One Bennett Park plants a tower crane in Streeterville

Posted on October 18, 2016 by danieldschell

The new One Bennett Park tower crane, taken from Moment Apartments.

If you were in Streeterville over the weekend for Open House Chicago, you may have walked right past the new tower crane stub at One Bennett Park. If you visited Moment, the new apartment tower at McClurg and Grand, to check out an apartment and/or the outdoor deck, you might have looked right over it as you gazed out at Lake Michigan and the skyline. But it is there.

The high-profile high rise got a tower crane permit way back on August 23, so we’ve been waiting awhile. But it’s going to be a pretty yellow crane, so the wait was worth it. Then again, it’s a tower crane; it’s always worth it.

: Porto-potty peephole. Thanks for nothing.

Cranescapes

Posted on October 14, 2016 by danieldschell

A collection of tower cranes. Do you know which ones are which?

Tower crane. Water tank. American flag.

Posted on October 8, 2016 by danieldschell

No big whoop, but the other day, I noticed I could get a tower crane, a water tank, and the Stars and Stripes in one photo. Maybe not The Big Three, but *A* Big Three. And then about an hour later, it happened again. So I figured I’d let you see them. Besides, no one ever won a Pulitzer for a photo they didn’t share.

Quick Look: The 171 Aberdeen tower crane foundation is poured

Posted on October 6, 2016 by danieldschell

The tower crane foundation at 171 Aberdeen is poured and set.

When last we checked on 171 Aberdeen, there was a freshly planted tower crane stub. So freshly, in fact, that there was no foundation around it. But not to worry. A quick perusal Tuesday shows a completed foundation, and I expect full assembly is still on schedule for Monday the 10th. I’ll miss it; I hope one of you can stop by and capture a few photos.

Last week’s tower crane, in the buff.

Tower Crane Update: 465 North Park starts putting it all together

Posted on October 5, 2016 by danieldschell

See there, off in the distance? They’re assembling the tower crane at 465 North Park.

Another day, another tower crane goes up. This one is for 465 North Park. The 47-story apartment tower from Jupiter Realty and Pappageorge Haymes Partners got its tower crane permit on September 6, then planted the stub during groundbreaking ceremonies on Sept. 20. Tuesday, the street crane went to work, assembling the crane high above Streeterville.

: HOLD ON

: A core begins to rise.

Tower Crane Update: Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells

Posted on September 30, 2016 by danieldschell

Centrum Hubbard 412 North Wells tower crane

The tower crane is real. And it is spectacular.

The stump has been planted, the foundation poured and cured, and all the parts are assembled in mid-air. The tower crane at Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells is ready to go.

That single tower crane will erect both the 9-story office building (412 North Wells) and the 23-story, 193-unit residential tower (Centrum Hubbard) in the lot at Wells and Hubbard. Both buildings were designed by next-door neighbor Hirsch Associates. And with it now in place, it’s time for digging some foundations. Not by the tower crane though. The excavation equipment will handle that task.

Gallery I: Tuesday assembly

Gallery II: The finished crane and the foundation dig.

171 Aberdeen appeases whining blogger, plants tower crane

Posted on September 28, 2016 by danieldschell

IT’S HERE!

Apparently I am a man who can get things done. My squeaky wheels attract much grease. Something along those lines.

It was only Monday that I lamented a second tower crane permit for 171 Aberdeen, the mixed-use project in the West Loop from MCZ Development, yet still there was no tower crane to be seen. Then Tuesday, for no better reason but to appease my insatiable curiosity, I wandered by the site again, despite having been there just two days earlier. And lo and behold, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a brand-spankin’-new stub sticking up out of the ground.

I also found the reason for the delay. That permit I told you about Monday for “RELOCATION OF CAISSONS AND GRADE BEAMS” was necessitated by a bit of miscommunication, and the new caissons were required directly underneath the new tower crane, as the original caissons were insufficient for supporting the weight of the crane. That means there are four additional caissons planted under what is now a slightly smaller crane pad than was initially planned.

A quick reminder about 171 Aberdeen before I let you enjoy a few pics of that glorious crane stub: it will have 75 luxury apartments, 15,000 square feet of retail, and 40,000 square feet of office space, and about 130 parking spots.

: Cement will be poured into the foundation Wednesday.

: See? I TOLD you that looked like a good spot for a tower crane!

Quick Look: A tower crane in the distance

Posted on September 26, 2016 by danieldschell

Alta Roosevelt Tower Crane, September 25, 2016.

There’s more to construction than tower cranes.

But man, tower cranes are cool.

From the West Loop, the photo above shows the tower crane at Alta Roosevelt (801 South Financial Place) with 1001 South State serving as a backdrop.

You remember 1001 South State, right? Yep: Moon Crane

465 North Park groundbreaking breaks tower crane cover

Posted on September 23, 2016 by danieldschell

The photo that gave up the secret of the new tower crane stub.

Yesterday, I showed you the photos 465 North Park sent over of the groundbreaking ceremonies held Tuesday afternoon. That little seedling of a tower crane hiding in the background was enough to prompt me to get over there and capture the little guy myself. So I did. And here are a few shots to prove it.

: There’s other stuff going on too, and most of it involves rebar. Lots of rebar.

Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells get a tower crane to share

Posted on September 22, 2016 by danieldschell

Crews work on the foundation for the Centrum Hubbard/412 North Wells tower crane.

This is the time we find out just how well Centrum Hubbard and 412 North Wells get along.

One is an office building, and one is a residential tower. So right off the bat, you’d think there might be tension. They’re being built in a very confined space, at the corner of Hubbard and Wells in River North, so they won’t have much of a chance for alone time. And now, they’ll have to start sharing a tower crane.

Yesterday, crews were busy working on the foundation and base section of a nice red tower crane toward the back and center of the lot. That tower crane will pivot to both sides to service the needs of the two-structure project from Centrum Partners and Hirsch Associates.