Author Archives: danieldschell

About danieldschell

I'm Daniel Schell, Chicagoan, Twitter fiend, and picture taker. I like sunsets, travel, and long walks through construction sites. If you build it, I will come.

Cassidy on Canal has begun construction at 350 North Canal

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Cassidy on Canal is underway.

The first permit has been issued for Cassidy on Canal, the 33-story apartment tower from The Habitat Company, and crews are on site ready to drill into the earth. I’m told caissons aren’t quite ready to go into the ground just yet, but you can see rebar cages being prepped, so they’ll be ready when shafts start drilling. That process is expected to begin Monday.

I learned some fascinating things this week about those old freight tunnels running under the city, including this site. Caissons can be drilled through the tunnels, but not until the tunnels themselves are filled. Bulkheads are framed and filled at each end of the tunnel, and then the entire tunnel is filled with grout. (It’s a lot of grout.) Once the grout sets, then the caissons can be drilled & filled.

Anyway, that’s what Stalworth Underground is up to. I guess when you put the word “Underground” in your name, you’re prepared for anything and everything that pops up beneath the surface.

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732 West Randolph gets even with its neighbors

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732 (left) and 730 West Randolph.

I should explain that headline. You see, 732 West Randolph isn’t in a dispute with its neighbors. These ain’t the Hatfields and McCoys. In fact, 732 and 730 West Randolph are practically joined at the hip. 732’s first six levels will be connected to 730, with two additional levels rising just above the six-story 730. Make sense? Suffice it to say, both buildings are six stories tall now.

As is often the case with my procrastinating ways, here are photos from a couple recent visits.

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Permits in hand, 4600 North Marine tears up a parking lot

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The Weiss Hospital parking lot at Marine Drive and Wilson Avenue is gone. Toast. Rubble. History. Ground prep is underway after the first permits were issued early this month by the city for a new 12-story, 303-unit residential development here. The foundation permit came through on the first of the month. And no waiting on a tower crane permit; that was issued September 7.

4600 North Marine is a design by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates. Lincoln Property Company is the developer. Gilbane Building Company the general contractor, with Adjustable Concrete Construction as the concrete contractor.

Want more info? Lukas knows what’s up.

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Sterling Bay breaks ground on newly-permitted 225 North Elizabeth

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Early this week, Sterling Bay broke ground on their latest residential project, then began tearing away at the concrete slabs that stand in its way, while also celebrating the caisson permit issued by the city on Tuesday.

225 North Elizabeth, in their own words, will be:

a 28-story mixed-use tower in Fulton Market featuring 350 modern residential units and approximately 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail. The building, which is designed to complement the industrial character of the neighborhood, will set a new standard for urban living in what has been named “the fastest growing submarket in the country”. Featuring residential amenities including two green rooftop spaces to connect tenants to the outdoors, indoor/outdoor fitness and pet suite facilities, as well as shared indoor work-life spaces to meet the growing demand for work-from-home accommodations, 225 N Elizabeth is where form meets function in Fulton Market.

Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture is the design architect. McHugh Construction is the general contractor, with McHugh Concrete doing the concrete work. That’s Lindahl Brothers out there having at the concrete.

Love seeing the height of the West Loop moving further west.

Disappearing this gigantic concrete slab was the first order of business at 225 North Elizabeth.

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741 North Wells gets the tower crane started

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The tower crane has been planted at 741 North Wells in River North. Expect to see full assembly starting Tuesday of next week.

What is this? I’m stumped.

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With caissons in the ground, it’s pile-driving time at RIU Plaza Hotel

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Yes, caissons are done, but not foundation work, on the RIU Plaza Hotel site at 150 East Ontario in Streeterville. W.E. O’Neil and crew are driving piles into the soil to help support the weight of the 28-story, Lucien Lagrange-designed hotel.

Hey, you know what we should be seeing soon here? Yep. Tower crane permit.

Piles are being driven at 150 East Ontario.

920 North Wells is *Flying*

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I took these photos on Wednesday last week. At the rate it’s going, 920 North Wells might be done by now. AT the very least, there’s likely another full floor done.

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More Embry? Sure, why not

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Two visits to Embry, actually. August 28, and September 7.

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Rush Specialty Hospital steel tops out

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RUSH Specialty Hospital. The little tree at top right means they topped out with no injuries.

How about a quick update at RUSH Specialty Hospital?

I was here in June to check out caisson work. Now, the five-story venture between as Rush University Medical Center hospital along with Select Medical has topped out the steel skeleton.

A permit was issued May 23rd for a five-story “inpatient hospital building” at 516 South Loomis. A hoist permit followed on August 9.

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Demolition is underway for 350 North Morgan

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350 North Morgan demolition, from Dan’s truck.

A funny thing happened in the Fulton Market District Wednesday.

I try to be somewhat discreet when I’m out taking photos. Not everyone likes having their picture taken, and not everyone appreciates the paparazzi being around while they’re working. So I try not to stick my camera in anyone’s face, or to make it too obvious that I’m taking photos. Which is hard to do when you’re holding, and aiming, a camera.

Anywho, I wandered over to where Atlas Industries is tearing down the former Pioneer Wholesale Meat facility at 1000 West Carroll to make way for Sterling Bay’s 350 North Morgan. Demolition work was done for the day, but there was still a work truck parked in front, so I kept my distance…….right up until I didn’t want to keep my distance. I got right up to the fence to peek through it, and “Dan” got out of his truck and said “stand on the back bumper. You’ll get a better shot.” And I did. And I did. Amazing what the slightest elevation can do. Then Dan and I talked for awhile, and thanked him a few times, laughed about that being a first for me, and went on my way.

Thank you, Dan. That was cool, fun, and very nice of you. I’ll probably just start jumping on vehicles at construction sites from now on.

Dan’s truck.

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