625 West Adams gets Labor Day permit, allowing more labor

Posted on September 7, 2016 by danieldschell

Watching the construction site at 625 West Adams on Wednesday morning.

625 West Adams has received its ultimate building permit from the City of Chicago, one that will allow for the full build of the 20-story office tower. Workers from Power Construction can be seen on-site this morning, celebrating the permit’s filing by arriving at the job site and going about their business like it’s just another day, That’s professionalism right there, folks. Never get too high, never get too low.

The full-build permit, filed by the City of Chicago September 6th.

151 North Franklin gets crankin’

Posted on September 3, 2016 by danieldschell

The core of the CNA Center has reached the top of the 7-story garage next door. So I’m gonna say it’s about 7 stories high right now.

Admittedly, I became so infatuated with that funky tower crane at the new CNA Center, at 151 North Franklin Street in The Loop, that I forgot to notice how much of the core had risen from the earth. Then, all of a sudden, there it was, right in front of me.

General contractor Lendlease looks to be having a wonderful time pouring concrete and hammering lumber and such. I went ahead and took some pictures, figuring you wouldn’t mind seeing them…

: I strongly suggest stopping by when the sun i hitting it.

: That funky tower crane setup.

: Sorry for the vertigo.

Caisson work completed at Centrum Hubbard

Posted on September 2, 2016 by danieldschell

It’s back to a clean slate for Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells.

That didn’t take long.

The last pieces of Case Foundation equipment have left the (future) building(s) at Hubbard and Wells in River North. Now, Linn-Mathes can get to the task of digging foundations, so Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells can begin to rise up from the dust.

The development, from Centrum Partners and the architects at Hirsch Associates, received foundation permits back in late June and early July. Up next, expect to see full-build and TOWER CRANE permits.

: The last piece of Case Foundation’s caisson equipment leaves the site Friday morning.

: This was the scene Wednesday, as equipment was being disassembled and removed.

625 West Adams putting that shiny new tower crane to good use

Posted on September 1, 2016 by danieldschell

625 West Adams, from above. Hard to tell from up here what kind of heights have been reached at ground level.

625 West Adams is right outside our back window. It has a big yellow tower crane. Perhaps you’ve heard me speak of it a time or two. And while that new-crane smell may have worn off by now, the new crane’s purpose is just beginning.

As Power Construction continues to make progress on the 20-story office tower, that cranes been throwing things around the lot like a champ. And for good reason; there’s a lot of work to be done to have 625 West Adams ready for its debut in early 2018.

Gratuitous Tower-Crane-And-Building-Up-Chicago-Office shot.

The bricks hit the wall at Fulton West

Posted on August 29, 2016 by danieldschell

The front of Fulton West is bricked in, up to the setback.

Fulton West is looking a lot less like an old skeleton, and a lot more like its renderings. Sterling Bay is developing Fulton West, which will provide 290,000 square feet of office space and 610 parking spots to the Fulton Market District.

Leopardo Construction crews have added five additional floors to the existing 4-story structure, and now some major brick work covers the facades. The Gensler-designed office building is destined for an April 2017 opening.

: From the northwest corner of Fulton and Ada.

: Admit it. This rendering from Sterling Bay is starting to resemble the actual work taking place at Fulton West.

: Gratuitous south facade with tower crane shot.

: Is this a means to go up? or a way to come down? I’m guessing the ladder.

: Duct work around back.

: The west facade is in on the brick act too.

Construction Update: The Cubs’ “Triangle” Office Building

Posted on August 18, 2016 by danieldschell

The Ernie Banks statue stands tall in front of the triangle-lot office building.

It’s not a triangle like Phil Jackson and Tex Winter brought to the Bulls’ offense. It’s the triangle that used to be the Red and Purple lots at Wrigley Field. And it’s where the Chicago Cubs are now developing a new 6-story office building that will also includes the team’s 30,000-square-foot clubhouse.

Designed by VOA Associates, the new facility is being built by Pepper Construction. Which is strange, because I could swear I’ve seen several NO PEPPER signs around Wrigley Field.

