Renelle on the River plants a tower crane on North Wabash

Posted on November 8, 2017 by danieldschell

A tower crane stub has been planted at Renelle on the River.

One of the city’s tightest construction spaces has planted a shiny yellow tower crane stub. Renelle on the River is the 18-story, bKL Architecture-designed condo tower Belgravia Group is sliding atop the underground parking garage at 403 North Wabash in River North. And a walk-by yesterday reveals McHugh Construction working around the new crane.

Rendering of Renelle on the River from bKL Architecture.

Renelle on the River is a curious project. Not only is it the aforementioned tight squeeze where a small plaza once stood, but it will also be angled in such a way as to give all residents a view of the Chicago River. And then there’s the foundation. No caissons were drilled for this one (the building permit went straight to full-build, with no foundation permit), leaving one to assume the existing parking structure was built to support much more weight than a few cars. And that tower crane’s foundation? It appears to be suspended in mid-air, even while being rooted in a huge block of concrete. It’s a mesmerizing set-up, to be sure.

Renelle on the River will bring 50 three- and four-bedroom condominiums to the neighborhood. There’s a sales office right next to the site, if you want to stop in and check them out. We highly suggest taking their virtual tour.

Simpson Querrey giveth, and Simpson Querrey taketh away

Posted on November 8, 2017 by danieldschell

A little birdie landed on the roof of Simpson Querrey and sent us this photo of the derrick crane and South tower crane.

Within hours of assembling its third crane on the site of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, Power Construction began using it to take down the South tower crane at the topped-out facility. That derrick crane you see in the photo above would be Chicago’s 34th crane in the air (It’s not a tower crane, but it *is* a crane that required a permit from the City of Chicago, so based on that technicality, it goes on the count) but we’re back down to 33 with the South tower crane being dismantled.

A reminder to those of you walking around on what’s left of the crane, in the photos below: You never have to worry about me taking your jobs. Trust me on that.

The cab comes down, courtesy of that little birdie again.

I’ll always picture you two kids together.

: The North tower crane will remain for a while.

: Hard to tell what’s derrick, what’s North crane.

: It’s not just crane work going on.

With Van Cleef crushed, 56 West Huron burrows in to River North

Posted on November 7, 2017 by danieldschell

That’s a Revcon rig where Van Cleef salon used to be. 56 West Huron caissons are underway.

56 West Huron is now longer a former beauty salon; it’s now a future condominium building.

A quick check Monday morning to see about demolition progress of the former church building instead showed a Revcon caisson rig drilling into the soil. And that means 56 West Huron is officially underway.

The 13-story, 11-unit condominium tower from Kiferbaum Development Group got a building permit September 29, followed by the demolition permit on October 2.

The Studio Dwell-designed project boasts 10 3-bed/3.5-bath full-floor condos and one 4-bed/4.5-bath duplex penthouse. Each unit will have one parking space apiece. According to the 56 West Huron website (link above) condos begin at $1.375M, with one unit already sold.

Gilbane Building Company is the general contractor, tasked with having the tower open in Summer 2018. That’s coming up pretty quick.

Home2 Suites is Home2 Chicago’s newest tower crane

Posted on November 7, 2017 by danieldschell

Over there, in the trees! It’s Chicago’s 33rd tower crane!

As expected, and despite some sketchy weather, the tower crane went up this past weekend at 110 West Huron in River North. That’s the site of the new Home2 Suites Akara Partners is building, and it marks the entry into the Chicago Tower Crane count for M.A. Mortensen.

This is the 33rd tower crane now active in Chicago, though #34 is also up — the derrick crane at Simpson Querrey — which we got a sneak peek at yesterday, thanks to a little birdie. We’ll get a better look at it today, and share. But remember, that derrick’s sole purpose is to remove cranes. So don’t call it a hero.

Hutchinson Builders lights up Kangaroo Point, Brisbane with Walan Apartments

Posted on November 5, 2017 by danieldschell

Walan Apartments, lower right (with tower crane), rises just beyond Brisbane’s Story Bridge.

Walan Apartments first catches your eye from the City Reach Boardwalk along the Brisbane River. It’s hard not to notice; Hutchinson Builders has a huge banner celebrating their 105 years in business hanging from the west elevation of the construction site. But it’s after dark when Walan becomes can’t-miss scenery. That’s when Hutchinson lights up the tower crane like a giant blue lightsaber guarding the entrance to Story Bridge.

