cabonargi

From the Executive Director:

Erin Lavin Cabonargi

As Executive Director of the Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC), I know first-hand the cooperative efforts required to develop our community facilities and infrastructure. For the PBC, this means a solid partnership with our clients, strong leadership from the PBC Chairman and Board of Commissioners, unfailing support from city service departments, and the tremendous investment and guidance from the community groups and citizens of the City of Chicago. Because of this support, we have a proven track record of completing projects on schedule and within budget. Our processes continually evolve and improve so that we may be exemplary developers and stewards of the public fund. I am excited to say that success continues to grow at the PBC as we offer new program services, report exceptional cost performance and continue to bolster the exemplary social benefits derived from the public development process.

For more than fifty years, the PBC has served as the development agent for schools, libraries, parks, police stations, fire houses, city colleges, and other public facilities for the City of Chicago and Cook County at large. The PBC continues this tradition of excellence working in partnership with our clients to plan, design and construct new and renovated public facilities that form cornerstones throughout our communities.

At year-end 2010, the PBC completed 16 projects with an original budget of $395 million - on time and with a projected $30 million project surplus. An equally robust agenda is underway in 2011. The PBC's capital program today features 20 projects in planning and design and 22 projects under construction. Our program includes vital projects such as schools, libraries, parks, fire houses, police stations, and various other special program initiatives.

Strong stewardship of the public fund is paramount to the way we operate. With this in mind, the PBC implements both an Economic Sustainability Program and an Environmental Sustainability Program. These programs are integrated into every project we build and we are proud of the programs we have created and our continued positive results.

At the PBC, we are keenly aware of the economic impact our projects have on surrounding communities and we take specific steps to ensure that the process of bringing a new facility to Chicago also creates economic opportunities for local residents and businesses and contributes to the overall economic sustainability of our City and County. We accomplish this through a variety of contract provisions and incentives including: residency requirements, community hiring requirements, and participation goals for minority and women owned businesses and workers. We also offer bid incentives for apprentice utilization and set minimum standards for local business participation. These efforts are supplemented by outreach events designed to raise awareness of PBC project opportunities.

For years, our Board, chaired by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, has advocated for environmental sustainability. Because of their leadership and commitment to the environment, elements of environmentally sustainable design are included in all of the projects we develop. These measures are not only good for the environment, but they also lower life-cycle and utility costs for each facility that we build. Each PBC project in development includes durable and recycled materials, green roofs, stormwater management, and recycling of construction waste. To date, PBC has achieved certification on 32 facilities. As a result, the City of Chicago has 41 municipally-owned, LEED-certified buildings, a number far exceeding any other city in the nation. I invite you to view our video highlighted our environmental sustainability initiatives.

The PBC has a unique role in building essential projects that impact our surrounding areas and create ripples of economic activity and community revitalization. For 2011 and beyond, we remain committed to building public facilities that are as solid and as vibrant as the communities they serve.

Thank you for visiting our website. I hope you take time to navigate and discover all of the wonderful projects detailed here.