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.

Tower Crane Update: One up, one to go, for Simpson-Querrey

Posted on August 4, 2016 by danieldschell

A crane grows up in Streeterville. A red crane up in Streeterville. (Apologies to Ben E. King)

You remember that tower crane bulb planted at Northwestern University’s Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine from a couple weeks ago, right? Well, that has bloomed into a beautiful crane butterfly. Of sorts. But before you wander off aimlessly looking for more crane photo ops, bear in mind there will be another tower crane on this construction site. Though I’m told that likely won’t appear until the end of August at the earliest.

In the meantime, the foundation dig continues, particularly at that south end, where Crane #2 will rise from the earth. But for now, one is reason enough to snap off another round of pictures.

: North end: tower crane.

: South end: no tower crane. Yet.

Demolition Update: Rush University Medical Center Tear-Downs

Posted on July 20, 2016 by danieldschell

Only a portion of the Senn Building remains, of the four structures demolished at Rush University Medical Center.

It was built in 1903. The Senn Building, at Rush University Medical Center, is the last of the buildings remaining of the four permitted for demolition back in September of 2015. The others, Rawson, Jones, and Murdoch, are rubble and dust and memories already. The plan, for now, is not to replace the structures, but rather to leave open green space.

: What’s left of the Senn Building, sans name tag.

: The corner of Wood and Harrison is almost cleared.

: Some remaining detail of the Senn Building.

: Lest we forget…

: …the intersection where these four buildings were for over 100 years.

: When the thing is thirsty, the thing must drink.

: The Rawson Building.

: The Jones Building, from Wood Street.

: The Jones Building, from Congress Parkway.

: The Murdock Building.

: Jones Building demo permit.

: Murdock Building demo permit.

: Rawson Building demo permit

: Senn Building demo permit.

A Simpson-Querrey Tower Crane Blooms in Streeterville.

Posted on July 20, 2016 by danieldschell

Tower Crane alert!

They’ve been digging a hole — a real big hole — since breaking ground in May of 2015 at 303 East Superior Street in Streeterviile for Northwestern University’s Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine. This is Phase One, which calls for a 14-story tower designed by Bridget Lesniak of Perkins + Will that will fully integrate with the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center next door. Phase Two will add an additional 16 stories atop Phase One.

The Chicago Architecture Blog spotted a new tower crane stub against the north wall of the pit. How did I miss this one coming? It didn’t make my list of six to watch for because it’s been so long — January 26th — since the City of Chicago filed the tower crane permit. So I simply failed, again, to scroll far enough.

There’s another surprise ahead for me, though. There are two tower cranes permitted for the site. One for the north end, one for the south end. Will the south crane be coming any day now? Or will the north have a chance to get some work done before the second crane arrives?

Oh my goodness, do you realize what this is? North vs South! It’s a Tower Crane Civil War!

: Some native vegetation thriving along the north wall.

: When will we see a second tower crane here at the south end of the construction site?

: This has been a vert deep dig.

: North tower crane permit.

: South tower crane permit.

Old Children’s Memorial Hospital Demolition Begins in Lincoln Park

Posted on June 7, 2016 by danieldschell

Demolition of the old Children’s Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park began at 8:00 am on June 7.

Empty and deteriorating for the past four years, workers this morning began the slow, tedious process of demolishing the old Children’s Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park, just one day after a demolition permit was filed by the City of Chicago.

With a fleet of news vans and a few bystanders watching, some whose kids had gone through extensive stays under Children’s care, crews from Omega Demolition in Elgin started tearing apart the lower portions of the hospital complex along North Lincoln Avenue. Once they get the shorter buildings down and out of the way, they’ll have considerable more room to stage equipment for the seven-story portions of the hospital.

In its place will be The Lincoln Common, a venture from Hines and McCaffery Interests. Planned are two luxury apartment towers boasting 540 dwelling units, 60 low-rise condos, and over 100,000 square feet of retail space, designed by Antunovich Associates in collaboration with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. You can learn more about the project here on the Hines website.