CASE STUDY

Blackrock Construction

Technology Keeping Large-Scale Concrete Work Moving in the Heart of Chicago

Downtown Chicago sets the pace. Tight streets, limited access, and constant activity shape every build in the city. 

At Bally’s Casino, ConcreteIL contractor, BlackRock Construction is delivering layout, formwork, and all concrete placement and finishing for foundations, slabs, and decks in partnership with general contractor Gilbane. Projects like this reflect how ConcreteIL contractors operate across Chicagoland, where technology and field execution must stay tightly connected. 

At Bally’s Casino, those conditions carry directly onto the jobsite. Multiple trades work in close coordination, space is limited, and sequencing is constant.

Built for scale and complexity

BlackRock Construction is built for this kind of work. Large-scale, fast-moving, and logistically complex concrete projects are where technology and union experience have to function as one system.  BlackRock was brought into the project based on a track record of handling high-volume concrete work across Chicagoland.  Working at this scale means coordinating multiple pours at once, managing logistics in real time, and keeping information aligned across crews, office staff, and partners. This is the standard operating environment for ConcreteIL contractors on major commercial projects across the region.

“The scale of Bally’s project is literally huge. It’s probably a couple of football fields right here in the heart of the city. It is a lot of stuff going on in a very tight place.”

– Chad CZERWINSKI

Blackrock Construction

THE FIELD RUNS ON REAL-TIME INFORMATION

BlackRock uses a combination of digital tools to support coordination and planning on site. 

BIM software is used to bring clarity to the work and support coordination during planning. Bluebeam Revu is used for field coordination and digital plan management. Digital scheduling tools are used to track pour sequences and coordinate logistics across active areas. 

The team also uses real-time concrete monitoring to support work in the field.

Crews rely on mobile access to RFIs, drawings, and project updates so current information is available on site. 

“Technology has played a huge role in not just this project but all of ours. It’s allowed us to bring the office to the field.” 

That connection changes how work gets done. Instead of waiting on information or chasing updates across different systems, crews stay aligned with the same live data in real time.

Fewer errors, faster decisions

On a project of this size, small missteps turn into major delays. BlackRock’s use of  digital tools is focused on eliminating that risk early.  Real-time updates replace outdated prints. Field access replaces trips back to the trailer.  Coordination tools cut down back-and-forth between field and office.  With the help of technology, crews stay ahead by working from current information instead of chasing it. That edge matters when multiple pours and trades are moving at the same time.  In the field, that shows up in how the work actually gets done. Crews can pull up digital  drawings on an iPad and keep working even in conditions where paper plans would slow things  down or get in the way. The result is fewer interruptions and fewer avoidable setbacks.

Union Craftsmanship Behind The Technology

Technology drives coordination, but execution  still depends on skilled hands in the field.  BlackRock is a signatory contractor with the Cement Masons, Laborers, Carpenters, and Operators, and its workforce is built on union-trained professionals who bring precision and experience to every placement. That training is what turns digital plans into finished concrete at scale.  Technology supports the process. Craftsmanship delivers the result.

Coordinated Across Every Partner

The Bally’s Casino job requires constant alignment between multiple contractors and trades. Working alongside Gilbane, BlackRock operates within a tightly sequenced environment where timing and communication matter at every step.  Digital systems help keep that coordination tight, ensuring each phase of work stays connected across teams and scopes.

MOVING COMPLEX WORK FORWARD

Bally’s Casino represents the kind of project ConcreteIL contractors are built to deliver. High density. Constant sequencing. No margin for disconnect between field and office.  They require information that moves as fast as the work does.  For ConcreteIL contractors like BlackRock, that means building with tools that keep the field and office connected in real time, while relying on the skill and discipline of union crews to execute at a high level.

Work with ConcreteIL Contractors

To request a bid, ask a question, or connect with Northern Illinois Cement Masons LMCC, contact ConcreteIL to work with contractors who are building this way every day.