šŸ— Chicago begins meteorological winter (December) with 32 tower cranes on the job šŸ—

32 December Chicago tower cranes

A few of Chicago’s 32 tower cranes, as we head into the winter months.

As the calendar turns toward another dreaded Chicago winter, it’s time for another Chicago Tower Crane Survey.

Chicago currently has 32 tower cranes in the air around town.The further crane north remains Eight Eleven Uptown. But with this week’s removal of the triple-branded Hilton Hotels at McCormick Place, our new southern-most tower crane is now 1326 South Michigan. And that’s not very far south. Now, for the statistics.

New since November’s count:

  1. Home2 Suites River North (110 West Huron)
  2. Renelle on the River (403 North Wabash)
  3. 3833 North Broadway

Gone since November’s count:

  1. Simpson Querrey North Crane (303 East Superior)
  2. McDonald’s HQ West Crane (110 North Carpenter)
  3. Triple-branded Hilton Hotels (123 East Cermak)

Coming soon:

  1. Hayden West Loop (1109 West Washington – permit issued 09/07; stub planted)
  2. The Bentham (146 West Erie; permit issued 09/11)
  3. Belmont Village (700 West Fullerton – permit issued 11/15)
  4. Wolf Point East (343 West Wolf Point Plaza – permit issued 11/20)

Who has tower cranes:

  1. Lendlease – 8
  2. Power Construction – 6
  3. McHugh Construction – 5
  4. W.E. O’Neil – 2
  5. 11 construction companies have a single tower crane: Walsh (1326 South Michigan); Centaur (Nobu Hotel); Leopardo (210 North Carpenter); Pepper (Moxy Hotel); Tishman (aLoft Chicago Mag Mile); Onni Group (Old Town Park); Norcon (Illume Chicago); Linn-Mathes – Wicker Park Connection); Macon Construction (No. 508); DLG Development (3833 North Broadway, Chicago’s newest tower crane, and our 61st of 2017); M.A. Mortenson (Home2 Suites River North)

Where are they:

  1. West Loop – 7
  2. South Loop – 6
  3. Streeterville – 5
  4. Lake View – 3
  5. River North – 3
  6. Lincoln Park – 2
  7. New Eastside – 2
  8. Four neighborhoods have one tower crane apiece: Gold Coast (not Australia – No. 9 Walton); Near North (Old Town Park); Wicker Park (Wicker Park Connection; Uptown (Eight Eleven Uptown)

What are they building:

  • Residential – 23
  • Hotel – 7
  • Office – 1
  • Medical – 1

Here are Chicago’s 32 tower cranes, as of December 1, 2017:

Fun Fact: The 7 West Loop tower cranes were photographed from the same spot on the Washington Street Bridge. Didn’t even have to move my feet.



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