They keep building Vista Tower, and we keep coming back to watch

Posted on April 24, 2017 by danieldschell

Looking east to west across the ever-changing scene of Vista Tower.They

Three weeks is far too long to go between photo galleries of what’s going on at Vista Tower. Especially when the landscape changes on a daily basis. McHugh Construction continues to entertain with lumber, rebar, concrete, and tower cranes. There’s a lot happening here, as you’re about to see.

: Gratuitous double tower crane shot.

: I was told they’d be no math.

: Ugh. The pool needs cleaned.

: Side job.

: Concrete trucks are staging on Upper Wacker.

: A tower crane looks on from One Bennett Park.

: I couldn’t do the climb.

: A ladder to go up, but not one to come down?

: We need them on that wall.

Two cores compete for attention at Wanda Vista Tower

Posted on April 4, 2017 by danieldschell

It’s East Crane vs. West Crane in the Battle of the Cores at Vista Tower.

It’s time for another installment of Vista Tower Photo Gallery. What’s new in the New East Side? There are two cores competing for sunshine, the way trees do in a crowded forest. It would make a good reality show, if it wasn’t McHugh Construction responsible for building both segments. There’s no reason they crews at each core should compete against each other. Unless a passing photographer started some trash talk about how much faster West seems than East. But no one would do that. Right?

: Sometimes I forget where I am…

: …so this signage helps.

: The view from Lakeshore East Park.

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.

Yep, I got more from Wanda Vista Tower for ya

Posted on February 24, 2017 by danieldschell

There’s still a lot going on, so why wouldn’t construction and skyscraper nerds take more photos? Really, it’s out of our control. So here ya go, another slew of action shots from this week at the ever-changing Vista Tower site.

Wanda Vista Tower starts going 3-dimensional

Posted on February 14, 2017 by danieldschell

Those kinds of heights are right about at my level. And you want me on that wall. You *need* me on that wall.

Tired of Wanda Vista Tower photos yet? Don’t be. Because before you know it, all the fun construction will be hundreds of feet in the air, and much harder to watch. So let’s enjoy Vista Theater being presented by McHugh Construction while it lasts.

With the gigantic mat pour done (the junior mat at the east end of the site has been poured too), the tower has started going vertical. I was especially happy to see guys hanging on a wall, four feet off the ground. I could do that; anything over six feet high would have to be someone else’s job, though.

New Wanda Vista Tower means an Extension for Upper Wacker Drive

Posted on February 13, 2017 by danieldschell

Wanda Vista Tower isn’t the only construction happening along East Upper Wacker Drive. The roadway itself is getting an upgrade too, as crews extend the dead-end portion of the elevated street that will front the new tower. This is the reason you have to turn around and go back west a tad earlier than you used to. What, you thought you could get to Lake Shore Drive from up here?

Quick Look: The Wanda Vista Tower concrete pour, after the fact

Posted on February 5, 2017 by danieldschell

I wanted to use “The After Mat” but decided against it.

Moon and crane above the Wanda Vista Tower construction site, Sunday evening.

The word of the day is… CONCRETE. At least at Wanda Vista Tower

Posted on February 4, 2017 by danieldschell

The big pour is underway at Wanda Vista Tower.

It’s happening. The gigantic mat pour everyone’s been talking about is going on now at Wanda Vista Tower. All manner of concrete distribution is being utilized, the coolest being a line of troughs at the west end of the mat, sending concrete flowing directly from the trucks into the mass of rebar below.

Missed the fun? No you didn’t. They’ll be at it for awhile. You’ve got time to get over there.

Rebar galore as Wanda Vista Tower prepares for its humongous concrete pour

Posted on February 3, 2017 by danieldschell

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?

Why won’t the Wanda Vista tower cranes joust? Because they’re luffers, not fighters

Posted on January 27, 2017 by danieldschell

The two tower cranes of Wanda Vista Tower.

Wow. You clicked on this story, even after reading that headline? I owe you a drink or something.

Wanda Vista Tower has its two tower cranes up and running. Both are luffing cranes, with jibs that angle toward the sky, rather than staying parallel to the ground at all times.

Down at ground level, there’s enough rebar being installed in the foundation mat. If you feel the earth tilt a little extra in the coming days, it’ll be from all the concrete being poured into that thing.