Act II at Atrium Village is in full caisson mode

Posted on March 2, 2018 by danieldschell

Case Foundation is at work in Near North, drilling caissons for Atrium Village Phase Two.

The tower crane is gone from Old Town Park in the Near North neighborhood, but it will be replaced on the same block very soon. Onni Group is doing foundation work on the next phase of the Atrium Village redo, with Case Foundation on site drilling caissons at this very moment.

There isn’t much I can tell you about Phase Two besides what we find in the building permit, which the City of Chicago issued for 202 West Hill Street back on December 8, 2017. That permit calls for a Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture-designed 39-story tower, including a 6-level parking podium, with 428 apartments. Onni Group will act once again as their own builder. Someday soon, this tower is likely to get a fancy new name. We hope.

61 East Banks putting its tower crane to good use

Posted on March 1, 2018 by danieldschell

One of the new 2018-model tower cranes in Chicago is doing work out at 61 East Banks in the Gold Coast Neighborhood. Which is impressive, considering that the operator of that machine has to be seriously distracted by the views of Lake Michigan, what with the prime location along Lake Shore Drive and all. No matter though. Focus. That’s how structures go vertical.

Draper & Kramer is building this 8-story, 60-unit apartment building, designed by Booth Hansen. This is the second tower crane in Chicago for Leopardo Companies, which also has one in the West Loop at their future HQ, 210 North Carpenter.

: 61 East banks rendering from Booth Hansen.

This time around, it’s a sunny South Loop

Posted on February 28, 2018 by danieldschell

Last week, we posted several updates on construction progress in the South Loop. Sadly for us and our cameras, we picked a foggy, miserable day to be out and about. Well, Tuesday was no such day. And with bright sunshine beaming all morning and afternoon, we headed back down to the South Loop for brighter, happier photos of the goings-on.

Ancora

: Earth is being moved for the next phase of Riverline.

The Paragon Chicago

: New signage at The Paragon Chicago.

Essex on the Park

One Grant Park

Hilton Homewood Suites/Hilton Garden Inn

The University of Illinois at Chicago has its own tower crane

Posted on February 28, 2018 by danieldschell

Central Contractors Service was on the UIC campus Tuesday, schooling the masses on proper tower-crane assembly procedures.

What a teaching tool it could be, that big yellow tower crane across the street from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Higher learning, or something like that.

Anyway, tower-crane assembly at the academic/residential complex UIC is building on West Harrison Street between Peoria and Morgan began Monday, and Tuesday saw the jib lifted into place. A few gears and cables will be attended to Wednesday, and it should be ready to go as we enter March.

This marks Pepper Construction’s first tower crane in town since they removed the self-erecting crane from the Moxy Hotel job in River North.

Normally, the photo gallery below would include the building permit for that shiny yellow crane. However, this project isn’t being built on city land. Therefore, the City of Chicago doesn’t issue any permits at all for it. UIC is responsible for making sure the tower crane is erected properly and safely.

: The rebar is for a different job.

Construction Progress: Addison & Clark in Lake View

Posted on February 27, 2018 by danieldschell

Power Construction has topped out Addison & Clark in Lake View.

M&R Development and Bucksbaum Retail Properties are the co-developers of Addison & Clark, the sprawling mixed-use project next to Wrigley Field bringing 148 apartments and 146,000 square feet of retail space to Lake View. Power Construction is the general contractor, and they’ve topped out the eight floors in total. The SCB design involves parking for 400+ cars, which will be used not only by Addison & Clark residents, but also shoppers, diners, and baseball fans.

Quick Look: The lowdown on Belmont Village

Posted on February 27, 2018 by danieldschell

Work remains below street level at Belmont Village, the new senior living facility at 700 West Fullerton in Lincoln Park.

Work continues below the surface at 3833 Broadway

Posted on February 26, 2018 by danieldschell

Hard to believe it’s been close to a year since we first stopped by the 3833 North Broadway construction site to see have a look at the 8-story, 134-unit residential project DLG Management is building up in up in Lake View. As our friends at Stalworth Underground continue to shore up the foundation, DLG itself (they’re also the GC) is getting ready to go vertical on the Jonathan Splitt Architects design.

The Van Buren is halfway to homes

Posted on February 26, 2018 by danieldschell

The Van Buren, bKL Architecture’s 12-story, 148-unit residential building for Loukas Development the in the West Loop, has risen past the halfway point. Foundation work started in August of last year on the 185,000-square-foot apartment building, a tower crane arrived in the fall, and Lendlease has stacking floors skyward ever since.

Rod Laver Arena gets an updating in Melbourne

Posted on February 25, 2018 by danieldschell

Lendlease is currently constructing improvements to Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Timing has never really been my thing. So in honor of the Australian Open (that ended 4 weeks ago), and our visit to Melbourne (that’s been over for 4 months), here are some photos of the ongoing construction at Rod Laver Arena, originally designed by Cox Architecture, at Melbourne Park. Lendlease is doing the honors.

You can learn more about the planned improvements from the arena’s website below:

BETTER FACILITIES FOR VISITORS AND FANS

Beginning in February 2016, and staged over four years, the Stage 2 redevelopment will breathe new life into Rod Laver Arena delivering:
• a new three-level, eastern-facing main public entrance and new annexes on the northern and southern sides of the building
• improved amenities, including more food and beverage outlets and toilets
• accessible entrances to the seating bowl and expanded public concourse spaces, making it easier to move around the building.

BETTER FACILITIES FOR PLAYERS AND PERFORMERS

Extensive back-of-house improvements will ensure that performers and players enjoy the best possible amenities and staging facilities, including
• improved rigging capacity, enabling the venue to host bigger productions
• a bigger loading dock to manage faster turnaround of events
• refurbishment of the area underneath the arena, providing year-round services for artists, production crews and players during the Australian Open.

And now, for the pics. And remember, these are four months old.

: Lendlease is currently constructing improvements to Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne.

Competition is fierce, as the two towers of The Lincoln Common rise in Lincoln Park

Posted on February 23, 2018 by danieldschell

Somewhat of a side-by-side shot of two towers at The Lincoln Common rising in Lincoln Park.

Only in my own mind is there a raging competition at The Lincoln Common between W.E. O’Neil crews on the North and South towers. It’s only my imagination conjuring up images of hidden hammers and missing rebar, as the North Team does anything it can to infiltrate the South and sabotage their efforts. You simply can’t complete a 20-story building if one of your work boots is stolen every morning.

Yet somehow, both towers seem to be coming along quite nicely. As if everyone’s working together instead of getting in each other’s way. Novel concept, is it not?