Checking in on an Old Town TOD

Posted on April 24, 2017 by danieldschell

Six stories of new TOD at 1550 North Wieland Street in Old Town.

When we last paid a visit to the 200-block of West North Avenue in Old Town last fall, a couple venerable old buildings at 227 and 233 West North were being demolished to make room for a new Transit Oriented Development from JAB Real Estate. That new TOD has now topped out.

Located at 1550 North Wieland Street per the city’s building permit, the new six-story, 60-unit building is designed by Space Architects + Planners, and will include parking for 20 cars and 60 bicycles. There will also be ground-level retail. Maris Construction (CA Washington) is the general contractor.

: Rendering of 1550 North Wieland from Space Architects + Planners.

: The Building Permit.

You didn’t expect the Apple Store to be shaped like an apple, right?

Posted on April 22, 2017 by danieldschell

The Apple Store on Chicago’ Magnificent Mile, at 401 North Michigan Avenue.

For some reason, there’s been a rash of stories lately stating how the new Apple Store on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is “taking shape.” Well, we know it’s been in the shape of a future two-story glass cube for quite some time now. Here are a few shots of how things are progressing as of this week.

: The view from Pioneer Plaza.

: Is that a time-lapse camera?

: From across the Chicago River.

: Staging barge.

: From truck to barge.

: The stairs that go up.

: The stairs that go down.

: Gratuitous tower crane shot.

Construction Progress: 625 West Adams

Posted on April 21, 2017 by danieldschell

625 West Adams, as seen from the B.U.C. HQ.

625 West Adams, the 20-story office tower from co-developers White Oak Realty Partners and CA Ventures, continues adding steel beams in the West Loop. After watching the elevator core shoot skyward well ahead of the rest of the building, the main floors are catching up now, so expect to see the core start growing again soon. As of today, Power Construction crews are adding beams to the 17th floor, while concrete gets poured onto the 11th. The SCB-designed tower is on schedule to open in Spring 2018.

: 625 West Adams rising in the West Loop.

: Core and Crane.

: Cold steel.

: Setting a beam in place Thursday morning.

: Stairs.

Wicker Park Connection joins the Tower Crane fun

Posted on April 20, 2017 by danieldschell

A freshly-planted tower crane stub springs up at the Wicker Park Connection.

How’s this for quick. On Tuesday, the City of Chicago issued a tower crane permit for the Wicker Park Connection. That’s the 15-story, 140-unit Transit Oriented Development Centrum Partners is building next door to the T.O.D. they built at 1664 West Division Street, Centrum Wicker Park. The Wicker Park Connection is another collaboration with Hirsch Associates Architects, who also teamed with Centrum in River North on 412 North Wells and Centrum Hubbard (is it called “Hubbard221” now?)

Where was I? Oh yeah, tower crane permit. Anyway, general contractor Linn-Mathes wasted no time in getting the tower crane stub planted in the ground. Foundation work is still underway, but expect that new tower crane to start lifting heavy stuff off the ground in no time.

: Rendering of the Wicker Park Connection from Hirsch Associates.

: Rendering of the Wicker Park Connection from Hirsch Associates.

: Rendering of the Wicker Park Connection from Hirsch Associates.

Caissons roll along at Essex On The Park

Posted on April 20, 2017 by danieldschell

Like a 4th-line forward in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Case Foundation goes to work in the corners at Essex On The Park.

Two weeks ago, Case Foundation started moving equipment onto the lot at 808 South Michigan Avenue, next to the Essex Inn. And now, they’re deep into full-blown caisson work for the new Essex On The Park apartment tower from Oxford Capital Group. Soon, the 56-story, 476-unit project by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture will have footing to stand on, allowing Power Construction to get about the task of sending it vertical.

: When space is limited, you store your rebar cages wherever you can.

One South Halsted is planting a beautiful yellow tower crane, and all is right with the world

Posted on April 20, 2017 by danieldschell

Guess what we’re getting, West Loop! A shiny yellow Liebherr 316-EC-H 12 tower crane (stub), courtesy of One South Halsted.

: Look who’s moving in next door!

: The foundation is ready.

: Move-in day. (I wonder if I could get that light pole moved…)

: On the move.

: It’s really quite fetching.

: Tower crane pad work was in full force Wednesday…

: …as crews readied the foundation.

The earth is turning under 1326 South Michigan

Posted on April 19, 2017 by danieldschell

That’s a serious hunk of concrete.

There’s no mistaking the former surface parking lot at 1326 South Michigan for a current surface parking lot. That’s because Walsh Construction is on the scene with Zenere Companies, excavating the site for the 46-story, 500-unit tower from Murphy Development Group and CIM Group.

There’s enough topography on site now to make for a decent par-three golf course, what with the undulating mounds of soil, piles of rock and debris, and deep bunkers. There’s also a giant concrete block right smack dab in the middle of the lot that could present quite the hazard should you slice your tee shot.

: Rendering of SCB’s 1326 South Michigan from CIM Group.

: Rendering of SCB’s 1326 South Michigan Murphy Development Group.

Eight Eleven Uptown puts a tower crane in the ground

Posted on April 17, 2017 by danieldschell

Eight Eleven Uptown alters the skyline with a new tower crane.

Planted, sprouted, and in full bloom, there’s now a tower crane high above Eight Eleven Uptown.

The 27-story apartment tower from JDL Development and Harlem Irving Companies at 811 West Agatite Avenue got its permit on April 3, so that’s an impressive jump to action from Lendlease.

Hideous Greektown hole soon to be filled by bKL tower

Posted on April 14, 2017 by danieldschell

808 West Van Buren will be built here, at the northwest corner of Halsted and Van Buren Streets in Greektown.

Greektown garbage will have to find another hiding place.

The hole in the ground at the corner of Halsted and Van Buren Streets has a permit to be something more than a landfill. Loukas Development of Uptown, who’ve had a sign on the fence around the vacant lot for almost forever, received a foundation permit Thursday for a 12-story residential tower at 808 West Van Buren. Designed by bKL Architecture, the tower will have 148 units, 65 parking spaces, and ground-floor retail. If, of course, that permit is to be believed.

Lendlease will be the general contractor. That gives Lendlease three big jobs in this corner of the West Loop, joining One South Halsted and the Landmark West Loop.

Look, I don’t mean to pick on this little corner lot. But it’s been collecting trash for years now, and it’s fantastic to see construction will finally get moving.

Architectural rendering of 808 West Van Buren courtesy of bKL Architecture.

: Garbage out, construction in.

: The Foundation Permit.

Glass is almost full at the Marriott Marquis Chicago (Updated)

Posted on April 13, 2017 by danieldschell

The Marriott Marquis Chicago towers above the American Book Company building, which is being renovated as part of the project.

The Marriott Marquis Chicago in the South Loop topped out back in February, and the curtain wall has risen almost to the roof now. Slated for opening this fall, the 39-story Marriott Marquis will boast 1,205 rooms. 25,000 square feet of ballroom space, and 90,000 square feet of meeting space. Clark Construction has been on the build of the Goettsch Partners design.

4.17.2017 *** Some clarification is in order here. Goettsch Partners is the architect-of-record on the Marriott Marquis Chicago project. Gensler is the design architect. My apologies for the omission. ***