Category Archives: New Construction

Sterling Bay’s C.H. Robinson HQ taking shape at 1515 West Webster

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1515 West Webster C.H. Robinson

At left, 1515 West Webster. In the foreground, the Chicago River. In the background, that magnificent Chicago Skyline.

Construction progress has already reached the third dimension at Sterling Bay‘s development at 1515 West Webster Avenue on the western edge of Lincoln Park. The four-story, 207,000-square-foot facility will be the new headquarters of third-party logistics juggernaut C.H. Robinson. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Sterling Bay expects to have the new office digs open in mid-2018. For now, that’s up to Power Construction, who look to be making good headway toward that goal.

McDonald’s goes three-dimensional. And I’m lovin’ it

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McDonald's in 3D

The second floor is showing at the new McDonald’s Headquarters in the West Loop.

Life happens quickly. What did you expect from two tower cranes?

To no one’s surprise, the new McDonald’s Corporation Headquarters in the West Loop has lifted off the ground. After weeks of attending to ground-level matters (they’re still at it) McHugh Construction has started going vertical. That mostly good news, because now we can see what’s going on above the perimeter fencing, but bad news because no one with an adjacent balcony or rooftop has offered their vantage point to me for looking downward onto progress. Stuff is harder to see as it gets higher, you know.

Anyone else ready for Nobu caissons? (corrected)

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Nobu Hotel Chicago caissons

Yes, let’s get that thing put together and rip up some earth!

*** STOP THE PRESSES!

Too late? Twitter user and follower @Rjoyce21 informs me that I’m not looking at the assembly of a caisson rig, but rather a “quad sheet press.” So, still a step toward foundation progress, but no caissons. Bummer.

Thank you, Ryan. ***

Because I sure am.

Construction of the Nobu Chicago Hotel at 854 West Randolph Street in the West Loop has been a roller coaster ride at best, a roller coaster ride where you stood in line for two hours and then they closed the ride for repairs just as you got to the front of the line at worst.

All exaggeration, of course. But it’s been interesting. Ground was broken in June. Soil was sampled in July. Then additional height was approved by the Chicago Plan Commission in September, and caisson material was delivered to the site. Then, those materials were gone. Then everything was gone. A foundation permit was issued December 1st, but still no action.

Finally, earlier this month, a crew from Taylor Excavating showed up and started digging. And now yesterday, folks from Hayward Baker were on site setting up a caisson rig. So it looks like the 11-story, 119-room hotel is really happening.

Illume Chicago plants a tower crane in the West Loop (Updated)

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Illume Chicago Tower Crane

Wait…is that…IT IS! It’s a tower crane at Illume Chicago!

Floating somewhere within the universe that is the City of Chicago’s building permit database that hasn’t updated since Friday, there lies a tower crane permit for 111 South Peoria Street in the West Loop. How do I know this? Well, it isn’t because I’m smart. No, it’s because I wandered past the Illume Chicago construction site, and was greeted by a tower crane stub sticking up out of the ground.

According to Norcon, the general contractor at Illume, full tower assembly will occur this weekend, weather permitting. And if weather doesn’t permit, it will be rescheduled for next weekend. That way, Green Street (at the east end of the site) can be closed for two days without impacting weekday traffic.

Illume Chicago tower crane

Look what popped up Tuesday afternoon: The tower crane permit, issued yesterday. The site finally updated.

P.S. A quick shout-out to Norcon, for strategically installing their crane between the two towers of Emerald Lofts, so I get a clear view of of it from the B.U.C. HQ. This one brings the total to six tower cranes I cold easily zipline to from here.

 

 

 

The heavy lifting ain’t over at the topped-out 1001 West Chicago

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1001 West Chicago

The two towers of 1001 West Chicago have reached peak height in River West.

Sure, the highest of the high stuff is lifted at 1001 West Chicago, which celebrated topping out back on March 9th. But there’s still some heavy hoisting to do. If, of course, you consider giant concrete slabs “heavy.” While the tower crane remains on-site, a street crane is handling the podium work.

There’s also the matter of installing windows at the two-tower development by FitzGerald Associates. These are big square windows, as opposed to the full glass walls we’ve been seeing on so many projects. It’s a nice change.

Fact: Even in the snow, Vista Tower construction is still cool

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Wanda Vista Tower snowy day

A cold, sunny day at Vista Tower.

While last week’s wintry weather threatened to slow down air traffic and snarl roadways, it didn’t cancel the show at Vista Theater, as McHugh Construction crews plowed through snowy conditions to continue progress at Vista Tower.

Similar to the McHugh project over at the new McDonald’s HQ, Vista Tower seems to have several separate sections of different activities ongoing, from holes being dug and ramps being started to the continuing extension of Upper Wacker Drive.

One request though, if I might add to the growing list of chores to be done: Can we get a pedestrian bridge over Field Boulevard? That long walk around The Tides, GEMS Academy, the Shoreham et al to get optimal views is starting to wear on me. Or maybe just have a tower crane hoist us across the Field void. Thanks.

Hanging glass at the new Apple Store

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Apple Store glass installation

A barge lends a hand as glass is installed at the new Apple Store.

Last week, I learned it takes a whole mess of suction cups to a glass curtain wall on an Apple Store. It was also a thrill to see a barge being utilized in construction once again, something I’d hoped — actually, kind of assumed — would happen, given the Apple Store’s proximity to the Chicago River. And there’s no mud to be excavated, so it probably won’t sink.

One Bennett Park keeps wowing in Streeterville

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You’d think someone was in a hurry to see One Bennett Park accomplish completion, as fast as it’s risen so far. Not me. I want progress to slow down while it’s still close enough to the ground to get a good look. At least until we put a deposit down on our penthouse unit. Then we’ll need construction to ramp up considerably so we can move in before another month’s rent is due.

Also, how has it been a month and a half since I’ve stopped by? Oh, that’s right, it was my own refusal to see it on anything but a beautiful sunny day.

Well, I got one. And that means you get many. Photos, that is. Here ya go:

One Grant Park is officially on tower-crane watch as caissons wrap up

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One Grant Park

Case Foundation breaks down a caisson rig Thursday at One Grant Park in the South Loop.

Down at One Grant Park in the South Loop, Case Foundation has disassembled most of its caisson equipment and hauled it away. And while I’m no math genius, I couldn’t count more than one caisson on site that still awaits its concrete filling.

Now B.U.C. crews will be monitoring the lot at Roosevelt and Michigan 24/7, watching for tower crane parts to arrive. The City of Chicago issued that permit on February 1st, so somewhere there’s a free-standing Potain MD 485B seething to get into the game. It’s March Madness time; I say BRING IT ON.

A roof-top crane means 3Eleven nears topping out

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3Eleven rooftop crane

This permit, issued Tuesday, allows Power Construction to put a crane on the roof of 3Eleven.

A permit issued last week for a “TEMPORARY TIMBERLAND ASD 35-100 DERRICK CRANE ON ROOF LEVEL” means the John Buck Company’s 3Eleven must be getting close to topping out. I mean, no one puts stuff up on a roof if they don’t anticipate having a roof in the near future, right?

Sure enough, Power Construction says they’ll top out the 25-story apartment tower near the end of the month. Just the 23rd floor, the penthouse-level 24th floor, and mechanical 25th floor remain to be added until it’s roof time.

3Eleven rooftop crane

Rendering of 3Eleven from FitzGerald Associates Architects.

3Eleven rooftop crane

Working in the shadows.