The Saint Grand is topped out and glassing up the Streeterville neighborhood

Posted on August 24, 2023 by danieldschell

***The Saint Grand***, at 218 West Grand in Streeterville.

The Saint Grand is an apartment tower replacing that eyesore of a parking deck that used to occupy the corner of St. Clair St. and Grand Ave. in Streeterville. But you wouldn’t know that from this blog, because I’ve been neglecting this construction site. It’s in a tight spot, so it can be a challenge to get compelling shots of progress.

The Saint Grand is a Mavrek Development joint. The 21-story tower will deliver 248 rental apartment, plus 42,000 square feet of office space, 8,000 square feet of retail space, and parking for 100 cars. I guess that’s fair, since it’s replacing a parking garage. NORR is the design architect; Lendlease is on the build, with Goebel Forming on concrete. They’ve topped out, per Urbanize.

The photos are up next. First, from August 21. Then a few from earlier progress back in March:

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300 North Michigan continues to rise, continues to block views of other things. Just like every other building does everywhere

Posted on July 27, 2021 by danieldschell

Skip floor markings are visible to 36. My math says the additional 4 floors puts 300 North Michigan at the 40th floor.

Come at me if you want to, but there’s a new brand of NIMBYism out there these days: Instead of just complaining about a building blocking the view from your living room, you now get to complain about a new building blocking your view of something else, but not when you’re at home. No, this pertains to being out and about throughout the city. Or from that one particular spot you like to stand. This is next-level stuff.

Such seems to be the case with 300 North Michigan. Folks are upset that it will block the view of the Carbon and Carbide Building across the street. How about that. The rules are now such that you can’t build anything anywhere that will obstruct the view of anything anywhere. Looks like our next skyscraper will have to be built in DeKalb. (But I can’t see my corn field from the water tower now!)

Anyway, this is what 300 North Michigan looked like Monday, July 26. Using the markings on the skip, it looks like Linn-Mathes has reached the 40th floor, with the elevator core a couple stories higher, on their way to their ultimate 47-story height:

Like the photos? Appreciate the attitude/snark? No? Still, you can help offset expenses with a much-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

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Glass is in session at 300 North Michigan

Posted on May 5, 2021 by danieldschell

The rumors are true; there’s a fresh, shiny row of glass on 300 North Michigan in The Loop. Plus a little bit installed out back along MacChesney Court. Chalk up another Milestone Achieved for Sterling Bay, Magellan Development, bKL Architecture, and Linn-Mathes.

300 North Michigan glassing up The Loop.

CTA and Metra rides, Zipcars, Divvy bikes, camera lenses, and solid walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses with a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

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The Rivere is a 30-story #firescraper coming to River North. Soon, we hope.

Posted on April 20, 2021 by danieldschell

The Rivere will replace the CFD firehouse at 450 North Dearborn.

That’s right, I hashtagged #firescraper. I want that to become a thing.

This post was started back in February 2020. We really want this one to get started. How many buildings can be referred to as mixed-use because they’ll contain office space, retail space, parking, and a freakin’ firehouse!?

The Rivere will be 30 stories with 30,000 square feet of ground-level retail space and a firehouse. Developed by Friedman Properties. Designed by Goettsch Partners. Firehouse designed by DLR Group.

When the firehouse is demolished, as with all demolitions, water will be sprayed on the crumbling structure to limit dust. Who’s better at spraying water than the Chicago Fire Department? A match made in heaven, I tell ya.

A couple more photos of the firehouse for you, plus renderings of The Rivere from Goettsch Partners:

Checking up on 300 North Michigan

Posted on April 17, 2021 by danieldschell

A quick spin around 300 North Michigan as construction continues on the joint development effort from Sterling Bay and Magellan Development Group. Hotel rooms and apartments smack dab in the middle of the Cultural Mile and Magnificent Mile? Yes, please.

Below you’ll find photographic proof of progress. (The dude on the corner with the tape measure though? No, thanks. You’re job is safe from me.)

An August walk-around at One Chicago

Posted on August 27, 2020 by danieldschell

All photos taken back on August 17. The way it’s going up, One Chicago might be finished by now.

CG: Power Construction

Developer: JDL Development

Design Architect: Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture

Design Architect: Goettsch Partners

More photos than I know what to do with: One Chicago Square

Posted on March 3, 2020 by danieldschell

It’s just cool. So freakin’ cool.

March 2 marked the third time in nine days I’ve walked around One Chicago Square, snapping photos and marveling at the progress. Not sure what you do one your days off, but now you know where to find me when I have some spare time. I’ll do you a favor and not post every one of them, but there are a lot of pictures. Good news is, you don’t have to click through them until you really feel you’re ready.

New month, new views at One Chicago Square

Posted on February 17, 2020 by danieldschell

Chicago’s coolest chasm, the Tower C cofferdam at One Chicago Square. Photo courtesy of Mike Conlon at Power Construction.

The calendar has flipped to February. That means it’s time to walk around the One Chicago Square site again and check on progress by Power Construction.

Let it be known that I walked around the site on the 10th, but it wasn’t sunny. So I went back Sunday. SUNday. Everything looks better on a sunny day.

One Chicago Square: Just the tower cranes

Posted on January 9, 2020 by danieldschell

Tower cranes should be cherished. Two tower cranes should be cherished and celebrated. Three tower cranes should be cherished, celebrated, and should get their own post.

One Chicago Square has three tower cranes. This is their own post.

I Like Big Builds and I Can Not Lie — One Chicago Square Has It All

Posted on January 6, 2020 by danieldschell

A rendering of One Chicago Square from the JDL Development website. Dang.

One Chicago Square has it all right now. Construction has started going vertical above street level, but there’s also still a giant pit. There are yellow and orange wooden forms and beams, with blue fencing all around. Classic Chicago architecture, including Holy Name Cathedral and 30 West Chicago Avenue, provides spectacular photo backdrops. Giant round shoring tubes are still visible in the northwest corner. Excavating equipment is still on site. Oh yeah, and THERE ARE THREE TOWER CRANES!

I don’t use the designation “mixed-use” very often. Everything has retail space in it these days, so calling a residential tower “mixed-use” because there will be a drug store at street level isn’t really mixed-use to me. But One Chicago Square certainly qualifies, as it will include apartments and condos, office space, and retail space, all combined into its own city block.

Some project data: One 76-story tower, and one 49-story tower. More than 700 apartments, and 77 condos. 55,000 square feet of office space. Nearly 200,000 square feet of commercial space. And parking? Oh, lots of parking. Over 800 spaces.

And the team? All-Stars. JDL Development, with a hand from Wanxiang America, is the developer. Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and Goettsch Partners have shared design duties. And Power Construction is the general contractor.

Yeah, One Chicago Square will be fun to watch for a long time. And then, it looks like it’ll be a fun one to live in. Stay tuned.

And now, a ridiculous number o’photos to keep you occupied. Scroll at your leisure: