You didn’t expect the Apple Store to be shaped like an apple, right?

Posted on April 22, 2017 by danieldschell

The Apple Store on Chicago’ Magnificent Mile, at 401 North Michigan Avenue.

For some reason, there’s been a rash of stories lately stating how the new Apple Store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is “taking shape.” Well, we know it’s been in the shape of a future two-story glass cube for quite some time now. Here are a few shots of how things are progressing as of this week.

: The view from Pioneer Plaza.

: Is that a time-lapse camera?

: From across the Chicago River.

: Staging barge.

: From truck to barge.

: The stairs that go up.

: The stairs that go down.

: Gratuitous tower crane shot.

The Moxy Hotel grows a core in River North

Posted on April 12, 2017 by danieldschell

Work atop the core at the Moxy Hotel in River North. #54 is watching.

While the skyscrapers were getting all the attention, the Moxy Hotel project at 530 North LaSalle Drive in River North has begun shooting up out of the ground. The Pepper Construction joint has an elevator core jutting about four stories in the air, while ground work continues around it. This design from DLR Group is only slated for eight stories, so don’t blink on it, or it’ll be done while you napped.

As McDonald’s progresses, Sterling Bay pitches @1045 retail space

Posted on April 11, 2017 by danieldschell

The McDonald’s HQ in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago.

Along with construction progress at the new McDonald’s Corporation Headquarters in the West Loop comes signage for available retail space, which Sterling Bay has dubbed @1045. An homage to its north frontage at 1045 West Randolph Street, @1045 is 48,000 square feet of ground-floor space, divisible to 2,000-square-foot parcels.

But enough of the real estate talk. What matters here is that McHugh Construction continues to push off the ground and into the sky. The @1045 signage is a nice touch, but construction is the real attraction.

: The Golden Arches have arrived on site.

: 7

: The Two Cranes.

Cook County Central Campus Health Center plants a tower crane

Posted on April 10, 2017 by danieldschell

Cook County Central Campus Health Center tower crane

Spring is the season for sprouting tower cranes, like this one for the Cook County Central Campus Health Center.

Thanks to a little birdie’s tip, we heard the nine-story, 282,000-square-foot Cook County Central Campus Health Center at the corner of Damen Avenue and Polk Street planted a tower crane stub this past week. The project was designed by Gensler, in collaboration with Forum Studios. Also joining the design/build team is Clayco, Inc. which is serving as the general contractor as well. They got some help from Stalworth Underground, who drove the sheeting for the foundation two weeks ago that you’ll see in the photos below.

: Rendering of Cook County Central Campus Health Center from Gensler.

: Rendering of Cook County Central Campus Health Center from Gensler.

: Rendering of Cook County Central Campus Health Center from Gensler.

: The tower crane permit was issued March 28.

Addison & Clark reaches street level by Opening Day

Posted on April 10, 2017 by danieldschell

The tower crane at Addison & Clark stands stoic beyond the lights at Wrigley Field.

There will be a lot going on at the corner of Clark and Addison this week. Most of it will center around 1060 West Addison, to be precise. But expect plenty of activity at Addison & Clark as well.

Rendering of Addison & Clark from SCB.

A combined effort from developers M&R Development and Bucksbaum Retail Properties, Addison & Clark will be a mixed-use project consisting of 148 apartments, a 405-space indoor parking garage, and a whopping 146,000 square feet of commercial space. SCB designed the development; Power Construction is the general contractor.

With the foundation dug out (heh — dugout) work has risen to about even with the sidewalk along Clark Street, while the most noticeable feature along the Addison Street side are the huge mounds of dirt.

The Hotel Zachary not done, but ready, for Opening Day at Wrigley Field

Posted on April 7, 2017 by danieldschell

The Hotel Zachary won’t make the roster of the 2017 Chicago Cubs. But 2018 will be its year.

Which is to say, we’re all ready for Opening Day at Wrigley Field.

As the Chicago Cubs return home to play baseball for the first time since winning the 2016 World Series, the Hotel Zachary continues to climb on the other side of Clark Street. Though still not renamed The Russell On Addison, sadly, the Hotel Zachary is Hickory Street Capital’s effort to bring stylish hospitality to The Friendly Confines. Designed by VOA Associates, the 7-story hotel will have 175 guest rooms, retail spaces, and multiple dining options.

