Chicago’s newest and southernmost tower crane is up at 5252 South Cornell

Posted on May 11, 2018 by danieldschell

Chicago’s southernmost tower crane has risen at 5252 South Cornell in Hyde Park.

Earlier this week, we published our Chicago Tower Crane Survey for May 2018, where we noted that a crane at 5252 South Cornell (this thing needs a name) would be erected very soon. As it turns out, very soon was retroactive. A visit Thursday to Hyde Park showed a new, shiny red tower crane atop the construction site, which is where Linn-Mathes is building a 26-story apartment building for Mac Properties. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, the tower will deliver 246 new apartments to the Hyde Park neighborhood, atop four levels of parking.

One Grant Park gets a new name (NEMA Chicago) and new glass (finally!)

Posted on May 11, 2018 by danieldschell

NEMA Chicago grows in the South Loop, despite being obscured by the Canal Street Railroad Bridge.

One Grant Park was a fine name for the new tower at 1200 South Indiana Avenue in the South Loop. It paid homage to the park whose south end the tower would anchor. Alas, the moniker wasn’t meant to last, and now One Grant Park has a new name: NEMA Chicago. This is according to the website of developer Crescent Heights. And if it’s on their website, it has to be real.

Something else One Grant Park just–oops…NEMA Chicago–just picked up, and this took longer than expected: cladding. Curtain wall. Windows. Glass. Glorious glass. Some up high, some down low. But it’s there, at last.

: NEMA Chicago grows in the South Loop, despite being obscured by the Canal Street Railroad Bridge.

Demolition Update: Fifteen Fifty on the Park

Posted on May 10, 2018 by danieldschell

For someone whose facade is being saved from destruction, you could look happier.

There isn’t much left to see at the corner of Clark Street and North Avenue in Old Town, save for a few blue shipping containers and the facade of the old Village Theater. Those two features, of course, are there for a reason, as one supports the other while the block comes down around them.

Fifteen Fifty on the Park, a 10-story condominium tower being developed by Golub, CIM Group, and Avoda Group, will soon begin construction. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, Fifteen Fifty will boast 32 new condos, with parking for 66 cars, and 2,600 square feet of ground-level retail space.

Power Construction will be the general contractor. They got a foundation permit on May 3, so they can start work as soon as demo work is cleaned up.

: The Foundation Permit.

: Fifteen Fifty on the Park rendering from Golub.

Now topped out, glass is in session at Renelle on the River

Posted on May 10, 2018 by danieldschell

Thank you @Maxamillianmyr for capturing the glass panel installation at @bKLarchitecture designed Renelle on the River! @belgraviagroup @mchughconstruct https://t.co/cecHMgdFac pic.twitter.com/bKzXwuc4KW

— Thomas Kerwin (@thomaspkerwin) May 8, 2018

https://twitter.com/McHughConstruct/status/993580821100613632

Yep, we just shared two tweets with you. That’s because Renelle on the River celebrated two important milestones: The first pieces of glass, and the last piece of steel.

As you can see in the video shared by bKL Architecture principal Thomas Kerwin, the first level of cladding installation is underway on the bKL-designed tower. And McHugh Construction was kind enough to share with the world that Renelle’s steel has topped out. That means the next milestone will be the sad one, when the tower crane comes down. And then all that’s left for Renelle on the River to accomplish is to open those incredible condominiums to residents, and that’s expected to happen early in 2019.

Union West may now go 15 stories high in the West Loop

Posted on May 9, 2018 by danieldschell

Union West rendering from bKL Architecture. On the left is the first tower at 939 West Washington.

Ready for more construction in the West Loop? Good. Because Tuesday, Union West got its full-build permit for a 15-story residential tower at 939 West Washington Boulevard. Building atop the foundation permitted back in April, the 939 tower is the first of two structures at Union West that will ultimately contain 357 apartments, with 12,000+ square feet of ground-floor retail space and 255 parking spots.

bKL Architecture designed the two-tower development for ZOM Living. Power Construction is the general contractor, adding to their West Loop projects that include the Hoxton Chicago, 333 North Green, 180 North Ada, Milieu, and 900 West. (Wow. They’re really busy.)

There’s a cool-looking iron contraption on the site now. No idea what that’s about, but we’re pretty sure it’s structural and not sculptural.

And now, the photo gallery, with everything from that cool steel thing, to bKL Architecture renderings, to demo work, to now-removed buildings and parking lots.

: All Union West renderings are from bKL Architecture.

: All Union West renderings are from bKL Architecture.

: All Union West renderings are from bKL Architecture.

: All Union West renderings are from bKL Architecture.

: All Union West renderings are from bKL Architecture.

: All Union West renderings are from bKL Architecture.

: All Union West renderings are from bKL Architecture.

: Full Permit for 939 W Washington.

: 939 W Washington foundation permit.

There’s glass on them there walls of 56 West Huron

Posted on May 8, 2018 by danieldschell

56 West Huron glasses up the River North neighborhood.

56 West Huron, the 13-story, 10-unit condominium tower from Kiferbaum Development Group, has topped out in River North, and now Gilbane Building Company has started installing the curtain wall on the building’s exterior.

Designed by Studio Dwell, the tower will include 10 full-floor condominiums, plus one duplex penthouse unit topping them off. Completion is anticipated in Fall 2018.

: 56 West Huron glasses up the River North neighborhood.

Three Sixty West rises above the River North street

Posted on May 7, 2018 by danieldschell

Maris Construction is using this tower crane to build Three Sixty West in River North.

Maris Construction has one, and only one, tower crane in the skies over Chicago. And they’re making it count.

Three Sixty West, the 11-story condominium tower at 360 West Erie Street in River North from Belgravia Realty Group, has risen a floor above street level. The 38-unit, GREC Architects-designed development got its initial building permit back in November, and a tower crane permit this past January.

Those condos should be ready for move-ins early next year.

A sunny day at Vista Tower

Posted on April 26, 2018 by danieldschell

Vista Tower rises in Lakeshore East under the watchful eye of the topped-out One Bennett Park.

I know you just saw a ton of Vista Tower photos only a few days ago, but that was about the new curtain wall being installed on the exterior. We got lucky and were in Lakeshore East when the sun was out last week, and Vista was irresistible. So here you go.

: Vista Tower rises in Lakeshore East under the watchful eye of the topped-out One Bennett Park.

Renelle on the River is topped out and ready for glass

Posted on April 26, 2018 by danieldschell

Concrete has topped out at bKL designed Renelle on the River! @BelgraviaGroup @McHughConstruct @thomaspkerwin pic.twitter.com/IGkfsBzcVz

— bKL Architecture (@bKLarchitecture) April 11, 2018

Renelle on the River went up in a hurry. Now, the concrete is topped out, and without any glazing yet, it looks kinda skeleton-like. But that will change soon, as McHugh Construction focuses on getting the outer skin installed and interior work begins. (Then again, maybe that’s what they’re calling an “open floor plan” these days. No windows, no cladding, just you and the elements and your living room.) The bKl Architecture design brings 50 new condos to the River North neighborhood across 18 stories.

Progress Update: Atrium Village Phase II (Old Town Park 2?)

Posted on April 26, 2018 by danieldschell

Atrium Village Phase II? Old Town Park 2? 202 Hill Street? The second tower Onni Group is constructing in Near North doesn’t have an official name yet, but it does have a tower crane and a building permit. And those are the important things. That permit calls for a Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture-designed 39-story tower, including a 6-level parking podium, with 428 apartments. Onni Group is once again the developer and general contractor, just as they are next door at Old Town Park, and The Hudson a few blocks away.