Chicago CoP Honors Award and Scholarship Recipients at Annual Bob Krier Award Night
The Chicago Community of Practice was honored to host its annual Bob Krier Award night on June 3rd. Each year, the Chicago CoP recognizes an individual who has moved the design and construction industry forward by advancing Lean as an operating system at this annual event. The award is based on implementation of Lean design, construction tools and techniques, innovation in implementing Lean tools and its impact on the community.
Congratulations to this year’s recipient, Ryan Yoho, Area Manager for The Boldt Company’s Chicago office. Ryan has spent 23 years embedding Lean principles into the way teams plan, collaborate, and deliver work. From early adoption of the Last Planner System® to leading Integrated Lean Project Delivery on major healthcare programs, Ryan has consistently used Lean to create reliable workflows, strengthen partnerships, eliminate waste, and focus teams on what delivers the most value. Just as importantly, he models one of Lean’s core principles – respect for people – by building trust, aligning diverse stakeholders, and helping others become passionate advocates for better ways of working. His sustained leadership, technical expertise, and lasting impact on culture and outcomes make him a deserving recipient of the LCI Chicago Community of Practice Bob Krier Award.
Similarly, the Chicago CoP sought to also recognize a Lean project from the Chicago region. Delivered through a highly collaborative partnership between Advocate Aurora Health, The Boldt Company, HDR, IMEG, and key trade partners, this 59,000-square-foot facility brought primary, specialty, and surgical care together in one complex urban setting—while overcoming significant structural and operational challenges.
What makes this project award-worthy is not just the outcome, but how it was delivered:
- Achieved approximately 25% cost savings/cost avoidance
- Implemented 44 prefabricated modular POD rooms to improve quality, reduce rework, and streamline installation
- Maintained zero recordable injuries
- Reached 30% diverse trade participation
- Used Lean tools such as Target Value Delivery, Last Planner System, Takt planning, A3 problem solving, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and Choosing by Advantages
- Created long-term value through continuous improvement, stakeholder alignment, and lessons learned for future healthcare projects
As Advocate’s first ASC (Advocate Outpatient Center & Ambulatory Surgery Treatment Center) delivered under its Integrated Lean Project Delivery model, this project set a new benchmark for collaboration, innovation, and performance. The result is a high-quality, patient-centered healthcare environment that delivers lasting value for both users and the broader outpatient network.
Finally, each year the Chicago Community of Practice supports local students through the Bob Krier and Tim Vander Molen Scholarship program. For the 2025 award year, the Chicago CoP awarded five scholarships for higher education design & construction discipline students enrolled full-time in trade school, community college or university degree programs in Illinois or Indiana. Join us in celebrating their achievements! Congratulations to:
- Martine Dossou, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Xuanchang Liu, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Mary Beth Greer, Northwestern University
- Yipeng Qu, Illinois Institute of Technology
- Vivek Vardhan Jaijar, Illinois Institute of Technology
Congratulations to all who were acknowledged for their work, dedication and impact to the local design and construction industry. Many thanks to the local core group leading the Chicago CoP for continuing to honor the legacy of Bob Krier through this annual celebration.