Glass is in session at 30 East

Posted on September 6, 2016 by danieldschell

Shiny, newly-installed windows stand along East Balbo Avenue in the new 30 East.

30 East is a residential tower from Gilbane Development Company that will cater to students from the multitude of colleges in and around the South Loop. And when better than Chicago’s official first day of class to tell you about 30 East’s first day of glass?

Last week, Power Construction crews began installing windows along the tower’s third level. In all, there will be 16 floors with 134 furnished apartments, ranging from studios to 4-bedroom units. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, 30 East will also have 8,000 square feet of retail space at the ground level. Gilbane expects to have the tower ready for Fall 2017 classes.

: Prepping for pane.

: A new glass panel is positioned for installation.

: Don’t get too caulky.

: Hey. How’s it goin’?

: 30 East, as seen from State Street.

: The L passes by.

: Another L passes by – almost through – 30 East.

: Looking south from Harrison Street.

151 North Franklin gets crankin’

Posted on September 3, 2016 by danieldschell

The core of the CNA Center has reached the top of the 7-story garage next door. So I’m gonna say it’s about 7 stories high right now.

Admittedly, I became so infatuated with that funky tower crane at the new CNA Center, at 151 North Franklin Street in The Loop, that I forgot to notice how much of the core had risen from the earth. Then, all of a sudden, there it was, right in front of me.

General contractor Lendlease looks to be having a wonderful time pouring concrete and hammering lumber and such. I went ahead and took some pictures, figuring you wouldn’t mind seeing them…

: I strongly suggest stopping by when the sun i hitting it.

: That funky tower crane setup.

: Sorry for the vertigo.

Caisson work completed at Centrum Hubbard

Posted on September 2, 2016 by danieldschell

It’s back to a clean slate for Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells.

That didn’t take long.

The last pieces of Case Foundation equipment have left the (future) building(s) at Hubbard and Wells in River North. Now, Linn-Mathes can get to the task of digging foundations, so Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells can begin to rise up from the dust.

The development, from Centrum Partners and the architects at Hirsch Associates, received foundation permits back in late June and early July. Up next, expect to see full-build and TOWER CRANE permits.

: The last piece of Case Foundation’s caisson equipment leaves the site Friday morning.

: This was the scene Wednesday, as equipment was being disassembled and removed.

As Nobu Hotel awaits height decision, caisson equipment arrives

Posted on September 2, 2016 by danieldschell

Caisson equipment offloading for the Nobu Hotel in the West Loop.

When the Chicago Plan Commission meets on the 15th of September, one of the decisions they’ll make is whether to allow the West Loop’s Nobu Hotel project to go to eleven. Stories, that is. Per the Commission’s September agenda:

The proposal will establish an 11-story hotel with 119 hotel keys, amenity space for hotel patrons, ground floor restaurant and 35 off-site accessory parking spaces. (27th Ward)

After a big groundbreaking ceremony featuring co-owner Robert “I Heard Some Things” DeNiro back in June, nothing much has happened (besides some soil sampling in July) on the lot along the Randolph Street Restaurant Row. But Thursday, crews could be seen over, under, and around the secretive plywood privacy fencing, offloading caisson equipment. Because whether you know your height allowance or not, you’re still gonna need a foundation.

: This soil sampling rig was on site back in July.

Chicago’s prettiest new Vista moving soil

Posted on September 2, 2016 by danieldschell

Finally.

When Vista Tower got its foundation permit back in the first week if August, I assumed equipment would flood into the lot in New East Side the following morning to begin tearing up the land. In reality, it took a few weeks for anything to happen at all. But it’s happening now, and what they’re digging in for, is the long haul.

Want to know more about the 93-story Vista Tower? Let me see what I can find for you:

The Tower

Studio Gang

Magellan Development

Crain’s Chicago Business

Chicago Architecture Blog

DNAInfo

Chicago Tribune

Curbed Chicago

Yep. A lot of people are talking about it.

