Finally! RIU Plaza Hotel construction has begun at long-vacant Streeterville lot

Posted on August 27, 2022 by danieldschell

RIU Plaza Hotel rendering from Lucien Lagrange Studio.

The lot that sat empty at 150 East Ontario for what seemed like an eternity is finally seeing action. Big action.

The RIU Plaza Hotel construction has begun in Streeterville. The City of Chicago issued a permit for caissons and foundation on July 19 for a 28-story, 390-room hotel. W.E. O’Neil is the general contractor. Lucien Lagrange Studio is the design architect. And that’s a big yellow Keller North America rig drilling caissons.

We stopped by in late July to have a first look at site prep, then headed back over this week to see the caisson action. And action we got. Very happy to see work started on this site.

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.

As caisson work continues, 741 North Wells scores its full permit for 168 apartments in River North

Posted on August 27, 2022 by danieldschell

No, they’re not trying to uproot the Hancock Center. They’re doing caisson work at 741 North Wells.

As caisson work digs in at 741 Northttps://www.vistaprop.com/properties/741-n-wells/h Wells in River North, the final piece of the permit puzzle has fallen into place, and Vista Property Group and Skender received the full permit to build 21 stories on Thursday.

741 North Wells will be a 178-unit apartment tower. It was designed by Antunovich Associates Architects, and according to their website, will offer a mix of 70 studios, 68 one-bedroom, and 40 two-bedroom units, with “a full complement of amenities including a rooftop terrace with pool, meeting facilities, exercise area, bicycle storage, and parking for roughly 50 vehicles.” There will also be about 9.400 square feet of street-level retail space.

Adjustable Concrete Construction is assisting Skender as the concrete contractor, while Stalworth Underground is out there drilling the caissons.

The City of Chicago issued permits for:
The full build on 8/25/2022
Caissons and foundation on 7/19/2002
The tower crane on 6/22/2022
Demo permits for 739 N Wells and 745 N Wells on 5/12/22

Under the last tower crane standing at Big Deahl, 1475 North Kingsbury trends upward

Posted on August 26, 2022 by danieldschell

The pretty, lighted tower crane at 853 West Blackhawk is gone, but one remains standing at 1475 North Kingsbury, where Power Construction continues erecting a FitzGerald-designed tower for Structured Development, White Oak Realty Partners, and Ponsky Capital Partners.

1475 North Kingsbury will be a 27-story building, with 327 rental apartments, atop a three-level parking podium. Amenities will include a rooftop pool with a view of the Chicago skyline.

After delay, 311 West Huron begins caisson work

Posted on August 26, 2022 by danieldschell

The recent concrete strike claimed 311 West Huron as a victim. But only temporarily. And with that in the past, caissons are underway, and underground.

311 West Huron is a joint venture between North Wells Capital and Urban Innovations. The 15-story building, designed by NORR, will include about 145,000 rentable square feet and have 130 indoor parking spaces.

The team out here how consists of General Contractor Arco/Murray and concrete contractor Adjustable Concrete Construction, with Stalworth Underground drilling caissons.

The full permit for 311 was issued on 6/27/2022, with the tower crane permit following on 7/20/2022.

First-hand proof: There’s glass on 900 Randolph

Posted on August 25, 2022 by danieldschell

I missed the first few pieces of glazing at 900 Randolph by one day last week. Luckily when I went back over Wednesday, it was still there. This is what I saw with my own eyes and lens:

Going up, and going, going, gone — 920 and 868 North Wells at North Union

Posted on August 24, 2022 by danieldschell

868 North Wells has been reduced to rubble, while 920 North Wells has produced up to the fifth-floor slab, at JDL Development’s sprawling North Union project.

Here are the pics from last week (they could well be on the sixth floor by now):

1400 South Wabash hits the teens in Chicago’s South Loop

Posted on August 24, 2022 by danieldschell

I haven’t posted an update at 1400 South Wabash since May? That’s barely tolerable, if not entirely unacceptable. Let’s fix that now, as there’s been a lot of progress by Lendlease and Pepper Construction here. Looks like they’ve reached level 14-ish.

Some reminders:
Developer – CMK Companies
Design Architect – Pappageorge Haymes Partners
General Contractor – Lendlease
Concrete Contractor – Pepper Construction
30 stories
299 apartments
155 parking spaces
3,300 square feet of ground-level retail space
Scheduled opening – early 2023
Quirky-but-true fact – Green and Orange line trains practically run right through the parking deck

Catching up to 160 North Morgan

Posted on August 23, 2022 by danieldschell

In today’s episode of I Know I Have More Pictures Of That Construction Site Somewhere, a far-too-regular series in which I take photos and then neglect to post them, we’re taking a look at progress on 160 North Morgan.

160 North Morgan is a bKL-Architecture-designed apartment tower being developed by Sterling Bay. Walsh Construction is the general contractor here, tasked with erecting 30 stories, 282 units, 89 parking spaces and 2,657 square feet of retail space.

We last brought you up to speed here on June 6. Since then, we’ve stopped by and stared at Walsh at work June 23, July 27, and August 17. Here, in most-recent-first order, are some shots from those visits:

732 West Randolph eases its way into a tiny West Loop footprint

Posted on August 23, 2022 by danieldschell

732 West Randolph has begun climbing on the smallest tower-crane-enabled construction site in Chicago. The postage-stamp sized lot will soon hold a new eight-story boutique office building with 56,000 rentable square feet of working space. General contractor Maris Construction and concrete contractor Pepper Construction were working on the fourth level last week. Designed by Hirsch MPG, 732 West Randolph will connect on its first six floors with 730 West Randolph next door, and will include a rooftop deck and basement fitness center.

360 North Green digs in to Fulton Market

Posted on August 22, 2022 by danieldschell

A rendering of Sterling Bay’s 360 North Green

Back off.

That’s what you need to do sometimes. Let me explain.

Ever since Sterling Bay started tearing up the surface parking lot at Green and Kinzie Streets in the Fulton Market District, I’ve been trying to get up close enough to get a good view of what’s going on. But fences, my own personal lack of elevation, and a deep sense pf respect for the working man’s personal space hasn’t allowed for much spectatorship. So I backed off. And voila! An excellent view.

Sterling Bay and Power Construction are building 360 North Green here, a 24-story, 500,000-square-foot office tower designed by Gensler. Scheduled for completion in 2024, the building will include 5,400 square feet of retail space at ground level, parking for 92 cars on the second and third floors, a fourth-floor amenity suite including 5,000 square feet of outdoor space, a fitness studio, lounge, game room, and bar. Geez, I want to live here.

From Sterling Bay’s digital brochure, a rendering of the fourth-floor outdoor space. Wow.

Mostly from a distance, here are some caisson progress shots, as Power and Stalworth Underground get started on 360 North Green, taken August 17. Thank you, Halsted Street.