The Hospital That Advances Health Care through Teaching

As the CEO of McDonough Associates, Inc., in Chicago, Illinois, James McDonough worked with various public works organizations in the planning, design, and construction of projects. James McDonough also contributed greatly to the Chicago community and served on the board of directors of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center.

A world-renowned facility, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center is also one of the premier teaching hospitals. Established in 1852, the hospital was the area’s first teaching hospital with a mission of providing compassionate care to community residents.

Today, the hospital offers patients 24-hour care in a comfortable environment. The teaching hospital has affiliations with area academic programs, such as the University of Illinois, the University of Chicago, and Loyola University Medical Center.

The institution’s reputation as a teaching hospital is grounded in its accomplishments. Among its other work, the hospital has made advances in cardiovascular health, surgical options, cancer treatment, and back pain relief.

A Spotlight on Irish Americans

Chicago native James McDonough has a commitment to his community that includes serving on the boards of both professional and civic organizations. James McDonough’s service has included a term as the president of the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago, an organization that works to present a positive image of Irish Americans in Chicago.

Recently, the Irish Fellowship Club filmed “I Am Ireland” with HMS Media Group at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago. Made in 2019, the production focuses on the story of Irish people coming to the United States in search of freedom.

The film features internationally known Irish talent from Chicago, including Irish tenor Paddy Homan, a traditional step dancer, and 35 musicians who play for the City Lights Orchestra.

The show is a 90-minute journey that spans the late 1700s to the early 1900s in Ireland. The production includes speeches from some of Ireland’s notable orators and statesman, including Theobald Wolfe Tone, Robert Emmet, and Michael Collins. Theatergoers may find the themes in the production as relevant today as they were two centuries ago.

ISPE - Providing a Pathway for Professional Engineers

James McDonough, has extensive experience in the public works industry in the Chicago area. As the former chairman of the board and CEO of McDonough Associates in Chicago, James McDonough is a consultant on projects that come through the architectural/engineering firm. He maintains several professional associations including the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE).

Founded in 1886, ISPE has advocated for over 2,500 engineers in all related fields. The organization stands for establishing standards for integrity, honesty, ethical conduct, fairness, and impartiality throughout engineering industries to promote public health and safety. The organization is a platform for engineers, providing those who work in any engineering field a place to voice their issues.

As a part of this mission, ISPE provides engineers pathways to becoming a licensed professional engineer (PE). The PE designation reflects that the professional has the credentials, education, and training to handle major projects.

However, the PE designation does a lot more for those who attain it. The PE designation allows engineers to sign, seal, and prepare engineering plans to a public entity for approval, and this cannot be done without this credential. From a legal standpoint, it is a requirement for those who are in charge of work, whether it is a part of consulting or as a private practitioner. Finally, the designation has increasingly become attractive in government where some key positions require it.

The PE certification is achieved through passing two intensive exams, earning a license from a state licensure board, working under a PE for two years, and earning a bachelor’s degree. To maintain the license, PEs have to complete a certain number of professional development hours throughout their careers.

Micro-Mobility, the Scooter, and Chicago’s Infrastructure

James McDonough has spent his career serving the community in various capacities. James McDonough is a former CEO and chairman of McDonough Associates, Inc., a Chicago-based firm that assists with planning and designing of infrastructural projects.

In recent years, Chicago’s infrastructural problems have come to the forefront of city conversations, namely improving the city’s roads. However, another conversation related to introducing scooters into the various transportation options residents has many hoping for the adoption of what has come to be a very popular mode of transportation in the city.

While the scooter pilot program that was launched last year was, for the most part, successful, city leaders are not completely convinced the program will be good for all residents. One of the weaknesses in the pilot is that it did not place scooters in all parts of the city. Another weakness is that the study could determine not whether or not the program would be attractive to older adults.

Despite the pilot’s findings, those who participated in the pilot the scooters would stay, in addition to others who find using scooters an easier way to get around the city. At one Active Trans meeting, 75 percent of the attendees said they would support a long-term plan.

While the city’s pilot program had a few shortcomings, city planners are doing more research into determining the cost-effectiveness and appropriateness of the program for Chicago residents. A few factors up for consideration, among many, include retrofitting the city’s current road infrastructure to accommodate for this new class of vehicle.

One of the issues that came up during the pilot program was the number of scooter-related accidents that occurred. According to Chicago’s Streets Blog, there were 34 emergency-related events associated with scooters in the first seven weeks of the pilot. To increase safety on the city’s roads, the city would have to dedicate funds to safe streets infrastructure.

A Look at the Construction Planning Process

James McDonough celebrates an accomplished career that includes more than two decades as an employee of the City of Chicago and subsequently as CEO and chair of engineering consulting company McDonough Associates. In this role, James McDonough oversaw the firm’s construction planning activities for public developments across Chicago.

Construction planning is a vital aspect of any new development project. Like any other form of project management, it enables those overseeing the development to facilitate a safe, cost-effective construction process and ensure an ideal result.

In all, organizations should approach construction planning from three main angles. The first, strategic planning, establishes the primary objectives for the project. This analysis also helps sponsors and owners determine how well the project and its goals complement their business strategy.

The second is operational planning, which looks at the specific ways in which the construction project will reach its objectives. During this step, project teams must look at their existing resources and decide if they have all that they need to achieve a successful outcome. The Project Initiation Document (PID) can be a helpful tool to this end, as it allows teams to clearly outline the amount of materials and manpower needed for the construction project.

Lastly, construction planning requires a schedule. Organizations must establish a detailed timescale for their development projects, with clearly established goals leading up to the finished product. This is one of the key performance indicators that will help keep the project on track.

Trends in the Chicago Development Sector

James McDonough is a former chairman of both the Chicago Transit Authority and the American Public Transit Association. A lifelong Chicagoan, James McDonough was directly involved in nearly two thousand public and private construction projects in the city, including the reconstruction of Wacker Drive and McCormick Place and the development of Millennium Park.

At any given time there are dozens of high-rise buildings under construction in Chicago. Here are a couple of current construction trends.

Most of the buildings being developed in Chicago will have some degree of commercial real estate. Some will even house retailers. This trend towards retail space is likely looking to accommodate a younger demographic that is making its way into the city, seeking employment in one of the many startups in the area.

Energy efficiency is also becoming a bigger priority. Both renters and buyers are looking for more energy-efficient spaces, and developers seem to be more than happy to accommodate them. One of the more interesting examples of this trend is the Solstice on the Park building, which has windows that tilt to reflect the sunlight or allow it to pass through, depending on the energy conservation requirements.

St. Xavier Earns Several Honors in U.S. News & World Report Rankings

Saint Xavier University

A resident of Chicago, Illinois, James McDonough is the former CEO and chair of McDonough Associates, an architectural and engineering firm. James McDonough has also served as chair of the board of Chicago’s St. Xavier University (SXU) for six years.

A private university established more than 170 years ago, SXU was recognized as an outstanding educational institution in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. Named a "Best Value School" and a "Best Regional University" in the 2020 rankings, SXU also earned the distinction of being listed as one of the "Top 10 Most Diverse" universities in the Midwest.

In addition, the university was named as a “Best College for Veterans" for the first time in the 2020 rankings. This recognition acknowledges SXU’s efforts to provide its students who are U.S. military veterans with targeted resources and services to support their transition from active duty to the classroom--and to ensure they have the guidance they need to complete their degree.