Michael Ellch is Senior Vice President of Development at Related Midwest, managing site acquisition and development for the firm's multibillion-dollar pipeline of real estate projects. Since joining the firm, Ellch has played a key role in a number of high-profile developments, including 8080 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, The 78, 725 West Randolph, The Row Fulton Market, One Bennett Park, Landmark West Loop and 500 Lake Shore Drive.
At The 78, Ellch led acquisition and entitlement efforts to pave the way for Related Midwest's transformative 62-acre development to create Chicago’s next great neighborhood. As one of the largest real estate projects in Chicago history, The 78 will include a mix of uses, with abundant green space and riverfront activation.
Ellch continues to lead another pivotal project for Related Midwest: 8080 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The 400-acre master plan will house the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park (IQMP), anchored by what will be one of the largest quantum computing facilities in the world, and a new Advocate Health Care hospital.
Ellch is also spearheading the development of the SOO Green underground high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line, a $4.5 billion landmark clean energy infrastructure project that will bolster the U.S. electric grid, enhancing system reliability and resiliency.
In addition to his work at Related Midwest, Ellch is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and participates in the MIT Center for Real Estate student mentoring program. He earned his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University and holds a master’s in real estate development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
