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

Posted on March 21, 2017 by danieldschell

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.

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.

: Build it!

: Tower crane erection crew.

: Tower crane foundations are the best foundations.

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

Posted on March 21, 2017 by danieldschell

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.

: ALifting a concrete slab for the podium…

: …as another slab awaits its turn.

: Don’t stand there.

: Glass.

: More glass.

: And more glass.

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

Posted on March 20, 2017 by danieldschell

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.

: All’s weld that ends welded.

: One level above Field Blvd.

: Looking into the guts.

: Ramp.

: Wacker Drive extension.

: Taking out the trash.

: Ramp.

: We want you on that wall. We need you on that wall.

: Considering there are 2 tower cranes, one gratuitous tower-crane shot doesn’t seem all that gratuitous.

: Hammering away at a brand new concrete column.

: Tightrope walking.

: Road’s closed.

: Top of ramp.

Hanging glass at the new Apple Store

Posted on March 20, 2017 by danieldschell

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.

: The orange thing is not the starting light at a drag-race track.

: Hey.

: Suction cups galore.

One Bennett Park keeps wowing in Streeterville

Posted on March 20, 2017 by danieldschell

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:

: From across the river at Vista Tower.

: Reflections in 500 North Lake Shore Drive.

: LaGrange Crane is on hand.

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

Posted on March 17, 2017 by danieldschell

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.

: There it is, The Final Caisson.

: And everyone wants to see it.

: Pulling counterweights off the caisson rig.

: Most of the tall stuff is gone now. Until the tower crane arrives, at least.

: Yep, they’re off the Case.

A roof-top crane means 3Eleven nears topping out

Posted on March 15, 2017 by danieldschell

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.

Rendering of 3Eleven from FitzGerald Associates Architects.

Working in the shadows.

Spotted: A mini tower crane in Phoenix. And IT IS ADORABLE

Posted on March 11, 2017 by danieldschell

One mini tower crane and lots of wood combine on Broadstone Roosevelt Row.

How many times do you sit at home, wondering why we have to live in a world where not every construction project will rise high enough to merit the use of a tower crane? Remember that in Chicago, we have a two-story project (Apple Store) and a three-story project (DePaul School of Music) that have tower cranes, so is there really a good reason not to have one? If only there was a market for mini-tower cranes.

And then boom. No pun intended. But here, on the streets of Phoenix, Arizona, I’ve found such a creature. All business up top, all counterweights down low. Like someone went to the gym only on leg day. It’s being utilized to build Broadstone Roosevelt Row, a multi-family residential block from Alliance Development. The design is by ORB (Office of Rich Barber) Architects of Phoenix. If I knew how to find building permits for Phoenix, I’d offer a little more information about the number of units and the like, but you’ll just have to settle for a few renderings and construction photos. And since Broadstone Roosevelt Row is a wooden wonderland right now, that’s not such a bad thing.

Oh, and that adorable little tower crane, too.

**My apologies to the general contractor on this one, as I haven’t been able to identify who it is. If someone lets me know, I’ll add them.

: Mini tower crane, and a little bit of the wood work, from a distance.

: Crane and sky. If you squint, it looks like a grown-up tower crane.

: The impressive weight stack.

: There *is* some concrete involved.

: Broadstone Roosevelt Row rendering from ORB Architects.

: Broadstone Roosevelt Row rendering from ORB Architects.

A Sunny Day At: The Phoenix Hampton Inn and Suites

Posted on March 9, 2017 by danieldschell

The Hampton Inn and Suites by The M.A. Mortenson Company, at Polk and 1st Streets in downtown Phoenix.

I hear sunny days are fairly common around these parts. So far, I concur.

Out in the far west suburb of Phoenix, Arizona, the M.A. Mortenson Company has just started construction on an 11-story Hampton Inn and Suites at the intersection of Polk and 1st Streets in the heart of downtown. Designed by PK Architects, the $33-million hotel will provide 210 guest rooms, and include amenities including a fitness center, meeting rooms, a business center, and a bar/lounge.

Here’s an OxBlue construction webcam

You can read more about the Hampton Inn and Suites at AZ Big Media

: Working on some sort of sunken maze.

: The Maze.

: This has nothing to do with the construction, but it’s either a tornado, or a huge margarita glass, and it’s kinda cool.

Prepping for a tower crane jump at Centrum Hubbard

Posted on March 7, 2017 by danieldschell

Two new sections of tower crane wait to take their reps at Centrum Hubbard.

All the tell-tale signs are there: Extra tower crane parts … Okay, that’s really the only tell-tale sign there is. But it’s also the only one you need.

Centrum Hubbard made (my) headlines last week by installing the first few panes of glass on the future residential building, and now it looks like the tower crane is gonna be jumpin’ very soon. of course, if you look towards the top of the crane, it appears it may have jumped recently, as well.