A 5-day Tower Crane event at 625 West Adams

Posted on August 16, 2016 by danieldschell

Pictured above is the crew from Central Contractors Service, calmly going about their day from the middle of the sky.

If you didn’t know by now, a tower crane was assembled at 625 West Adams over the past few days. Here now are several thousand photos showing the chronology of that process:

: It all started on Thursday the 11th, when Central brought this giant street crane to 625 West Adams.

: Then crane parts started showing up.

: Crane parts were offloaded…

: …and the Central crew started to piece together the street crane.

: Yada yada yada, and this was what greeted me when I got home Thursday night.

: Friday morning, before the weather turned,

: The cab.

: Friday morning.

: The Central crane, from ground level.

: Tower crane parts everywhere.

: There’s the “spire” that will sit atop the main shaft.

: Waiting in line.

: Saturday morning, and parts are lined up.

: More parts are arriving, even as Central assembles what’s on site already.

: NOPE

: The man platform is lifted into place.

: The cab is secured to the main platform.

: Deadlifts.

: Sunday morning now, and the spire is lifted to the top of the main shaft.

: This is when I got queasy. Well, again.

: My fancy time-lapse set-up.

: The first, shorter piece of the boom starts to rise.

: …and comes in for a landing. It looked like the Space Shuttle docking with ISS.

: The first piece is in place.

: If you don’t notice the cable he’s holding, it looks like he’s dancing. He is *not* dancing.

: Double NOPE.

: Climbing down after a long Sunday shift.

: The crew reassembles Monday morning.

: Monday morning, after the climb. The sky crew’s ready.

: The larger section of the boom is lifted.

: Forrest Gump sits on a bench in the background, oblivious to the action behind him.

: Almost…

: Should you be out there?

: It’s a tower crane!

: Tuesday morning, at full staff.

Quick Look: Tower crane assemblage at 625 West Adams

Posted on August 12, 2016 by danieldschell

This massive street crane was the first piece of equipment on hand for the tower crane assembly.

Most construction companies will tell you they have their own schedules to keep, unaffected by outside influences. That’s okay. I’m still going to pretend I’m responsible for getting the tower crane on site at 625 West Adams.

Parts began arriving Thursday, and crews immediately got to work putting them together. It looks like weather may slow things down today.

: The Central crane stands at the ready.

: The first truck with crane parts arrives.

: Those are paw pads for the street crane.

: This is what greeted me upon my return Thursday night.

: Same shot, more light, Friday morning.

: Friday morning crane meeting.

: The cab waits patiently on Desplaines…

: …and then backs into the lot.

: Cab assembly started as soon as it hit the ground.

Will 625 West Adams ever finish my tower crane?

Posted on August 9, 2016 by danieldschell

Last night, I put instant coffee in the microwave, and almost went back in time.” Steven Wright

I’m guessing Steven Wright was not a patient man. I, on the other hand, have unlimited patience. To a point.

Power Construction is getting a lot done on the lot at 625 West Adams Street in the West Loop. But I’ll be darned if I don’t find myself looking out the window every morning and wishing I could put an instant tower crane in the microwave. Or something. To be honest, it’s not really *my* tower crane. At all.

In the meantime, take a look at what’s been done to this point on 625 West Adams, the new SCB-designed 20-story office tower from CA Ventures and White Oak Realty.

: Is it just me, or does that tower crane stub still look kinda stubby?

: Another maze.

: Instead of one big building…

: …it looks like a series of smaller projects…

: …that will all meld together into one office tower.

: The 625 West Adams site.

: Still lots of rebar.

There’s still construction to watch at River Point

Posted on August 9, 2016 by danieldschell

But it helps if you keep your eyes down, instead of up.

There’s a small corner of open space left above the arch.

Yes, there’s still a tiny bit of cladding left to install at the very top of the west-facing side of River Point, and there’s a construction elevator to finish removing. Then all that glass where is used to be will need to be filled in.

Of course, there’s a ton of work to be done inside River Point. But only a chosen few will get to see that process. Which leaves the rest of us to watch the plaza out in front of the tower, along the Chicago River.

Designed by The Office of James Burnett, the one-and-a-half-acre park will sit 35 feet above the river, with fantastic views of the Main and South branches.