• Posted: September 12, 2018
• better construction, Chicago Construction Market

At WSP, one of the world’s largest engineering firms, designing and building transportation systems, and iconic buildings and structures that reshape city skylines is just an everyday part of the job; but for John Trotta, Sr. Vice President, National Director of Client Services, that very work holds more meaning in Chicago.

“The other day I was flying back into Chicago and I looked out at our amazing city and, when I see our city and the great things that can be happening in it, I think development will continue,” Trotta said. “More people are moving downtown, we’ve got high-quality buildings in Chicago, and I can see that continuing.”

Following the recession and the economic downturn, Chicago is seeing a rise in construction projects throughout the city. From the south and west loop, to new iconic skyscrapers like Vista Tower, Chicago is sending a message to the rest of the country.

“When we invest in Metra, CTA, Pace, IDOT, The Illinois Tollway, our airports, and these buildings, it tells the rest of America that Chicago is open for business,” Trotta says. “That’s important about building; if you stop, you fail. In Chicago, we have a pretty good message right now.”

Trotta would know. From working behind a garbage truck, to the Chicago Transit Authority, to his current role at WSP, he has seen all that Chicago has to offer.

“I started working as a laborer in Local 1001 where I worked behind a garbage truck,” Trotta says. “I always looked at work as ‘we’re blessed to have an opportunity to work and you have to make the most of it.’ I used to look at the skyline and envision the opportunities and wonder, “could I ever get down there?””

A big reason Trotta was able to work his way up into his current role was because of a strong union backing. Since he was paid a good wage, Trotta was able to afford night school and eventually got a degree that helped advance his professional career, but one thing that always stuck with him was how union members always helped out their own.

“As laborers, the union explained to us that the city needs good people out there doing good work,” Trotta explained. “I learned a lot of respect. You knew that if you did a good job the city would look better.”

“The key is to not forget where you came from,” Trotta says. “So, if there’s a young person just starting on a job, I would try and help them because you’re always bringing up those right behind you, and that’s what I try to do at WSP.”

It’s those young people who will continue to bring Chicago along by maintaining current structures and building new ones that will reshape the city’s skyline for years to come.
The City of Chicago continues to look better and more attractive to companies interested in relocating because of our great transportation systems, and as each new construction crane rises into the sky, we are showing all of America and the world that Chicago truly is open for business.