The Wanda Vista Tower site is no ordinary construction yard. It is a sea of rebar. It’s a seabar.
And very very soon, it’ll be a see of concrete. Charge your camera batteries, tighten up the tripods, and set your time-lapse mode. This will be spectacular to watch. It may take hours and hours and hours for McHugh Construction to accomplish the feet, but it’s February in Chicago. Who wouldn’t want to be outside for this?
To my dearest readers, followers, and stalkers:
It is my goal to avoid posting about the same projects too often. Which is why I don’t just stare out the living room window behind me and post hourly updates of 625 West Adams. No, I try to give you some variety, getting to as many construction sites as I can to keep things fresh, so you don’t get bored. But…
The rare occurrence of sunshine and blue skies in Chicago forces a change of the rules. I know I just sent out three dozen shots of One Bennett Park last week, but that was a grey, overcast day. under cloudy skies. But Thursday? Thursday was glorious. And I assure you, every skyscraper nerd in the city was out there Thursday, snapping photos like it’s their job. And few buildings looked as spectacular bathed in sunlight than One Bennett Park.
And so, because I simply can’t help myself around this beauty, I give you, yet again, more of One Bennett Park.
#eleven rises along side Assumption Catholic Church on West Illinois Street in River North.
3Eleven, the 25-story apartment tower in River North from The John Buck Company, has reached the glass milestone. Not the glass ceiling, mind you. So far, only the windows are glass. As the tower rises to the 17th floor or so, Power Construction is starting to glaze up the exterior. 3Eleven will hold 245 rental units, 3,000 square feet of retail, and 109 parking spaces, some of which will be shared with Assumption Catholic Church next door.
1001 West Chicago from a passing Metra train.
Both components that make up the two towers of 1001 West Chicago have reached the twelfth floor. And more importantly, both have added some color. And every little splash of it helps in this cloudy, dreary winter. Thanks for that, Power Construction.
Caisson work has begun at 710 Grand on River West.
Rendering of 710 Grand from Brininstool + Lynch.
It’s gettin’ real at 710 Grand, where Revcon equipment is on hand, drilling caissons for the new 9-story apartment building from Wicker Park Apartments and Outlook Development Group. Designed by Brininstool + Lynch, this Transit Oriented Development will bring 104 new apartments to the River West neighborhood, plus ground-floor retail space, and parking for 46 cars and 80 bikes. Arco/Murray is the general contractor.
Soul City Church in the West Loop is building a three-story addition.
Soul City Church, at 1150 West Adams Street in the West Loop, filed a building permit with the City of Chicago back in October to complete a three-story addition next to the existing church. Now, Focus has erected the steel work for the 45,000-square-foot addition. When finished this summer, it will include a new auditorium, office space for church staff, and covered parking.
On Thursday the 26th of last month (it’s February already?) Power Construction hoisted the final beam atop 165 North Desplaines in the West Loop, topping off the 14-story, 199-unit apartment building. Representatives from GREC Architects, the design firm on the project, were on hand, and sent over a couple photos of the festivities. You can also watch the beam rise in gif-form below from the GREC Twitter account (@GREC_architects)
You can also see four floors’ worth of windows have been installed above the podium. GREC Architects states that 165 North Desplaines is on schedule to open in Fall 2017.
Addison & Clark gets the makings of a new tower crane. Some assembly (still) required.
Food for thought: If The Chicago Cubs were to hire former Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers, they could have a front office that includes (Kevin) Towers and Crane (Kenney)
Where was I? Oh yeah. Just outside Wrigley Field, which is the home of the WORLD SERIES CHAMPION CHICAGO CUBS, the Addison & Clark development is getting a shiny new trophy of its own, in the form a tall, skinny tower crane. Crews were assembling it Tuesday, and will most assuredly have it ready to lift heavy stuff by Friday. As you know, February has traditionally been the month when pitchers and catchers and tower cranes report to kick off the baseball season.
Rendering of Enclave Bucktown from Guardian Properties.
When last we visited the site of the future Enclave Bucktown, demolition was still in the process at what used to be Phoenix Fastener at 2501 West Homer Avenue. Now, many of the 50 3- and 4-bedroom row homes from developers Guardian Properties and Harlem Irving Companies are taking shape. John James Construction, hired as the general contractor for the properties, has a row of the Pappageorge Haymes Partners-designed homes off the ground, and another row of foundations in the ground.
Mode Logan Square, 1950 North Campbell Avenue, is now open.
Mode 2501? Mode 1950? It’s a little confusing. What isn’t confusing is that Mode Logan Square is now open.
At 1950 North Campbell Avenue, Mode Logan Square is a development from Spearhead Properties bringing 78 apartments and 6,600 square feet of retail space to the corner of Armitage and Campbell Avenues. Designed by Antunovich Associates, Mode Logan Square also includes parking for 55 cars and 78 bicycles. Spearhead also served as the general contractor on this project.
Below are two photo galleries; one showing construction in progress in August, and one of the now-open development.
Building Up Chicago 