Renelle on the River erects Chicago’s 60th tower crane of 2017

Posted on November 13, 2017 by danieldschell

Chicago’s 60th tower crane of 2017 is up and lifting at Renelle on the River.

The Big 6-0 is on the board, as Chicago’s 60th tower crane takes to the skies at Renelle on the River, at 403 North Wabash in River North. If you want to count backwards, Home2 Suites, also in River North at 110 West Huron, was #59. The Van Buren, at 808 West Van Buren in the West Loop, came in at #58 last month. And 210 North Carpenter, another West Loop project, was Chicago’s 57th crane of the year when it went up.

*60 cranes. That’s a big year for tower cranes. And with the stub Hayden West Loop planted in the ground at 1109 West Washington, #61 will be added to the count very soon. Two other cranes have permits: 3833 North Broadway, where we expect a stub to be planted around Thanksgiving; and The Bentham, at 146 West Erie, which doesn’t have a construction permit yet.

*I am not counting the derrick crane at Simpson Querrey.

: Renelle on the River.

: Renelle on the River.

: Renelle on the River, 403 North Wabash.

: The Van Buren tower crane.

: Home2 Suites River North tower crane.

: 210 North Carpenter tower crane.

Not of One Bennett Park, but from One Bennett Park!

Posted on November 9, 2017 by danieldschell

These photos were sent to me by Nick, one of the tower crane operators over (at) One Bennett Park. They provide further proof that some of the best views in Chicago — some of the best views in *any* city around the world — are enjoyed by the men and women in hard hats who climb the stairs and ride the hoists to work every day.

Thanks for these, Nick!

: Sunrise over Lake Michigan.

: Nick, at night.

: Cloudy Chicago.

Hayden West Loop plants the neighborhood’s ninth tower crane

Posted on November 9, 2017 by danieldschell

The elder statesman of West Loop tower cranes, at McDonald’s HQ, watches work on the new kid at Hayden West Loop.

With eight tower cranes in the air to begin November, the West Loop already leads Chicago neighborhoods in that category. And now, #9 is within sight.

Crews from Macon Construction were busy pouring the concrete foundation for the Liebherr 550 HC 20 on Tuesday, after planting the stub late last week at 1109 West Washington. That project, named Hayden West Loop, is a two-parter from Sulo Development. Designed by Booth Hansen, it will bring 28 condominiums and 83 parking spaces. The second building is slated for a site around the corner on May Street.

This is Macon Construction’s second tower crane on our count. They also have one in the air at No. 508 in Lake View.

Cranes Without Context: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Edition

Posted on November 8, 2017 by danieldschell

Looking north from the 22nd floor of Soleil/Meriton.

We had less than 24 hours to wander Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Luckily, we got a nice day on which to do it. I snapped photos from our 22nd-floor serviced apartment at Soleil Meriton (Meriton is one of my new favorite brands. Great place to stay, and they build fantastic new towers all over Sydney, Brisbane, and Gold Coast.) and Story Bridge. Heck, I even snapped a couple shots on our Uber ride into town. There simply wasn’t enough time to get up close to these projects and learn more about them.

: Caisson rig.

: One (bad) night shot.

: 3 from the car…–>

: Another caisson rig.

: From the car.

Renelle on the River plants a tower crane on North Wabash

Posted on November 8, 2017 by danieldschell

A tower crane stub has been planted at Renelle on the River.

One of the city’s tightest construction spaces has planted a shiny yellow tower crane stub. Renelle on the River is the 18-story, bKL Architecture-designed condo tower Belgravia Group is sliding atop the underground parking garage at 403 North Wabash in River North. And a walk-by yesterday reveals McHugh Construction working around the new crane.

Rendering of Renelle on the River from bKL Architecture.

Renelle on the River is a curious project. Not only is it the aforementioned tight squeeze where a small plaza once stood, but it will also be angled in such a way as to give all residents a view of the Chicago River. And then there’s the foundation. No caissons were drilled for this one (the building permit went straight to full-build, with no foundation permit), leaving one to assume the existing parking structure was built to support much more weight than a few cars. And that tower crane’s foundation? It appears to be suspended in mid-air, even while being rooted in a huge block of concrete. It’s a mesmerizing set-up, to be sure.

Renelle on the River will bring 50 three- and four-bedroom condominiums to the neighborhood. There’s a sales office right next to the site, if you want to stop in and check them out. We highly suggest taking their virtual tour.

Simpson Querrey giveth, and Simpson Querrey taketh away

Posted on November 8, 2017 by danieldschell

A little birdie landed on the roof of Simpson Querrey and sent us this photo of the derrick crane and South tower crane.

Within hours of assembling its third crane on the site of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, Power Construction began using it to take down the South tower crane at the topped-out facility. That derrick crane you see in the photo above would be Chicago’s 34th crane in the air (It’s not a tower crane, but it *is* a crane that required a permit from the City of Chicago, so based on that technicality, it goes on the count) but we’re back down to 33 with the South tower crane being dismantled.

A reminder to those of you walking around on what’s left of the crane, in the photos below: You never have to worry about me taking your jobs. Trust me on that.

