1400 South Wabash rises beneath Chicago’s newest tower crane

Posted on March 29, 2022 by danieldschell

Chad Czerwinski from Pepper Construction sent over this photo, looking down at the first signs of three-dimensionalness (it’s a word now) at 1400 South Wabash.

Chicago’s newest tower crane is at 1400 South Wabash, and it’s just beginning to send this new South Loop tower vertical.

A 30-story tower from CMK Companies, 1400 South Wabash will deliver 299 rental apartments to the neighborhood. If “CMK” and “South Wabash” sound like a familiar combination, then you’ve heard of Coeval, they’re recently-opened development on the east side of Wabash.

Lendlease is the general contractor on 1400 South Wabash, with the assist on concrete by the aforementioned Pepper Construction. Pappageorge Haymes Partners is the design architect.

There are two permits issued here: the foundation permit came through 11/30/2021, and the ever-important tower crane permit was issued 1/20/2022. The crane was erected a couple weeks ago, which Chad also documented on his Linkedin page.

354 North Union continues trending upward in the Fulton River District

Posted on March 28, 2022 by danieldschell

Real quick, some particulars on 354 North Union, then we’ll get to progress photos taken March 21:

Developer and general contractor: Onni Group
Design architect: Pappageorge Haymes Partners
Stories: 33
Units: 373 (rental apartment
Parking spaces: 138
Tower cranes: 1
Neighborhood: Fulton River District

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.

A heartfelt Welcome Back to 1000M

Posted on March 28, 2022 by danieldschell

McHugh Construction has picked up where they left off at 1000M.

The COVID pandemic, then some financial hardships, had us all a little worried about 1000M (1000 South Michigan Avenue) but now the JAHN tower is back, craned, and in 3D mode in the South Loop. Welcome back indeed.

It’s had some tweaks; when the original iteration was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission, the tower was to be 832′ high, with 506 dwelling units and 486 parking spaces. The new 73-story design, approved in June of last year, brings 738 apartments with 320 parking spaces.

McHugh Construction, which got foundation work underway late in 2019, got all the caisson work done and the tower crane stub planted, before COVID put a halt to work, and then things really hit the fan. But that’s all in the past now, and 1000M is going vertical.

21 stories, 224 units on the rise at 166 North Aberdeen

Posted on March 25, 2022 by danieldschell

166 North Aberdeen is a 21-story, 224-unit apartment tower under construction in the West Loop. One of these days, I’ll do some research and find out why the building it will soon surround has horses at the top of it. But I digress.

166 North Aberdeen is a design by SCB and a development from MCZ Development. (MCZ also built 165 North Aberdeen right across the street.) Lendlease is on the build, with a hand from Pepper Construction on the concrete.

Yes, of course I took more Salesforce Tower pics

Posted on March 24, 2022 by danieldschell

An office in Salesforce Tower, and an apartment next door in Wolf Point East, is still the dream. For me, at least.

Progress Update: The Reed at Southbank grows along the South Branch

Posted on March 24, 2022 by danieldschell

View of The Reed at Southbank from Franklin & Washington in The Loop.

The Reed at Southbank, the second tower in Lendlease’s mega development in the South Loop, continues to rise along the Chicago River. For those of you counting, and even those who aren’t, the core looks to be about 11-12 stories above the parking podium, with full floors rising 10 stories or so.

You already know tons about The Reed, right? You don’t need to hear me banter about details. I’ll just share progress photos from Monday the 21st.

900 Randolph has gone 3D in the West Loop

Posted on March 24, 2022 by danieldschell

Morris Adjmi Architects rendering of 900 Randolph

You’d think by now I’d be prepared to walk into the West Loop and not be stunned by development activity, even when it’s months between visits. Yet here we are in 2022, and I’m still in awe of everything going on in Chicago’s best neighborhood. (Yes, that’s a hill I chose to die on.)

Speaking of “months between visits” here are a couple friendly reminders for me before venturing out again:

Make sure the camera mirror and lenses are cleaned thoroughly before heading out to take photos.
See Rule #1

Now, having spent the last few days editing out the dirt marks from every picture I took, I can start showing you what I saw. And we’ll start with 900 Randolph.

900 Randolph is a development from Related Companies. This soon-to-be 43-story tower will bring 300 new residential units to the West Loop. The construction arm of Related Companies, LR Contracting, is the general contractor, with a helping hand from BOWA Construction. Morris Adjmi Architects (think Landmark West Loop) is the design architect.

900 Randolph received its:

demolition permit for 160 North Peoria on 6/25/2021
first building permit, (all addressed at 164 North Peoria) for foundations on 7/30/2021
tower crane permit on 8/10/2021
full-build permit on 8/27/2021

Some progress photos taken Monday, March 21. Sunny and 70 degrees. In other words, a prefect day.

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

A few photos at Platform 4611

Posted on March 17, 2022 by danieldschell

Platform 4611 (4611 North Broadway) in Uptown is just a few blocks from home, and only a half-block out of the way of my commute to work and back. So I figured it was about time to lug the real camera out there and grab a few shots.

And remember, Stan’s stans, there will be donuts here soon.

McHugh Construction is the general contractor. According to their website, the nine-story Platform 4611 will consist of 200 rental apartments atop 10,000 square feet of retail space, with parking spots for 22 cars and 178 bikes.

Pappageorge Haymes Partners is the design architect.

The John Buck Company and Free Market Ventures are the developers.

The following photo gallery includes bonus coverage of redevelopment work at 1050 West Wilson next door.

A Salesforce Tower over(mostly)view

Posted on October 20, 2021 by danieldschell

This past weekend, Open House Chicago gave the public access to the 55th floor of 110 North Wacker. That’s a vantage point most of us rarely see without ponying up the dough to visit an observation deck.

Very few of you will be surprised to learn I took advantage of that vantage by snapping a ton of pics of Salesforce Tower. (I took a few from the ground too.) Hey you go.

They grow up so fast, One Chicago Edition

Posted on July 28, 2021 by danieldschell

It doesn’t seem that long ago, when the parking lot across State Street from Holy Name Cathedral was being torn up, and foundation digging began.

Now, One Chicago is almost to that point where, if you want to see what’s happening with construction, you have to go inside.

Once again, this is your One Chicago team: JDL Development, with a hand from Wanxiang America, is the developer. Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture and Goettsch Partners shared design duties. And Power Construction is the general contractor.

There are only a couple floors of curtain wall left to install on the east tower, but we still have one tower crane to savor here, so let’s make the best of the rest of our time together. (Cue dramatic music)