Skanska has been appointed by Virginia Tech to demolish Randolph Hall and construct Mitchell Hall, a new 285,500 square foot facility for the College of Engineering. The five-story building will expand the campus footprint by over 70% and become the largest building on the Blacksburg campus. Mitchell Hall will feature glass, precast concrete, and Hokie Stone cladding, incorporating the existing stability wind tunnel into its design.  

The building will house a 200-person lecture hall, classrooms, offices, and flexible research spaces, supporting the College’s growth and modern learning and research needs. Construction starts in spring 2024 and is expected to be completed in spring 2028. Skanska has done construction projects at Virginia Tech, including the Undergraduate Science Laboratory Building and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute Addition. 

Grindr Inc. is opening a new office in Chicago, which will serve as the company’s primary global engineering hub. The LGBTQ+-focused social networking app cited strong financial performance throughout 2023 as a driver for the new office.

Located at 230 W Monroe Street, recently purchased by Menashe Properties, the office will house the majority of Grindr’s engineers who work to evolve its product for users around the world. The 29-story, 707,000-square-foot West Loop office tower sold for a steep discount in 2023 when Portland-based Menashe purchased the Chicago office building for $45 million. Nate Grill of @properties assisted Grindr in securing the space.

“We welcome Grindr’s strategic decision to expand its engineering presence in Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Chicago’s diverse business landscape offers an ideal environment for the company’s continued growth and innovation. 

Don’t miss the Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation and Keynote Interview with G. Joseph Cosenza, Vice Chairman of The Inland Real Estate Group, LLC and President of Inland Real Estate Acquisitions, LLC at Connect Midwest: Multifamily, Affordable, Student & Senior Housing Trends on June 4, 2024, at the W-Chicago, City Center Hotel, Chicago, IL. Register Today to network with your peers!