As Executive Vice President of Construction at Related Midwest, Don Biernacki oversees the building of the region’s most iconic structures and staple communities, redefining and enhancing the landscape of real estate. Along with his team of talented design and construction experts, Biernacki is responsible for all of Related Midwest’s ground-up and renovation projects.
During his 30 years at Related Midwest Biernacki has led the successful completion of more than 60 market-rate and affordable projects including, OneEleven, a 60-story luxury apartment tower on Wacker Drive in Chicago, for which he was recognized by the Engineering News Record as a Top 25 Newsmaker, 500 Lake Shore Drive, Related Midwest’s first apartment tower, Park Tower, an award-winning 67-story condominium and hotel development at 800 N. Michigan Ave and 340 on the Park, the first LEED-Silver residential tower in the Midwest. Biernacki also oversaw the renovation of Related Midwest’s affordable housing properties including Parkway Gardens in Chicago’s Woodlawn, the historic Julia C. Lathrop Homes—a new residential and mixed-use property in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago and the award-winning rehabilitation of the Marshall Field Garden Apartments in Chicago’s Old Town, in which he contracted a record number of community and minority businesses. Biernacki is a leader in bringing together individuals from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines in a cohesive and collaborative community-driven approach to development. Biernacki also oversees the construction of Related Midwest’s development projects which includes the 70-story One Bennett Park, a luxury residential tower designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Other projects include a 30-story, 300-unit luxury rental tower at 1035 W. Van Buren and 725 and 900 W. Randolph in Chicago’s West Loop and Fulton Market District; 400 N. Lake Shore Drive, located on the site of the former Chicago Spire project in Streeterville; and The 78, a 62-acre mixed-use, master-planned community that will be one of the largest private real estate developments in Chicago history.
Biernacki is passionate about investing in the communities he works in. At Related Midwest, he created a mentorship program for small business owners to help support their operations, capacity building and growth. Known for his commitment to community hiring, Biernacki is dedicated to ensuring local residents, minorities and women, gain access to opportunities that lead to successful careers and thriving businesses in the industry. Don was named as the 2017 recipient of the Award of Honor by the CBC, an award given to individuals who have distinguished themselves in both the community and the construction industry as a whole. He has also been recognized by Reverend Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Coalition as a Distinguished Labor Leader and featured in Crain’s Chicago Business for his steadfast community leadership and commitment to providing community-based businesses valuable training and career opportunities. In 2019, Biernacki co-founded HIRE360, an organization created to expand employment and advancement opportunities for community residents in the hospitality, manufacturing and construction industries through recruitment, training and placement assistance throughout Chicago and Illinois.
Biernacki is committed to a number of community and charitable organizations. Among these organizations, Don serves in a number of roles including Treasurer on the Board of Directors for Saturday Place, board member of HIRE360, and also serves as a board member of the Construction Engineering Advisory Council at Marquette University. Biernacki is a member and former President of the Board of Directors of SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, a quality and innovative and foster care provider. Biernacki earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Niles College of Loyola University.