Ode to a disappearing water tank: A photo gallery

Posted on September 1, 2016 by danieldschell

It was pretty. Not the original paint scheme probably, so I have to thank the taggers for this.

Let me preface this by saying: I hate tagging. Simply put, it’s vandalism. Doesn’t matter to me how talented you are, if your drawings are on someone else’s building, or water tank, or train car, you’re a vandal.

Ditto trespassing. Partly because I’m too wimpy to risk getting caught, because there are places everywhere I’d love to sneak into for a photo or 60. But it’s not my property, I have no business being there without permission, so I stay away.

The W.M. Hoyt Co. building is available. Contact the firm of Ash Andy Angel Boogr Cushman + Wakefield for details.

This rant is related to the W. M. Hoyt Company Building at 465 W. Cermak Road in Chicago’s Cermak Road Bridge District. Built in 1909, it sits empty now, save for the spray painters who stop by to add to their work. It’s become something of a Taggers Paradise, and I have to admit, it looks pretty darn cool.

On July 20 of this year, the City of Chicago filed a demolition permit for the water tank atop this building. (The address is listed on the permit as 2210 South Grove Street: it’s the same building.) This was a “character tank,” a designation bestowed by me on any tank that stands out from the others, usually because of how it’s been painted. This one had been tagged more times than the slowest runner at recess. I really wanted to get on the roof before they dismantled it, but, you know, trespassing. And fear of heights.

I made it my mission to photograph the tank from as many angles as I could before it was gone. I didn’t know it at the time, but that gave me until August 13; that was the morning I looked out the window and saw that most of it had been attacked by the cutting torch.

The mysteriously demolished tank at 1882 South Normal Avenue.

August 13 was also the morning I discovered the water tank at 1882 South Normal Avenue had been taken down. That came as a surprise, since I’ve yet to find any permit allowing that demolition.

: Memories are indeed sacred. Other people’s property, not so much.

: My favorite view, sitting just beyond the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge house.

: The view out the back window. Look at the graffiti on that roof!

: Looking straight down South Normal Avenue. This is the last photo I got of the water tank whole.

: Saturday morning, August 13. I looked out, and it was gone.

: Cutting torch in action.

: The river-facing facade of the W.M. Hoyt Co. Building.

On August 30, a permit was filed to demolish this water tank as well, at 809 North Racine Avenue.

Do you have photos of the now-demolished Chicago Water Tank at 2210 South Grove Street? I’d love to see them. Send them my way, and let me know if you’d like me to post them here on Building Up Chicago.

1035 West Van Buren continues its climb along the Eisenhower

Posted on September 1, 2016 by danieldschell

The “back” of 1035 West Van Buren is starting to rise into view of passersby on the Eisenhower Expressway.

Work continues on 1035 West Van Buren, Related Midwest‘s newest residential tower in the West Loop. The tower is beginning to make its presence known at the foot of what will soon be the end of the Jane Byrne Flyover ramp from the Dan Ryan Expressway onto the Eisenhower. The parking podium is up the the fourth floor, while the elevator core continues to climb from within.

The 30-story, 300-unit development by Morris Adjmi Architects of New York City, and Chicago’s own GREC Architects, is expected to be inhabitable before Baby New Year rings in 2018. Lendlease, the general contractor for 1035 West Van Buren, will see to that schedule being met.

: Let’s end this gallery with a gratuitous tower crane shot.

625 West Adams putting that shiny new tower crane to good use

Posted on September 1, 2016 by danieldschell

625 West Adams, from above. Hard to tell from up here what kind of heights have been reached at ground level.

625 West Adams is right outside our back window. It has a big yellow tower crane. Perhaps you’ve heard me speak of it a time or two. And while that new-crane smell may have worn off by now, the new crane’s purpose is just beginning.

As Power Construction continues to make progress on the 20-story office tower, that cranes been throwing things around the lot like a champ. And for good reason; there’s a lot of work to be done to have 625 West Adams ready for its debut in early 2018.