Custom Fabric and Metal Structures for Businesses Across Chicagoland
Chesterfield Awning has been designing, manufacturing, installing, and servicing custom commercial structures across Chicagoland and the greater Midwest since 1958. Restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, retail, offices, multi-family developments, airports, event venues, and everything in between.
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Chicagoland’s Commercial Fabric and Metal Structure Specialists
Restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, retail, offices, multi-family developments, airports, event venues, and everything in between.
We work with two kinds of commercial customers, and the way we work with each is a little different.
Two Ways We Work with Our Commercial Clients
Contractors, Architects, Property Managers, and General Contractors
Restaurant Groups, Hotels, Hospitals, Schools, and End Customers
A Few Names We're Proud to Have Worked With
For over six decades, Chesterfield has been chosen for some of the most recognizable commercial projects in the region.
Commercial Canopies and Awnings We Build
Commercial Canopies
Enclosures & Vestibules
Architectural Canopies
Shade Sails
Covered Walkways & Entryways
Business Banners
Standing seam metal awnings are another popular commercial choice, especially for buildings that want a clean, architectural look built to last for decades with virtually no maintenance. Beyond those, we also build custom metal awnings, fabric tension structures, custom graphic awnings, and one-off specialty projects across the region, and we install retractable awning systems from trusted industry partners for commercial applications. If you have a specific vision or an unusual application, bring it to us.
Why the Full Lifecycle Under One Roof Matters
We handle every part of the process, out of our own facility.
- Design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation under one roof
- Cleaning, storage, repair, motor service, and fabric recovers on our installations and other companies’ work
- Honest read on repair vs. recover vs. replace before quoting anything
- Multi-property coordination for property managers and multi-location businesses
How We Work with Contractors and Architects
If you’re bidding a project, managing a property portfolio, or specifying outdoor structures for a client, here’s what working with Chesterfield typically looks like.
1. Bid Support
Fast turnaround on specs, product data, and pricing for RFP submissions and competitive bids. We know commercial timelines and work backwards from your submit date.
2. Design and Engineering Coordination
Detailed shop drawings, structural calculations, and coordination with your CDs. We integrate with your submittal process and answer your engineer’s questions directly.
3. Fabrication and Preparation
In-house metalworking and sewing at our South Holland facility. In-house metalworking and sewing at our facility, paired with trusted manufacturer partners for specialty components. What we build in-house ships when we say it will.
4. Professional Installation
Our own installers handle every install. We coordinate with your project timeline, site conditions, and any other trades working on the property. Clean workmanship. Minimal disruption.
5. Ongoing Support
After project close, we stay in the picture for warranty, service, and any follow-up your client needs. When something needs attention years later, the same team is available.
What a Custom Commercial Structure Does for Your Business
The right outdoor structure isn’t just a shelter. It’s an investment in your brand, your customer experience, and your bottom line. Here’s what commercial customers across Chicagoland and the greater Midwest get out of working with us.
Brand Visibility & Storefront Recognition
Custom colors, logos, and printed branding turn passing traffic into recognition. Storefront canopies, printed awnings, and custom banners give your business identifiable presence on the street.
Revenue Expansion Through Outdoor Space
Enclosed patios and covered outdoor spaces let restaurants and hospitality operators expand seating capacity year-round, adding revenue without adding square footage.
Weather Protection for Customers and Staff
Shielded entrances, patios, walkways, and drop-off areas keep customers comfortable and merchandise protected in Chicagoland's four seasons.
Long-Term Curb Appeal Investment
Well-built commercial structures outlast their initial payback period. Structures we install today are often still on the building 15-20 years later.
Compliance and Municipal Design Guidelines
Chicagoland municipalities and neighborhoods have specific design guidelines, permit requirements, and BID standards. We navigate them for you.
Industries We Serve
Our commercial work spans nearly every industry in the region. A few of the verticals where we’re particularly active:
- Restaurants, restaurant groups, cafes, and food service
- Hotels, resorts, and hospitality
- Hospitals, medical facilities, and dental practices
- Schools, colleges, universities, and religious institutions
- Apartment and condominium developments
- Office buildings and corporate campuses
- Retail chains, franchises, and storefronts
- Auto dealerships and service centers
- Amusement parks, event venues, and outdoor attractions
- Airports, transportation hubs, and public infrastructure
- Municipal buildings and business improvement districts
- Property management firms and REITs
Helping Chicagoland's Business Districts Look and Work Better
Chesterfield works closely with Chicago-area business districts, chambers, and city departments. We know the local design guidelines and requirements that can affect a commercial storefront project, and we help you understand what applies to your location, what your options are, and what timing makes sense.
Permitting, Compliance, and Design Guidelines
Commercial projects often involve municipal permitting, design review, and compliance with local guidelines. Our team knows how to prepare submissions and work with city planning offices across Chicagoland and the greater Midwest.
Municipal Permits
For most commercial projects, we manage the municipal permit process from application through approval. This includes preparation of the drawings, structural documentation, material specifications, and any other information your city requires.
Multi-Family and Condominium Board Approvals
For multi-family and condominium projects that require condo board or property association approval, the property owner or manager typically handles that submission with our support. We provide all the drawings, product specifications, and material documentation your board needs for their review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work with general contractors and architects on commercial bids?
Yes. Bid support is a significant portion of our commercial work. Send us your plans or RFP and we’ll turn around competitive quotes with clear scope, materials, and timeline. We’re familiar with the bidding process and understand how tight deadlines can be.
What's the typical timeline for a commercial project?
Most commercial projects run four to eight weeks from design approval to install, depending on size, complexity, permitting, and material selection. Custom fabric structures, large architectural projects, and retractable systems can take longer. We provide a clear timeline at the design and quoting stage.
Do you handle commercial permitting?
For municipal permits, yes – we manage the entire process from application to approval across Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, and the greater Midwest. We prepare the drawings, structural documentation, and material specifications, and we handle the follow-up with city planning offices. For multi-family and condominium projects that require condo board or property association review, the owner or property manager typically handles that submission with our support. We provide all the documentation your board needs.
Can you match my brand's exact colors and graphics?
In most cases, yes. We match Pantone and brand colors as closely as fabric and printing processes allow. We work from vector files (AI, EPS, PDF) for logos and graphics. For multi-location businesses and franchises, we coordinate consistency across sites.
Do you service commercial structures you didn't install?
In most cases, yes. We offer cleaning, repair, motor service, seasonal removal, and other service work for commercial structures throughout our service area, including ones installed by other companies. Fabric replacement due to age or wear is part of our service work. If you want to change fabric colors, refresh branding, or update graphics on an existing structure, we handle that as a product update, quoted based on your selections.
Ready to Talk About Your Commercial Project?
Whether you’re bidding a project, specifying for a client, or planning an upgrade to your own property, tell us what you’re working on. We’ll turn around a quote, coordinate on your timeline, and manufacture, install, and service the work end to end.
Trusted Across Chicagoland Since 1958
From the homeowners who’ve counted on us for generations to the businesses whose storefronts we’ve helped build, our customers keep coming back.
The Chesterfield Maintenance Program
The Maintenance Program bundles cleaning, seasonal storage, priority repair scheduling, and inspections into one relationship. For homeowners protecting an investment and property managers coordinating across sites, it’s the smart way to keep every awning sharp without the coordination burden.