As the successful bidder on Chicago’s McCormick Place West expansion, Seattle-based Spider, a division of SafeWorks, LLC, is in the process of supplying the interior and exterior access systems for the project. The $849 million convention center expansion project is being managed by McCormick West Constructors, LLC, a consortium including Clark Construction Group, LLC and Hunt Construction Group, LLC.

The McCormick Place campus has long been a popular conference destination for businesses in America and around the world. The addition of the McCormick Place West building will further enhance Chicago’s premier convention center with 61 meeting rooms, a ballroom and a state-of-the-art exhibition hall all set in a square building configuration with a central atrium area. This design will enhance the exhibition experience through closer proximity of registration areas, meeting rooms and the exhibition hall.

The majority of Spider’s access solution is an extensive monorail system designed to provide access to this unique atrium area as well as the exterior façade. Throughout the project, Spider has addressed a number of unique challenges. First, as an addition to an existing structure, Spider’s engineers designed a system that functions on the new structure as well as the old. In one instance the company developed a creative solution for an area of the building where the elevations expand and contract, an access challenge that is truly unique to the project. Additionally, to meet the compressed schedule, Spider demonstrated flexibility by collaborating with McCormick West Constructors to utilize existing steel embeds to match its system.

Spider projects to have all equipment supplied and installed according to schedule.

SafeWorks, LLC is a leading manufacturer and distributor of powered access and safety solutions for a wide variety of construction, restoration and maintenance industries. Formed in 1997, SafeWorks, LLC brings together the Spider and Power Climber brands. The company is active in rental, ranked No. 64 on the RER 100.