1001 West Chicago plants itself a tower crane

Posted on September 14, 2016 by danieldschell

A crane builds a crane at 1001 West Chicago.

If it seems Power Construction is everywhere around Chicago these days, it’s because Power Construction is everywhere around Chicago these days. Tuesday, while most of the crew continued work on the foundations for 1001 West Chicago, the rest of the gang took part in yet another tower crane erection. The design from FitzGerald Associates brings 360 apartments in two mid-rise towers, 10,000 square feet of retail (including a grocery store) and 300 parking spaces for all those residents and shoppers.

: Spotted from the Building Up Chicago HQ.

: NOPE

: Let’s give the non-tower crane a little love. It’s important, too.

: Foundation work continues.

Addition by subtraction at 168 North Michigan

Posted on September 14, 2016 by danieldschell

Back in July, the Chicago Plan Commission approved plans to finally get the renovation of the former Atlantic Bank Building at 168 North Michigan Avenue restarted. The design to turn the building into a 210-room hotel, by Hirsch Associates Architects, calls for five additional floors to be added to the existing structure. But first, the 13th floor penthouse and everything occupying the roof has to be removed, and that work is taking place now on 168 North Michigan’s rooftop.

W.E. O’Neil is the general contractor (have you checked out the job they did at LondonHouse?!) on the renovations, having replaced the original contractor back in May.

The renovation permit, allowing for removal of the 13th floor penthouse.

This is what the rooftop looked like in July.

As of this week, there isn’t much left up there.

A look from street level.

A tower crane juts into the River West sky

Posted on September 13, 2016 by danieldschell

As seen from the Building Up Chicago offices, the new tower crane at 1001 West Chicago.

Crews are assembling Chicago’s latest tower crane at 1001 West Chicago today. The crane was permitted back on August 23. Look for more photos in this space as they become available. (In other words…”when I can get up there to take some.”)

The Tower Crane Permit.

Construction Update: 640 North Wells

Posted on September 13, 2016 by danieldschell

640 North Wells continues to grow in River North.

Progress continues on the 23-story apartment tower JDL Development is building in River North, designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture. When completed, 640 North Wells will have 251 units and 12,000 square feet of retail space. Expect about 140 parking spots too, if the building permit is to be believed. Lendlease is the general contractor. They’re working on a completion goal of Spring 2017.

: Looking at 640 North Wells through the tower crane at 3Eleven.

: 640 North Wells on the left, 167 West Erie on the right.

Eradication of four Rush Medical Center buildings is complete

Posted on September 13, 2016 by danieldschell

Dirt and a gaping open space where Senn, Jones, Rawson, and Murdock once stood.

Their names were Murdock, Rawson, Senn, and Jones. No, they weren’t the A-Team. They were four buildings on the campus of Rush Medical Center. Rendered obsolete by the construction of a new hospital in 2012, Rush chose to have them demolished rather than modernize or re-purpose them.

All over 100 years old, except for the Rawson building, which was built in 1924, the four are now history, with a large dirt lot where they once stood. Rush’s plan for the site will be green space, or what used to be referred to as a “yard” or “field” or, in much simpler times, just plain old “grass.”

You can read more about the history of the Senn, Rawson, Murdock, and Jones Buildings at the Chicago Architecture Blog and the Rush InPerson blog.

: Senn.

: Jones.

: Rawson.

: Murdock.

: The buildings couldn’t be reused, but at least they were recycled.

: The final days of the Senn Building, the last of the four standing.

: There are some ugly exposed facades that need to be beautified.

Quick Look: Crews climbing the walls to get back to work at 3Eleven

Posted on September 12, 2016 by danieldschell

Power Construction crew gets busy after a weekend off at 3Eleven.

Some of us are better at relaxing than others. Some take a couple days off for the weekend reluctantly, and pace and fidget until Monday morning arrives, and they can get back to the work week.

Like these guys, climbing the walls to get back at it on the 3Eleven construction site.

Signage a good sign at Homewood Suites/Hampton Inn

Posted on September 12, 2016 by danieldschell

The Hampton Inn & Homewood Suites at 118 North Jefferson has signs stating such.

The new West Loop hotel from Jupiter Realty continues to stride towards completion. The combination Homewood Suites & Hampton Inn is now clearly marked at the top of the south-facing facade. Designed by VOA Associates, the Homewood/Hampton will have 336 rooms and about 8,000 square feet of retail space, plus 117 indoor parking spots. The building permit also mentions a restaurant on the 24th floor.

Power Construction has been on the job since ground was broken in March 2015. And it looks like they’re close to making Jupiter’s goal of opening the Homewood-Hampton this month. There’s work to do in the lobby, and some mints to put on pillows, but my guess is, folks will be catching shut-eye here within the next two weeks.

: Nope.

: The main entrance, and the garage entrance, at 118 North Jefferson.

: Some work remains on the sidewalk in front of the hotel(s).

The Sinclair loses a tower crane, but gains some glass

Posted on September 12, 2016 by danieldschell

On Tuesday of last week, The Sinclair had two tower cranes. By the weekend, this one had been dismantled.

The Sinclair made news up in the Gold Coast for a couple reasons. First, it tore down that old Jewel store from the 1700s. Then, it erected two tower cranes on one construction lot.

Now, one of those tower cranes is gone. But in order to keep the excitement going, McHugh Construction has begun hanging glass on the first two levels. Not bad for a tower that appears to have only reached nine or ten floors.

Upon reaching its ultimate height, the Solomon Cordwell Buenz-designed Sinclair will have 35 stories and 390 apartments, with an anticipated opening of Summer 2017.

: My last-known picture of The Sinclair with two tower cranes, from 360 Chicago at the John Hancock Center

: The corner of LaSalle and Division. The Sinclair’s official address, for now, is 1201 North LaSalle Street.

: The tower crane building the actual residential tower will remain on site for the duration.

: Clark and Division.

: The parking podium along Clark Street. It was the tower crane that built this section that is now gone.

: Glass along Division Street.

: Glass at the corner of Clark and Division.

: Since its earliest days of construction, The Sinclair has had a top-notch scaffold game.

: Tell-tale signs of where a tower crane once stood.

Catching up on the tearing down of Malcolm X College

Posted on September 12, 2016 by danieldschell

Malcolm X College demolition has been ongoing since April.

Having opened up a new Malcolm X College in time for spring classes in January 2016, the old college is being demolished to make way for a new training facility for the Chicago Blackhawks. Heneghan Wrecking (Click that link, and marvel at Heneghan’s drone photo of the Rush Medical Center teardowns) has been ripping the building apart since April, and they’re in the home stretch. Only a small portion of the school remains towards the west end of the lot. At the west end, McHugh Construction has already started foundation work for the hockey facility.

Demolition Update: Children’s Memorial Hospital

Posted on September 10, 2016 by danieldschell

Children’s Memorial Hospital demolition, as seen from atop the John Hancock Center.

The coolest place to see Children’s Memorial Hospital demolition? At 360 Chicago atop the John Hancock Center. The best place to watch Children’s Memorial Hospital demolition? On the sidewalks along Lincoln Avenue and Orchard Street. And soon, Fullerton Street too.

Demo crews from Omega Demolition have wiped out the corner of Lincoln and Orchard, and are moving their way north toward the tower portion of the former hospital. It’s fun to watch buildings being torn down, especially, as I’ve mentioned before, when they’ve already been replaced by newer facilities.