Glass is in session at 30 East

Posted on September 6, 2016 by danieldschell

Shiny, newly-installed windows stand along East Balbo Avenue in the new 30 East.

30 East is a residential tower from Gilbane Development Company that will cater to students from the multitude of colleges in and around the South Loop. And when better than Chicago’s official first day of class to tell you about 30 East’s first day of glass?

Last week, Power Construction crews began installing windows along the tower’s third level. In all, there will be 16 floors with 134 furnished apartments, ranging from studios to 4-bedroom units. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, 30 East will also have 8,000 square feet of retail space at the ground level. Gilbane expects to have the tower ready for Fall 2017 classes.

: Prepping for pane.

: A new glass panel is positioned for installation.

: Don’t get too caulky.

: Hey. How’s it goin’?

: 30 East, as seen from State Street.

: The L passes by.

: Another L passes by – almost through – 30 East.

: Looking south from Harrison Street.

As Nobu Hotel awaits height decision, caisson equipment arrives

Posted on September 2, 2016 by danieldschell

Caisson equipment offloading for the Nobu Hotel in the West Loop.

When the Chicago Plan Commission meets on the 15th of September, one of the decisions they’ll make is whether to allow the West Loop’s Nobu Hotel project to go to eleven. Stories, that is. Per the Commission’s September agenda:

The proposal will establish an 11-story hotel with 119 hotel keys, amenity space for hotel patrons, ground floor restaurant and 35 off-site accessory parking spaces. (27th Ward)

After a big groundbreaking ceremony featuring co-owner Robert “I Heard Some Things” DeNiro back in June, nothing much has happened (besides some soil sampling in July) on the lot along the Randolph Street Restaurant Row. But Thursday, crews could be seen over, under, and around the secretive plywood privacy fencing, offloading caisson equipment. Because whether you know your height allowance or not, you’re still gonna need a foundation.

: This soil sampling rig was on site back in July.

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.

400 West Huron glasses up the joint

Posted on August 22, 2016 by danieldschell

400 West Huron has topped off in River North.

The 15-story condominium tower 400 West Huron has topped out, and is glassing up the River North neighborhood. Both developer and general contractor, Smithfield Properties is bringing 26 luxury units, with high-end finishes and private garages, which, according to the 400 West Huron website, will be “Crisp, exclusive, tight.” Crisp? Tight? Someone’s been practicing their Instagram-speak.

The Berkelhamer Architects-designed building will also include ground-floor retail space.

With demolition complete, Elevate Lincoln Park can up its game

Posted on August 19, 2016 by danieldschell

The signs are everywhere: ELEVATE Lincoln Park is coming.

There isn’t even rubble left of Lincoln Centre; just memories. Memories of an R before an E that just never looks right. Those tennis courts are gone too.

With the lots at 2518-2534 North Lincoln Avenue scraped clean, ELEVATE Lincoln Park can now begin construction. A project of Baker Development, ELEVATE Lincoln Park brings a 10-story, 200-unit rental complex, designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, plus 16,300 square feet of retail space, to the Lincoln Park neighborhood. McHugh Construction will be the general contractor, with completion slated for October 2017.

: A rendering of ELEVATE Lincoln Park from Baker Development.

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.

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.

: A render of 171 Aberdeen from MCZ Development.

: And my attempt to recreate that rendering. Without the unbuilt building, obviously.

: July’s caisson work, from the L.

: This is how you mark a photo so you don’t forget where you took it.

Construction begins on 101-Unit Evanston TOD

Posted on August 8, 2016 by danieldschell

This rendering from Hirsch Associates depicts 1571 Maple from the CTA tracks, looking west on Davis Street.

It’s important, when visiting Edzo’s in Evanston, to make sure the staff isn’t on vacation before jumping on a Metra train to the northern suburbs. Oh well. At least there was a construction site to check out.

Work has just started on the Hirsch Associates Architects-designed TOD Centrum Evanston. Evanston has TODs, right? Because this would certainly qualify, situated as it is at the south end of the Davis Street Metra UP-N line, and the Davis Street CTA Purple Line station. The 12-story development from Centrum Partners (Centrum and Hirsch have teamed up before, most recently on the office/residential buildings at Hubbard and Wells in River North) will have 101 apartments, and 3,100 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Novak Construction is on the build. Completion is expected in early 2017.

: A rendering from Hirsch Associates, looking across Maple Street.

: Another Hirsch render, looking southeast from the northwest corner of Davis and Maple.

: Looking south across Davis Street.

: Looking east across Maple Street.

: This expertly detailed Google map shows the lot where 1571 Maple is being constructed.

Sterling Bay sampling soil at 210 North Carpenter

Posted on August 5, 2016 by danieldschell

A soil sampling rig at 210 North Carpenter.

Sterling Bay has plans to develop property alongside the L tracks on Lake Street in the West Loop. Situated between Carpenter and Aberdeen Streets, Sterling Bay’s rendering of 210 North Carpenter shows a 13-story building that will practically kiss passing Pink and Green Line trains.

According to its website, Sterling Bay would like to have 210 North Carpenter ready for use late in 2017 or early 2018. And with a soil sampling rig on site this week, it’s very possible ground could be broken any day now. Of course, we still have to wait for a permit to be filed before construction can begin.

A Sterling Bay render of 210 North Carpenter

The soil sampling rig, sampling soil.

This fancy Google Map shows the location of 210 North Carpenter.

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