Walan Apartments is a 14-story apartment tower from GBW Investments. Designed by the Brisbane architecture firm of Bureau^Proberts, the project includes just 14 units at 2 Scott Street. It is expected to open in 2018.

: Bureau^Proberts rendering of Walan Apartments.

: Walan Apartments rendering from the Hutchinson Builders website.

: Looking across the Brisbane River.

: Congrats on 105 years!

: Story Bridge.

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.

Home2 Suites has a stub; expect the tower crane this weekend

Posted on November 2, 2017 by danieldschell

Home2 Suites River North is getting a pretty yellow tower crane this weekend.

The Home2 Suites at 110 West Huron in River North planted a tower crane stub some time during my absence, and we’re being told here at B.U.C. that crews will begin assembling the full tower crane Friday.

You’ll remember that the Home2 Suites River North will be a 17-story, 185-room hotel being developed by Akara Partners and designed by NORR. Stalworth Underground was out there doing caissons work last time we stopped by, but they’ve completed those and moved on. That means M.A. Mortenson Company has come down from Wisconsin to take complete control of the build.

: Stalworth Underground tackling caissons last month.

: Stub.

You can check up on progress at 900 West Washington via construction cam

Posted on October 30, 2017 by danieldschell

Here’s a screenshot from Earthcam at 900 West Washington in the West Loop.

Just because your favorite construction bloggers go away on vacation doesn’t mean you have to miss out on progress around Chicago. Many projects have webcams set up to let us all peek in on the goings-on.

We got an email from Earthcam this morning making sure we knew about the camera watching over 900 West, at 900 West Washington in the West Loop. All you need do is go to the development’s website here and click on the “VIEW CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS” link, and you’re right on top of the action.

Thanks for the heads-up, Earthcam!

The Eastbourne proves sometimes, even three tower cranes isn’t enough

Posted on October 20, 2017 by danieldschell

Put up 3 tower cranes, even 9,000 miles away, and I’ll try to stop by.

It’s fitting that the The Eastbourne, a luxury residential de velopment coming to East Melbourne from Mirvac and Bates Smart, is being built right next to the Epworth Freemasons maternity unit on Victoria Parade, because The Eastbourne already has three, with a fourth on the way. Tower cranes, that is, not babies.

The Eastbourne will feature about 250 homes over 11 stories. The website states that 95% of them have been spoken for, so you better hurry.

I’ve included a couple Google Maps photos below of the Dallas Brooks Centre, which has been demolished to make room for The Eastbourne, scheduled to be move-in ready mid-2019.

: That’s a stub for a 4th tower crane right in the middle of the site.

: Google Maps photo of the Dallas Brooks Centre.

: Google Maps photo of the Dallas Brooks Centre.

: The Eastbourne by Mirvac.

More hotel progress, as Aloft Chicago Mag Mile grows in Streeterville

Posted on October 10, 2017 by danieldschell

Aloft Chicago Mag Mile grows toward 18 stories ate 243 East Ontario Street in Streeterville.

On a very busy block for hospitality, the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile is beginning to push skyward where the former Museum of Contemporary Art once stood in Streeterville. The 18-story, 336-room Valerio Dewalt Train-designed hotel will join the brand-new Hotel EMC2 and Marriott Fairfield Inn just across Ontario Street, plus the Ivy Boutique next door.

Tishman, which recently completed the Kenect project in River West, is the general contractor for the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile. This is their lone tower crane on the Chicago count. Completion is expected in Winter 2018.

A core is rising at the Nobu Hotel

Posted on October 9, 2017 by danieldschell

The core is rising from the ground at the Nobu Hotel.

That tower crane Centaur Construction put up is paying dividends, as the core has risen above street level at the Nobu Hotel at 854 West Randolph Street in the West Loop. The Nobu won’t rise high — just 11 stories — so the every inch of growth looks significant.

Speaking of significant, the opening of Nobu will be significantly later than the “late 2017” estimate from that press release linked above. Remember, Nobu famously broke ground (famous because Robert De Niro was here for it) back in June of 2016, but foundation work didn’t get underway until March of this year. The new release date (it’s a De Niro production, so I used a movie-industry term. Get it?) is now 2018, according to the Nobu Hotels website. That’s easily doable for Centaur.