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.

Construction Update: 465 North Park wraps up caissons, starts digging

Posted on August 15, 2016 by danieldschell

I’m still struck by how barren a lot looks just after caisson work concludes. This is 465 North Park, once again a blank canvas.

“Life moves pretty fast” Ferris Bueller once said. “If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” For instance, wait three weeks to go check on caisson progress at 465 North Park, and find out you’re too late. Yep. Life moves pretty fast.

Power Construction has begun digging a foundation, now that the heavy drilling is out of the way. They’re working on Jupiter Realty Company’s 47-story, 444-unit apartment tower at 465 North Park Drive in Streeterville. The Pappageorge Haymes design will include 11,650 square feet of retail/commercial space, and 181 parking spaces.

: Large hole to the left, storm puddles to the right.

No more loafing on old Gonnella site as foundation crews rip into the earth

Posted on August 15, 2016 by danieldschell

Ahhh, the familiar din of caisson work.

Surely this development will have a cool name soon. But for now, 1001 West Chicago will have to suffice (despite the two foundation permits being filed as 728 and 738 North Morgan Street.) That was the address of the Gonnella Baking Company when it was on this site in River West. Now, the entire lot is leveled, and crews are busy drilling caissons for a huge 360-unit apartment project from Bond Companies, which came up with the bread to get this development on a roll.

The design from Fitzgerald Associates will include 10,000 square feet of retail space, and parking for 300 cars. As you can see in the photos, Revcon is out there on the caisson work; Power Construction is handling the general contractor duties.

: A rendering of 1001 West Chicago from FitzGerald Associates.

: The 728 North Morgan permit.

: The 738 North Morgan permit,

Pre-construction demolition coming for Renelle on the River

Posted on August 14, 2016 by danieldschell

Chicago Architecture Blog had the details Monday about a new condo development, soon to be wedged alongside Trump Tower, at 403 North Wabash Avenue.

A renovation permit was issued August 2, reading:

“DEMOLITION ONLY: NON-STRUCTURAL DEMOLITION OF AN EXISTING PLAZA ABOVE A 4 LEVEL PARKING GARAGE INCLUDING REMOVAL OF PLANTERS, PAVING AND SITE ELEMENTS FOR FUTURE CONSTRUCTION”

That “future construction” is Renelle on the River. The 17-story-high Renelle will bring 45 three- and four-bedroom luxury condominiums to River North. Designed by bKL Architecture, Renelle is being developed by the Belgravia Realty Group (they’re building CA Washington in the West Loop.) McHugh Construction will be on the build.

: The doomed plaza, with 405 North Wabash in the background.

: Renelle has banners along Wabash Avenue.

: A rendering from the Renelle website.

: Another Renelle website rendering. All condos will have river views, even if the tower isn’t *on* the river.

: The demolition-as-renovation permit.

Quick Look: 3Eleven’s freshly-planted tower crane stub

Posted on August 13, 2016 by danieldschell

https://twitter.com/BuildUpChicago/status/763753646416879617

I told you Thursday morning it looked like 3Eleven was getting ready for a tower crane of its own. And just a few hours later, there it was. Here are a few extra looks, from the L, and from the ground:

: Taken quickly, before I could pass out.

Tower Crane Update: 625 West Adams

Posted on August 13, 2016 by danieldschell

There are tower crane parts all over the West Loop today. And you know what? It’s fantastic.

Crews continue assembly of the giant yellow Liebherr 542 HC-L 18-36 Litronic (I can read permits) at 625 West Adams.

: NOPE

: More parts on the way, even as present parts are being put together.

Soil Sampling on Randolph can only mean one thing. Or more.

Posted on August 12, 2016 by danieldschell

https://twitter.com/vidlerd/status/762688007694680064

Thanks to that heads-up from Twitter user @vidlerd, we know there’s been some soil sampling happening in the almost-always-empty parking lot at 180 West Randolph Street in The Loop. (You still get in big trouble if you park there though.)

