The Simpson-Querrey Center shows off its curves

Posted on June 5, 2017 by danieldschell

Gorgeous curves on the north elevation of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center.

The two cores got off to a big lead at the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center but now the ironwork is making a move, gaining ground on the concrete towers.

The south elevation of the Simpson Querrey Center gets all the sunlight and attention, but around back along Superior Street, the curvy steel cuts quite the striking figure. It’s definitely worth watching this one from the south and the north. Of course, as is usually the case with most high-rise construction projects, do it on a sunny day. Remember, this phase of the Perkins+Will design will be 14 stories high.

There’s a new tower crane stub in town, and her name is Marlowe

Posted on June 2, 2017 by danieldschell

Hey, look over there! Marlowe planted a tower crane!

About a week after receiving a tower crane permit from the City of Chicago, Marlowe planted a stub at 675 North Wells Street in River North on Thursday. Having recently lost cranes at 640 North Wells, The Gallery On Wells, and 3Eleven, the neighborhood needed a burst of excitement, and what’s more fun than a new tower crane?

https://twitter.com/adjustableforms/status/870320994413666306

See? Don’t believe for a second I’m the only one out here excited about tower cranes. Adjustable Forms knows what’s up.

Now the Antunovich Associates-designed 15-story, 176-unit apartment building from Lennar Multifamily Companies can start going skyward, under the careful direction of Power Construction.

: Wow, 676 N LaSalle is gutted.

: The Permit.

Tower Crane #33 is almost ready to lift heavy stuff at No. 508

Posted on June 1, 2017 by danieldschell

Sorry, we’re building a tower crane here. Please go around.

If you’re wondering why you can’t drive on West Diversey Parkway between Pine Grove and Cambridge Avenues in Lake View, welcome to the world of tower cranes. The street is blocked so crews can utilize a pretty red Stevenson crane to assemble a tower crane at No. 508. They’ve been at it since Tuesday, so hopefully work will be completed by the end of the day Thursday. Then, and only then, can Macon Construction Group begin going vertical on Broder Properties’ 12-story, 53-unit apartment tower.

: Here’s what we’ve got so far.

: Diversey will be closed at least through Thursday.

Quick Look: Aloft Chicago Mag Mile plants a tower crane stub

Posted on May 29, 2017 by danieldschell

Streeterville has a new tower-crane stub, thanks to the lovely new seedling sprouting up at the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile at 243 East Ontario Street. Just a little more sand left to dig out of the lot, and Tishman’s 18-story hotel can start going vertical.

171 Aberdeen drops the tower crane

Posted on May 27, 2017 by danieldschell

A street crane prepares to take down the tower crane at 171 Aberdeen in the West Loop Friday morning.

The last Friday of May was also the last day the tower crane at 171 Aberdeen stood above the West Loop. A crew started bright and early in the morning bringing the crane down, making the West Loop American Flag, Tower Crane, and Water Tank photo opp much more difficult.

171 Aberdeen (165 N Aberdeen now?) is a mixed-use building from MCZ Development, delivering 90 residential units, with 40,000 square feet of office space and 15,000 square feet of retail space, plus 130 parking spots, to the neighborhood. Novak Construction is the GC. Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture the designer.

: When that second crane shows up, you know your tower crane’s doomed.

: Removing counterweights.

: Removing counterweights.

: Your jobs are safe from me.

: No better place to hang out on a Friday of a holiday weekend.

: Prepping the end section of the jib.

: That’s crooked.

: We have separation.

: Down comes the first jib section. Watch out for that L train.

: Stubby crane.

Construction Stubdate: No. 508 plants a tower crane in Lake View

Posted on May 15, 2017 by danieldschell

https://twitter.com/SigAlfano/status/863160123841294336

Shout-out to Twitter user @sigalfano who let me know, after some guesswork, that a tower crane stub had been planted at No. 508 (508 West Diversey Parkway) on Friday. It joins One South Halsted in the stub group, with full assembly likely while I’m in England. So take pictures and videos of it going up and send them the blog’s way.

This is the only tower crane in the Chicago skies right now for Macon Construction Group, the general contractor tasked with building the 12-story, 53-apartment Pappageorge Haymes design.

Construction Update: 1411 South Michigan

Posted on May 10, 2017 by danieldschell

An overhead view of 1411 South Michigan. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Healy.

Gravity seems to be no obstacle at 1411 South Michigan, as Lendlease workers (with assistance from Pepper Construction on the concrete work) continue erecting a 15-story residential tower for Russland Capital Group. BKV Group’s design will include 199 apartments for rent, plus more than 40,000 square feet of commercial space. Russland hopes to have 1411 South Michigan open before the calendar flips over into 2018.

: Tower crane over Lake Michigan. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Healy.

: This gratuitous tower crane shot was taken from a rooftop across the street.

: As was this one.

Demolition Update: Grant Park Packing gives way to the Hoxton Chicago

Posted on May 9, 2017 by danieldschell

Tuesday morning:

Monday morning (with sunshine):

Caissons begin at Marlowe in River North

Posted on May 3, 2017 by danieldschell

Stalworth Underground drills the first caisson for Marlowe, 675 North Wells Street in River North.

Just over a week after caisson work started on the other side of the block (676 North LaSalle) at The Ardus, caisson work got underway this morning at 675 North Wells Street in River North, home of the future Marlowe development from Lennar Multifamily Companies. Stalworth Underground has the honor of ripping holes in the soil and filling them with concrete for the 15-story, 176-unit apartment project. Antunovich Associates took care of the designs; Power Construction will be on the build.

The good word from Stalworth is there will be 59 bell caissons dug at Marlowe, down to about 80 feet. Diameters range from 2-and-a-half to 3-and-a-half feet, with bells up to 10 feet.

: Caisson #1 started Wednesday morning.

: This will be a two-rig job.

Aloft Chicago Mag Mile keeps digging while we wait for a tower crane

Posted on May 3, 2017 by danieldschell

Stalworth Underground drives piles into the Streeterville sand, as foundation work for the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile continues.

The tower crane was permitted for the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile on March 31, but we’ll have to continue to be patient. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot going on where the newest Streeterville hotel will be planted. You see, there are still piles to drive and sand to dig. LOTS of sand.

I still can’t get my head around the idea that much of Chicago as I know it was beach. But start digging, and you’ll find it. They’ve certainly found it at 243 East Ontario. I bet sand is easier to drive piles through than rock, though. But you’ll have to check with Stalworth Underground about that.

As you may recall, Tishman is building the 18-story, 336-room Aloft Chicago Mag Mile here, designed by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates.