24-year industry veteran to lead one of Midwest’s largest general contracting firms
McHugh Construction, one of the Midwest’s largest commercial contractors, today announced Kinjal Patel has joined the firm as president. Patel most recently led the Chicago construction business for Lendlease. In his new role, Patel will drive strategic growth and diversification of McHugh’s construction business in Chicago and select U.S. cities by tapping into his strong client relationships. He will also pursue a range of new-construction, renovation and adaptive reuse projects spanning the multifamily, hospitality, sports/entertainment, healthcare and medical office, and light industrial sectors.
“Under the guidance of visionary leaders, McHugh has delivered some of Chicago’s most recognizable and celebrated buildings, and Kinjal is uniquely qualified to build on that legacy,” said Patricia McHugh, chairman of McHugh Construction and fourth-generation leader of the firm. “His ability to assemble diverse project teams, source new business and implement the latest construction innovations will be invaluable to our growth both locally and nationally.”
Prior to joining McHugh, Patel spent nearly 20 years with Lendlease, where he was promoted several times, eventually leading the Chicago construction business as executive general manager. In addition to Lendlease’s own residential developments, his cross-sector portfolio of Chicago projects includes Clark and Grand Hotels, a trio of hotels under one roof in River North; Lathrop, the redevelopment and restoration of the historic Julia C. Lathrop Homes on the city’s Northwest Side; and One Bennett Park, a 70-story luxury condominium high-rise in Streeterville.
“McHugh is a very reputable name in the industry, and this role was especially appealing as an opportunity to apply my background in executing highly technical projects with a client-centric approach,” Patel said. “I admire the breadth of work McHugh executes, from high-rises such as 1000M to adaptive rehab projects like Ramova Theatre. I am eager to carve out new revenue streams by following our core clients to other markets while also providing best-in-class service to those that continue to focus on Chicago.”
McHugh’s former president, Michael Meagher, now serves on McHugh’s Board of Directors.
Patel holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois and has a healthcare construction certificate from the American Society of Healthcare Engineers (ASHE).
About McHugh Construction:
Specializing in multi-family residential, hotel and hospitality, and recreational facilities, McHugh Construction is a fourth-generation, privately owned company and one of the largest full-service construction firms in the United States. McHugh provides a platform for collaboration, transparency, and efficiency. Within that seamless approach, the firm offers a full range of core competencies and capabilities including general contracting, construction management, design-build, preconstruction services, program management, concrete construction and structural engineering services on behalf of every client on every project. McHugh’s unwavering commitment to its clients, its ability to deliver exceptional results on time and within budget, and its dedication to growing and developing its partnerships with subcontractors is the reputation the firm has built are the reasons behind its 80% repeat business. McHugh has transformed some of the most luxurious five-star hotels, including the Peninsula, Ritz-Carlton Chicago and Four Seasons; constructed record-setting high-rise buildings with NEMA Chicago, St. Regis Chicago and Aqua Tower; built recreational facilities at United Center and Indoor Track & Field Facility at Gately Park; and led the transformation of Navy Pier through its Centennial Vision renovation program. McHugh has also completed several projects around the country in locations including Nashville, St. Louis, Minneapolis, and South Florida. For more information on the company, visit www.mchughconstruction.com.
Kinjal Patel has joined Chicago-based McHugh Construction as president.