Sometimes, soil sampling means construction is imminent. And sometimes it doesn’t. This parking lot is up for sale, and so far there’s nothing to indicate a transaction. Is the soil being tested for the sake of a prospective buyer? By the lot owner, just so they know all there is to know about the lot they’re selling? The answers to these and many other questions are out there. The question is, are the questions?

Quick Look: Tower crane assemblage at 625 West Adams

Posted on August 12, 2016 by danieldschell

This massive street crane was the first piece of equipment on hand for the tower crane assembly.

Most construction companies will tell you they have their own schedules to keep, unaffected by outside influences. That’s okay. I’m still going to pretend I’m responsible for getting the tower crane on site at 625 West Adams.

Parts began arriving Thursday, and crews immediately got to work putting them together. It looks like weather may slow things down today.

: The Central crane stands at the ready.

: The first truck with crane parts arrives.

: Those are paw pads for the street crane.

: This is what greeted me upon my return Thursday night.

: Same shot, more light, Friday morning.

: Friday morning crane meeting.

: The cab waits patiently on Desplaines…

: …and then backs into the lot.

: Cab assembly started as soon as it hit the ground.

Demolition Update: Addison & Clark tears up Wrigleyville

Posted on August 11, 2016 by danieldschell

The old Starbucks building is coming down. They’ve already reopened on Sheffield.

There’s a lot going on up near Wrigley Field. And I’m not just talking about the Cubs winning the NL Central.

A whole lot of demolition is taking place along the Clark Street corridor. On Addison Street, buildings are being removed for Addison & Clark, an 8-story mixed-use project that will see 148 apartments, a whopping 150,000 square feet of commercial space, and over 400 parking spaces. A joint venture from M&R Development and Bucksbaum Retail Properties, Addison & Clark replaces, among other structures, the Starbucks at 1023 West Addison that made Theo Epstein famous in Chicago.

Environmental Cleansing of Markham, IL are out there as we speak ripping stuff apart, then Power Construction will take over the lot and start the new SCB-designed development. Project completion is expected in Summer 2018.

: A rendering of Addison & Clark from SCB.

: This Kris Bryant mural has nothing to do with the Addison & Clark project, but GO CUBS!

: Whoa, gettin’ kinda close there, big fella.

: A latte of the Starbucks building is gone. (sorry)

: Bricks are being salvaged, palletized, and trucked away.

: The Starbucks demolition permit.

: The 1027 West Addison demolition permit.

: The Addison & Clark foundation permit.

With caissons sunk, 3Eleven preps for a tower crane

Posted on August 11, 2016 by danieldschell

The tell-tale sign of a future tower crane, at 3Eleven

Revcon Construction has hauled away most of its caisson equipment, leaving the site at 311 West Illinois Street to Power Construction to start building the 24-story apartment tower from The John Buck Company.

A tower crane permit was filed for 3Eleven waaaay back on June 21. And now, we know where it’s going to stand: in the “back right” (southwest) corner of the lot. Expect the stub to be planted any day now.

: The tower crane foundation.

: The lot is a blank canvas again.

: Caisson equipment being hauled away Wednesday morning.

: See those guys hidden behind the truck? Yep, they’re setting the tower crane foundation.

Construction Update: 171 Aberdeen builds a foundation

Posted on August 10, 2016 by danieldschell

The non-tower crane (for now) at 171 Aberdeen casts a long shadow as morning work gets underway.

The Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture-designed 171 Aberdeen is having some foundation work done courtesy of Novak Construction, even without the benefit (yet) of the almighty tower crane. The new mixed-use project from MCZ Development (click that link. MCZ has a wonderful video introducing their building) will have 75 luxury apartments, 15,000 square feet of retail, and 40,000 square feet of office space. Plus 130 or so parking spaces to accommodate residents, shoppers, diners, and commuters.