Projects Archive - Page 5 of 11

Will Hall and Law Building

Posted on May 2, 2023

In the spirit of historic preservation and adaptive reuse, Bush Construction completed the renovation of the Will Hall and Law Building in downtown Aledo, Illinois. The project transformed the building into three commercial storefronts on the main level, with short-term rental (Airbnb) units on the second floor, breathing new life into a key downtown structure.

At the same time, Bush Construction also completed the historic renovation of the Carnegie Library in Aledo, originally built in 1915–16. The landmark library served generations of community members before closing in 2019 and was carefully restored to honor its legacy while supporting new uses.

As part of the broader downtown revitalization effort, the storefronts of the Perryton Law Building were restored to reflect a more historically accurate appearance. Bush’s design team prioritized preservation details while developing plans for commercial space on the first floor and tenant space on the second floor.

This project required completion within a strict timeline. Through detailed planning, strong communication, and close coordination with trusted trade partners, Bush Construction successfully delivered the renovation on an aggressive schedule—supporting both historic integrity and economic reinvestment in downtown Aledo.

SAU Assumption Wrestling

Posted on April 18, 2023

To accommodate the first-ever wrestling team at St. Ambrose University, Bush Construction completed the new wrestling training facility. The project includes men’s and women’s locker rooms, four offices for the coaching staff, and three full-size wrestling mats. Assumption High School will also be utilizing this space for their wrestling team needs.

Genesis West | Linear Accelerator

Posted on April 18, 2023

Genesis needed an update to their Linear Accelerator, which they replaced with a new one and hired Bush Construction to demolish and renovate the room by replacing framing, drywall, paint, flooring, and cabinets. Despite the manufacturer’s estimated 3-month duration for this project, Bush Construction and subcontractors completed the project in only 6 weeks, working closely together to achieve a schedule less than half the typical time, while also coordinating with hospital staff and minimizing noise in the occupied healthcare facility.

The Refuge Church

Posted on April 13, 2023

The Refuge Church project is a premanufactured metal building. This new construction church space included a lobby/overflow room, the worship hall, classrooms, a nursery, a kitchen, and offices. After erecting the metal building structure and finishing the worship space and lobby, the Bush team coordinated with the Refuge Church congregation as they assisted on the build-out of the other half of the building. Church volunteers handled various parts of construction from the framing/drywall to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in the classrooms and offices. The finished building was 10,387 SF in total.

The Bush Construction team used their creative, problem-solving skills while undertaking the site work on this greenspace lot. The site had been stripped of topsoil and was close to the river, which meant the grade of the building was basically bedrock. This created a storm drainage issue with hills on two sides of the property. Our construction team raised the building elevation and added a berm along the high edge of the property line to redirect any water to the retainage pond. In the end, this solution ensured the property stayed dry and it also ended up saving the owner money from the original site plan.

Augustana College | Bergendoff Hall

Posted on April 13, 2023

On this renovation, Bush Construction upgraded classrooms as well as rehearsal and performance spaces. A common area corridor was also upgraded for the music and performing arts department at Augustana College. The project had two phases. One was a fast-paced renovation over the summer (offices and one classroom). In phase 2 of this renovation, Bush Construction upgraded 2 floors of classrooms as well as rehearsal, performance spaces, and faculty offices. All common areas and corridors were also renovated for the music and performing arts department at Augustana.

During demo, we came across many issues in the previous design and build. After completing the demolition, we worked with the architect and owner to achieve the desired design with the existing conditions. With all new plumbing, updated emergency systems, updated lighting and controls, and a totally new aesthetic, we feel confident Augustana will love their new space at Bergendoff Hall. The faculty feedback has already been a plus.

Phase 1

Phase 2

The Hobbs Building

Posted on March 27, 2023

Hobbs Building Apartments | Aurora, Illinois

Originally constructed in 1892, the historic Hobbs Building is a four-story landmark in downtown Aurora. Bush Construction completed a comprehensive restoration of the building, transforming the upper floors into 15 market-rate apartment units while preserving the architectural character that defines this iconic structure. The first floor was left as a finished “white envelope,” allowing flexibility for future tenant build-out.

Two adjacent buildings were also renovated as part of the project, adding 16 additional apartment units on the second and third floors. Similar to the Hobbs Building, the first floors of these structures were completed as white-envelope spaces, providing adaptable commercial opportunities at the street level.

Restoration of a Local Landmark

A defining feature of the Hobbs Building is its distinctive onion dome, a well-known element of the Aurora skyline. Removed years earlier due to structural limitations, the dome was fully reconstructed by Bush Construction using fiberglass to replicate the original wood design. Structural steel reinforcement was installed at the roof and floor levels to safely support the new dome, ensuring long-term durability while restoring a beloved architectural feature.

Throughout the restoration, Bush prioritized preserving original details wherever possible. Historic windows were carefully restored by hand, beadboard ceilings were reinstalled to match original conditions, and architectural elements were thoughtfully maintained to reflect the building’s historic layout and character.

Overcoming Complex Structural Challenges

The project presented unique structural and coordination challenges, particularly related to the installation of new structural steel required to support the reconstructed dome. When local resources were limited, Bush leveraged regional partnerships and worked closely with engineers, fabricators, steel erectors, and the City to resolve unforeseen conditions. Through transparent communication, detailed coordination, and problem-solving expertise, the team successfully delivered a restored building that honors its history while meeting modern standards.

Midwest Medical Clinic

Posted on March 17, 2023

The Midwest Medical Clinic contains a lavish front office, followed by 10 exam rooms, procedure rooms, labs, and staff support areas. There is an additional 5500 SF of multiple medical office tenant spaces with dedicated entry options.

The Bush design team studied the path a typical patient would take at the facility to arrive at an efficient layout that is also scalable for future needs. Attention to aesthetics and visibility is one of the key drivers making this project a landmark establishment.

Vera French Carol Center

Posted on March 13, 2023

The work on the Vera French Carol Center included the construction of a Workforce Recovery Center addition to add space for:

A New “Front Door” & Elevator to make the Carol Center more inviting and accessible
Expansion of Supported Employment with additional staff and training space
Co-Location of Partners for Workforce Recovery potentially including Iowa Workforce Development, Vocational Rehab, transportation providers, childcare providers, & Veterans Administration.
Provision of Retail Space for Businesses to staff persons re-entering the workforce and possibly retail space for startups run by entrepreneurs through the Carol Center Clubhouse.

Eagle View Community Health

Posted on March 10, 2023

Our team at Bush Construction worked with IDEA Architecture and remodeled an old theater into a healthcare facility for Eagle View Community Health. This community health clinic is a full-service health center offering medical, dental, behavioral heath, and substance use services. To provide this range of treatments the building includes exam rooms, dental hygiene stations, counsel offices, and includes an in-house medical lab.

McCarthy-Bush Corporation

Posted on February 9, 2022

Bush Construction was pleased to lead the renovation of our home office. The modernization was a collaboration between McCarthy-Bush Corporation and our design and construction teams. We converted our more than two-decade-old office space into an open, airy, and inviting space for team members encompassing multiple companies and work disciplines. Utilizing research of several other modern office spaces, we were able to create increased efficiency and provide spaces that provide our team a great place to call their work home. During construction, we were able to phase the project to ensure none of our family of companies experienced downtime while also preparing some of our existing space for a new tenant.