It’s being built by Walsh Construction, which is probably why you’ve been seeing “W” flags all over Wrigleyville for the past year or so.

The overhaul of 676 North LaSalle into The Ardus is underway

Posted on April 5, 2017 by danieldschell

The Ardus, 676 North LaSalle, starts with demolition work, under the watchful eye of Gallery on Wells.

Demolition is happening in earnest, inside and out, at 676 North LaSalle Street in River North, transforming a six-story building into The Ardus.

A project of Cedar Street Companies, The Ardus will have about 150 residential units, with below grade parking. Most of those units will be in a new tower on the corner of LaSalle and Huron Streets. But some will be in the existing building itself, hence the demo work before renovations occur, including additional stories on top.

Booth Hansen has done the design work for the transformation as well as the new property. Method Construction, one of the Cedar Street companies, is the general contractor. Alpine Demolition is doing the wrecking.

: The Ardus hides behind the old Erie LaSalle body shop, also soon to be demolished.

: The east facing.

: The view from the back. Lots of light in this building now.

: The north facing.

: Major interior demolition.

: Rendering of The Ardus from Cedar Street Companies.

: Rendering of The Ardus from Cedar Street Companies.

: The Foundation Permit for the new building.

: The renovation for the existing building.

Sans tower crane, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints keeps building

Posted on April 5, 2017 by danieldschell

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under construction at 822 North Clark Street.

Rendering from Dixon + Associates.

At 822 North Clark Street in the Near North, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seems to be getting along splendidly without the tower crane it shed back in February. Architect David Dixon of Dixon + Associates in Salt Lake City shared some of the features of his design. There will be a partial floor below grade for parking, then six stories above grade. A two-story chapel is included, with the possibility of adding a second, smaller chapel on the top floor in the future. There will also be an outdoor, landscaped courtyard on the fourth floor.

McHugh Construction is on the build.

: Rendering from Dixon + Associates.

It’s a 2-fer on North Broadway in Lake View

Posted on April 5, 2017 by danieldschell

There are two projects happening right now in the Lake View neighborhood on successive blocks of North Broadway.

At 3833 North Broadway, DLG Management is building an 8-story, 134-unit residential project at the intersection of North Broadway and West Sheridan Road. Designed by Jonathan Splitt Architects, 3833 North Broadway will include two basements, according to the foundation permit, and below-grade parking. Which explains all the deep excavating going on.

Seven addresses, encompassing 3819 through 3835 North Broadway as well as 731 West Sheridan, were demolished to make room for this one. The north-most, 3835, had its historic facade dismantled, to be reused for the facings on both Broadway and Sheridan. DLG is handling its own general contractor duties.

: Rendering of 3833 North Broadway from Jonathan Splitt Architects.

: Pile driver.

: The Foundation Permit.

734 West Sheridan

Rendering of 734 West Sheridan from Hirsch Associates.

Across Sheridan Road on the northeast corner of the intersection, Vermilion Development received a building permit on Monday to construct a 100-unit project where a gas station once stood. A design by Hirsch Associates Architects (Centrum Hubbard, 412 North Wells, Centrum Bucktown), and assigned to an address of 734 West Sheridan, this one will be 10 stories high. Arco/Murray, the GC on Hirsch’s Centrum Bucktown job, will be the general contractor here as well.

: Demolition of the gas station is complete, and site prep is underway.

: The building permit, issued Monday March 3.

: Gas station demolition permit.

Boards outnumber the bored at an underway Chestnut Row Homes

Posted on April 4, 2017 by danieldschell

Signs of life at 111 West Chestnut Street, the future Chestnut Row Homes.

There’s woodwork coming out of the woodwork at the long-delayed Chestnut Row Homes at 111 West Chestnut Street in Near North. Originally permitted for construction way back in October of 2015, the single-family rental homes from Tawani Enterprises has had trouble getting started. But there’s finally some action, and it looks like general contractor Berglund Construction has started filling in the excavated hole where the 7 (down from the initial 8) units by Booth Hansen will one day stand.

I mention this with each post about Chestnut Row Homes, but it’s worth repeating. The Chicago Plan Commission raved about this development when they approved it in February of 2015. So whatever has held up construction must have been a pretty big deal. Nice to see the ball rolling again here.