The cab comes down, courtesy of that little birdie again.

I’ll always picture you two kids together.

: The North tower crane will remain for a while.

: Hard to tell what’s derrick, what’s North crane.

: It’s not just crane work going on.

Home2 Suites is Home2 Chicago’s newest tower crane

Posted on November 7, 2017 by danieldschell

Over there, in the trees! It’s Chicago’s 33rd tower crane!

As expected, and despite some sketchy weather, the tower crane went up this past weekend at 110 West Huron in River North. That’s the site of the new Home2 Suites Akara Partners is building, and it marks the entry into the Chicago Tower Crane count for M.A. Mortensen.

This is the 33rd tower crane now active in Chicago, though #34 is also up — the derrick crane at Simpson Querrey — which we got a sneak peek at yesterday, thanks to a little birdie. We’ll get a better look at it today, and share. But remember, that derrick’s sole purpose is to remove cranes. So don’t call it a hero.

Cranes Without Context: Oxford, England Edition

Posted on November 6, 2017 by danieldschell

Thanks to Cranes Without Context, I can finally start doing something with hundreds of photos from our May visit to England. You’ve seen posts from London; we also stopped in Leeds and Oxford.

Sure, Oxford has all that Harry Potter stuff, if you’re into that sort of thing. I concentrated on the old architecture, and these few tower cranes. That’s right, you heard me: TOWER CRANES > HARRY POTTER.

Cranes Without Context: Sydney Tower Eye Edition

Posted on November 4, 2017 by danieldschell

One project I know for sure: Darling Square.

Have you ever shared photos even though you weren’t really sure what you’d captured? Good. Don’t @ me then.

In an effort to not have hundreds of photos on my computer that I won’t do anything with, I’ve decided to start a new series of posts on The Blog. Welcome to Cranes Without Context. These are the pictures I take that I either haven’t taken the time to research, or don’t have additional photos to use for their particular development. (Because who wants to see a photo gallery with only one photo.)

Cranes Without Context begins in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, from the observation deck of the Sydney Tower Eye. Much as I do when visiting Chicago’s Hancock Center and Sears Tower, I snapped every tower crane I could see from this lofty perch. And there’s just no way I’m gonna be able to figure out what job site each is from.

** You got an accidental preview of Cranes Without Context in the Victoria Bridge Brisbane post a couple days ago. Too many cranes, not enough time, etc. **

Some of you (particularly in Australia) will know some of these tower cranes on sight. Feel free to chime in as to project names and specs.

: Crane on a rooftop.

: Snuck a demolition photo in here.

: Bonus barge crane.

🏗 Chicago begins November with 32 tower cranes in the air 🏗

Posted on November 1, 2017 by danieldschell

As you know, I missed most of October in Chicago. And with only one day to catch up, the easiest way to gather up tower crane pictures was to head up 103 floors to Skydeck Chicago. It is from there that you’ll see 28 of Chicago’s 32 active tower cranes. Three of them: the two at Vista Tower, and the 2nd crane at One Grant Park, are hidden from view. The other, at 210 North Carpenter, I just plain whiffed on and missed.

New since October’s count:

210 North Carpenter
The Van Buren (808 West van Buren)

Gone from October’s count:

Cook County Central Campus Health Center (1950 West Polk)
Eleven40 (1136 South Wabash)
Marlowe (675 North Wells)

Coming soon:

Home2 Suites (110 West Huron; stub is planted)
Hayden West Loop (1109 West Washington; permit issued 09/07, stub expected this week)
3833 Broadway (permit issued 09/06)
The Bentham (146 West Erie; permit issued 09/11)
Renelle on the River (403 North Wabash; permit issued 10/10)
**Simpson Querrey (35-ton Derrick for removal of South Tower Crane; it needed a permit [09/06], so it needs to be on the list!)**

Who has tower cranes:

Lendlease – 8
Power – 7
McHugh – 6
W.E. O’Neil – 2
Nine general contractors have one tower crane apiece: Leopardo (210 North Carpenter); Macon (No. 508); Linn-Mathes (Wicker Park Connection); Onni Group (Old Town Park); Tishman (Alofty Chicago Mag Mile); Pepper (Moxy Hotel); Centaur (Nobu Hotel); Norcon (Illume Chicago); Walsh (1326 South Michigan; Wolf Point East soon?)

What are they building:

Residential – 21
Hotel – 7
Office – 2
Medical – 2

Where are they:

West Loop – 8
South Loop – 7
Streeterville – 6
New East Side – 2
Lincoln Park – 2
Lake View – 2
Five neighborhoods have one crane apiece: River North (Moxy Hotel); Uptown (Eight Eleven Uptown); Wicker Park (Wicker Park Connection); Near North (Old Town Park); Gold Coast (No. 9 Walton)

The newest tower crane in Chicago is The Van Buren.

The oldest tower crane in Chicago is…complicated. I’ve got evidence of the Old Town Park crane being assembled on August 2, 2016. And I’ve got evidence of a completed crane at Simpson Querrey on August 4, 2016. Since I don’t know for sure which was operational first, let’s call it a tie.

Here are Chicago’s 32 tower cranes at the start of November 2017: