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.

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.

Gratuitous Tower-Crane-And-Building-Up-Chicago-Office shot.

Another Chicago Water Tank to be washed from the skyline

Posted on August 31, 2016 by danieldschell

Does this AMUSE you? Not me. The Chicago Water Tank at 809 North Racine is coming down.

You know the water tank at 809 North Racine Street. You’ve passed by it a zillion times. And it always has the power to AMUSE you. This one sits right alongside the Kennedy Expressway at Chicago Avenue.

Well, take your last looks quickly. Tuesday, the City of Chicago filed a permit to bring the tank down. And it doesn’t even get the dignity of a Demolition Permit. No, this tank goes out via “Easy Permit Process.” Harsh. But at least we had some warning, unlike the recently-removed tank at 1882 South Normal.

The “demo” permit. Easy Process, my eye.

The aforementioned Chicago Water Tank at 1882 South Normal. If you know of a permit to remove this one, I’ve not seen it.

Simpson-Querrey doubles down on its crane game

Posted on August 31, 2016 by danieldschell

Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine

In the foreground, South Crane grabs the spotlight, as North Crane fades to the back, like that other guy in Wham!

At the beginning of August, I promised you a second tower crane would appear at Northwestern University’s Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine in Streeterville. Problem is, I told you to wait until the end of August at the earliest, yet upon visiting Tuesday, there was South Crane, standing even taller than North Crane.

The Simpson-Querrey Institute joins The Sinclair in the Gold Coast as the only two projects in Chicago requiring dual tower cranes. Double the fun!

: The Climb.

: The Summit.

: The Cab.

: It lifts things.

: The Cranes, North and South, not Frasier and Niles.

: Look up, see cranes.

: I think that’s a crane part.

: And this.

The Green Green Glass of Home: Optima Chicago Center II

Posted on August 31, 2016 by danieldschell

The greenish upper cladding of Optima Chicago Center II. Kinda looks like the Chicago River.

Located at 220 East Illinois Street in Streeterville, Optima Chicago Center II will be a 54-story, 381-unit apartment tower. It was designed by Optima, Inc., and is being developed and built by Optima. because why pay a bunch of other companies to do the things you can do yourself? Its red and green glass will fit wonderfully beside its blue and black glass neighbor and predecessor, Optima Chicago Center.

Another round of demolition photos as Harpo Studios nears the end

Posted on August 30, 2016 by danieldschell

There isn’t much left of Harpo Studios. Heneghan Wrecking is seeing to that.

Coming soon: McDonald’s. Not *a* McDonald’s, of course. McDonald’s, as in, Ronald’s office.

: The corner of Washington and Carpenter still stands.

: That’s a big pile of bricks.

Marveling at the restored facade at Brooklyn Bowl

Posted on August 30, 2016 by danieldschell

#sitevisit pic.twitter.com/qzXttj6c6J

— OKW Architects (@OKWArchitects) July 21, 2016

It’s been six weeks since OKW Architects gave us that sneak peek behind the curtain at Brooklyn Bowl in the West Loop. That view, showing the inner walls to the two preserved facades facing south and west, still showed some scaffolding through the windows. But all that is gone now, and we can finally get a good look at the work W.E.O’Neil has done on the exterior. Sure, the blue supports looked cool in afternoon sunlight, but the restored brickwork looks much nicer. See for yourself:

: Looking at the corner of Fulton and Peoria.

: This is the west facade along Peoria Street.

: Fulton facade #1…

: …#2…

: …and #3.

: This gem sits high atop the corner of Fulton and Peoria.

: Looking west on West Fulton.

: Never forget how all those supports gleamed in the sun.

: The facade, from inside.

: Here’s a rendering from Convexity Properties of what Brooklyn Bowl will look like when complete.

Quick Look: The 3Eleven tower crane. (It’s more of a late look)

Posted on August 30, 2016 by danieldschell

The tower crane at 3Eleven is up and running. But mostly up.

They set up the crane at 3Eleven in River North the day before vacation. So it’s been up and running for a week and a half. Monday was my first chance to see it. And now you can see what I saw when I walked by.

It’s already dragging things around the lot at 311 West Illinois Street.

Ironwork as artwork at 312 North Carpenter

Posted on August 29, 2016 by danieldschell

The artwork of ironwork, at 312 North Carpenter.

New York City’s Madison Capital is renovating its three-story building at 312 North Carpenter in the Fulton Market District. And while the front still looks like an old brick facade in desperate need of some fixing up, the rear of the building is nothing short of an iron work of art.

LG Construction is the general contractor for the 312 project, designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, which includes some demolition work of the building next door at 328 North Carpenter, allowing 312 to be more accessible for renovation. (Madison Capital owns both properties.) A permit was filed back in February to, and I quote (copy, actually…)

RENOVATIONS AND ADDITION TO EXISTING 3 STORY OFFICE AND MERCANTILE BUILDING. CONVERT 1ST FLOOR RETAIL, 2ND AND THIRD FLOOR INTO OFFICE SPACE. 3 STORY ADDITION, ROOFTOP AMENITY DECK TO BE ADDED IN PLACE OF DEMOLISHED 1 STORY WAREHOUSE AS PER PLANS

**Some emergency demo work was necessary back in September when a large portion at the back of the structure collapsed (see the DNAInfo story here.)**

: The Carpenter Street frontage of 312 North Carpenter.

: 328 North Carpenter in the foreground. Madison Capital’s website shows big plans for that structure as well.

: 312 and 328 North Carpenter Street.

: The emergency demolition permit, filed when a portion of the building collapsed.

: The renovation permit.

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

The bricks hit the wall at Fulton West

Posted on August 29, 2016 by danieldschell

The front of Fulton West is bricked in, up to the setback.

Fulton West is looking a lot less like an old skeleton, and a lot more like its renderings. Sterling Bay is developing Fulton West, which will provide 290,000 square feet of office space and 610 parking spots to the Fulton Market District.

Leopardo Construction crews have added five additional floors to the existing 4-story structure, and now some major brick work covers the facades. The Gensler-designed office building is destined for an April 2017 opening.

: From the northwest corner of Fulton and Ada.

: Admit it. This rendering from Sterling Bay is starting to resemble the actual work taking place at Fulton West.

: Gratuitous south facade with tower crane shot.

: Is this a means to go up? or a way to come down? I’m guessing the ladder.

: Duct work around back.

: The west facade is in on the brick act too.

A Crane Cruise on Alaska’s Resurrection Bay

Posted on August 25, 2016 by danieldschell

I wasn’t looking for a reason to post photos from our trek through Alaska, so much as an excuse. A crane on a barge provided it.

The tour through Resurrection Bay from Seward, Alaska is supposed to include the glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park. Sadly, even glaciers aren’t powerful enough to shine through rainy, foggy days. But there are still sights to be seen. Eagles, otters, harbor seals, and puffins, wildlife not generally part of the scenery on the Chicago River.

And the above barge. I know, most folks would be scanning the mountains for birds and bears, or watching the water for porpoises and orcas (we saw neither), but if you’re even a bit surprised I chose to watch the crane on a barge, you haven’t been paying attention to this space.