Subcontractor Spotlight: Concrete Collective
President of II in One Contractors, Robert J. McGee Jr, is interviewed by CBS 2 Chicago on the Obama Presidential Center site
Concrete Collective is an African American, MBE-led joint venture of construction firms specializing in the self-performance of structural concrete in Chicago. Comprised of II in One Contractors, Trice Construction Company and W.E. O’Neil Construction, Concrete Collective is the concrete subcontractor for the Obama Presidential Center Project.
For this Subcontractor Spotlight, we spoke with President of II in One Contractors, Robert J. McGee Jr; President and CEO of Trice Construction, Stephanie Hickman, and President (Chicago) of W.E. O’Neil Construction, John Russell.
Q: How can joint ventures like Concrete Collective and Lakeside Alliance help break barriers facing minority contractors?
A: Joint ventures such as ours dispel a myth that minorities are not capable. When this project is complete, it will be a world class facility that people from all over the world will come to see. They will learn that partnerships like ours were a part of it. A picture is worth a thousand words, or, in this case, a million words.
- Robert J. McGee Jr
Q: What excites you the most about being a part of this historic undertaking?
A: So much! In building this historic monument to our nation’s first Black president, we’re creating a work of art that will stand the test of time and leaving behind a legacy of inclusion. As a second generation owner and fourth generation in construction, I am proud that Trice will play a role in this once-in-a-lifetime project that will drive economic empowerment and introduce construction careers in adjacent communities.
- Stephanie Hickman
Q: What makes the concrete in the Obama Presidential Center project so complex?
A: The vertical tower. Many famous monuments with similar tower features, such as the Washington monument, have both an exterior and an underlying structure. In the case of the OPC tower, the concrete structure is the monument. So, while most concrete is underground and utilitarian, we’re dealing with architectural concrete that will be exposed to view once we pour it. Once we cast it, that’s it.
- John Russell
"Just as we have our own hopes for the project, we also represent hope for minority- and women-owned companies. Those businesses can see themselves in us and know that ventures like Concrete Collective are helping build capacity, increase access, and level the playing field." - Stephanie Hickman