Higher and higher goes One Bennett Park

Posted on June 7, 2017 by danieldschell

One Bennett Park podium and tower, from (partially) above.

One Bennett Park, the mixed condo-and-apartment skyscraper from Related Midwest, continues its rise into the clouds above the Streeterville neighborhood. The two-crane masterpiece by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and GREC Architects is approaching the 30th floor, on its way to 69 stories and 348 units. That’s Lendlease out there getting all that work done.

Bennett Park will be a thing in its own right, but there’s just too much construction going on with the tower for the park to have started looking like a park yet. Unless you mean a place to park construction equipment and material. Then yes, it’s a park. All in good time, though: One Bennett Park isn’t expected to open until 2019.

: Sweet reflection in 500 Lake Shore Drive.

: This will be Bennett Park in the future.

Illume Chicago is sprouting out of the West Loop soil

Posted on June 7, 2017 by danieldschell

That’s a serious tower crane presiding over Illume Chicago.

It seemed Illume Chicago spent forever working on subterranean things that will never be seen again. There were caisson to drill, piles to drive, and a foundation to dig. But now there are signs of life at street level, as Norcon continues its work on the West Loop condo building. Soon, LG Development’s 10-story, 79-unit Pappageorge Haymes design will start taking shape at 111 (the reason you’ll sometimes see “111ume” spelled with three 1s) South Peoria Street.

A cool rendering from the Illume website, showing how the B.U.C. HQ will look from the new condos.

One Grant Park rising up from the corner of Roosevelt and Indiana

Posted on June 6, 2017 by danieldschell

One Grant Park has begun making its push toward the sky in the South Loop.

One Grant Park has begun going vertical at the south end of Grant Park, and the corner of Roosevelt and Indiana will never be the same. The shiny 76-story, 792-unit apartment tower from Rafael Viñoly Architects is a busy site these days, and you know longer have to stand on tip-toes and peer over the fences to catch the action. In fact, you could pack a picnic and sit amongst those leg-statue thingies and watch McHugh Construction work whilst you dine in the park.

Catching up at Vista Tower

Posted on June 5, 2017 by danieldschell

Vista Tower continues to rise.

It’s been a month since we took a look at progress on Vista Tower, the magnificent supertall by Studio Gang and bKL Architecture. You may think workers would be discouraged that I haven’t been dropping by daily, but McHugh Construction crews seem to be getting a lot done despite my absence. Certainly not because of it.

Anyway, I’ll need to borrow some balconies soon, for as Vista climbs higher, our scenic views from Wacker Drive and Lakeshore East are going to be well below where the action is.

The Simpson-Querrey Center shows off its curves

Posted on June 5, 2017 by danieldschell

Gorgeous curves on the north elevation of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center.

The two cores got off to a big lead at the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center but now the ironwork is making a move, gaining ground on the concrete towers.

The south elevation of the Simpson Querrey Center gets all the sunlight and attention, but around back along Superior Street, the curvy steel cuts quite the striking figure. It’s definitely worth watching this one from the south and the north. Of course, as is usually the case with most high-rise construction projects, do it on a sunny day. Remember, this phase of the Perkins+Will design will be 14 stories high.

1326 South Michigan rings in summer with more H-Pile driving

Posted on June 5, 2017 by danieldschell

Yeah, it’s loud. If you’re anywhere near the South Loop, you probably realize that already.

Stalworth Underground continues driving the 360 H-Piles into the ground that will support the weight of 1326 South Michigan. This one can’t have caissons; the soil just isn’t meant for that type of foundation. Those H-piles will do the work instead. 46-story residential towers are heavy, apparently.

: Even the moon can hear it.

: Rig and crane.

: A few in the ground…

: …and a few soon to be.

There’s a new tower crane stub in town, and her name is Marlowe

Posted on June 2, 2017 by danieldschell

Hey, look over there! Marlowe planted a tower crane!

About a week after receiving a tower crane permit from the City of Chicago, Marlowe planted a stub at 675 North Wells Street in River North on Thursday. Having recently lost cranes at 640 North Wells, The Gallery On Wells, and 3Eleven, the neighborhood needed a burst of excitement, and what’s more fun than a new tower crane?

https://twitter.com/adjustableforms/status/870320994413666306

See? Don’t believe for a second I’m the only one out here excited about tower cranes. Adjustable Forms knows what’s up.

Now the Antunovich Associates-designed 15-story, 176-unit apartment building from Lennar Multifamily Companies can start going skyward, under the careful direction of Power Construction.

: Wow, 676 N LaSalle is gutted.

: The Permit.

Tower Crane #33 is almost ready to lift heavy stuff at No. 508

Posted on June 1, 2017 by danieldschell

Sorry, we’re building a tower crane here. Please go around.

If you’re wondering why you can’t drive on West Diversey Parkway between Pine Grove and Cambridge Avenues in Lake View, welcome to the world of tower cranes. The street is blocked so crews can utilize a pretty red Stevenson crane to assemble a tower crane at No. 508. They’ve been at it since Tuesday, so hopefully work will be completed by the end of the day Thursday. Then, and only then, can Macon Construction Group begin going vertical on Broder Properties’ 12-story, 53-unit apartment tower.

: Here’s what we’ve got so far.

: Diversey will be closed at least through Thursday.

625 West Adams has topped out in the West Loop

Posted on May 30, 2017 by danieldschell

The final beam is lifted to the top of 625 West Adams. Photo courtesy of Power Construction.

Sadly, 625 West Adams, the 20-story office building from White Oak Realty and CA Ventures, topped out last week.

Let me explain. Of course, topping out is a huge milestone, and should certainly be celebrated. But it also means the days of that pretty yellow Liebherr tower crane right outside the B.U.C. HQ are numbered. Sadder still, 625 topped out while we were in London, so after countless hours of staring out the window at progress, I missed the soiree.

Power Construction was kind enough to share the photo above, taken as the last beam was lifted into place on Monday, May 22.

Construction Update: 710 Grand

Posted on May 30, 2017 by danieldschell

Six stories up, three to go, at 710 Grand.

710 Grand, the Transit Oriented Development from Outlook Development Group and Wicker Park Apartments, has framed in the first six of its ultimate nine stories. The 105-unit residential building at 710 West Grand Avenue in River West was designed by Brininstool + Lynch, and is being built by Arco/Murray.

710 Grand will have studio, one-bed and two-bedroom units, with 45 parking spaces included on the first floor. Amenities will be part of the ninth floor, along with a rooftop deck. The 710 website promises both pet-friendly floors, and “Homo sapiens-only” floors in the building. It is safe to assume that the pet-friendly floors will allow humans.