Lots more glass as 465 North Park continues to grow

Posted on by
Reply
465 North Park

Glassin’ up the joint at 465 North Park in Streeterville.

Back in early April, cladding made an appearance at 465 North Park in Streeterville. Now, as Jupiter Realty’s apartment tower continues to push upward, the glass is spreading throughout the podium. When completed, the 48-story tower designed by Pappageorge Haymes will have (sorry, I chickened out on the math) a whole bunch of windows adorning it’s 444 glassy rental units. Maybe I can’t count all those panels, but I assure you, the Windex people are licking their chops. But if statistics are your thing, there will also be 181 parking spaces and nearly 12,000 square feet of retail and commercial space within 465 North Park. Power Construction is on the build; their task is having the tower ready to open early in 2018.

A Chicago Water Tank, a skyscraper, and a timely appearance by the sun

Posted on by
Reply
Chicago water tank, 527 South Wells Street

Chicago water tank, 527 South Wells, b/w Roosevelt University.

Chicago water tank, 527 South Wells StreetNo, not another theme. Just a shot resulting from being in the right place at the right time.

The water tank sits atop 527 South Wells Street, home of Jos. Cacciatore & Co. Real Estate. The tower in the background is the Roosevelt University building at 425 South Wabash Avenue.

The photo was taken from West Harrison Street, as the sun came out after an otherwise cloudy day, just in time for sunset. This is one of my favorite Chicago Water Tanks, and with the RooU building behind it, it’s a tough view to beat.

Have a great weekend, Chicago!

More from Vista Tower, just because

Posted on by
Reply
Wanda Vista Tower May

The two cores of Wanda Vista Tower, Chicago’s best free entertainment.

I could do three posts a week on the changing landscape that is Vista Tower construction. The site looks that different from day to day. The number of small individual projects going into making this one huge project a living, breathing being are fascinating to watch, even when I have no idea what most of it is. Combine that with the viewing platforms of Upper Wacker Drive to the north and the walkways along the south, and Vista Theater provides hours of entertainment for passing construction nerds.

But pulling up a lawn chair and camping out is not only discouraged by nearby residents and construction firms alike, but somewhat impractical in spring’s temperamental weather conditions. I can still offer to go by a few times each month though, and when I do, I’ll share bunches and bunches of photos with you, and then it’s like we’re all camped out there. And remember, when this thing climbs above Upper Wacker level, there won’t be nearly as much to see. You won’t get tired of photos before that happens.

Sound like a plan?

And then there were 32: The Landmark West Loop lowers the tower crane

Posted on by
Reply
Landmark West Loop tower crane removal

When the crane disappears behind its own building, that’s a good indication it’s coming down.

Chicago’s ever-fluid tower crane count has changed again, as Landmark West Loop begins to lower its crane at 1035 West Van Buren Street. Landmark topped out March 23, so we knew this day was coming. The loss of this shiny yellow Liebherr EC-12 Litronic model brings our count down to 32.

Landmark West Loop tower crane removal

One South Halsted is waiting for a Liebherr, so…

Caissons begin at Marlowe in River North

Posted on by
Reply
Marlowe caissons 675 North Wells

Stalworth Underground drills the first caisson for Marlowe,  675 North Wells Street in River North.

Just over a week after caisson work started on the other side of the block (676 North LaSalle) at The Ardus, caisson work got underway this morning at 675 North Wells Street in River North, home of the future Marlowe development from Lennar Multifamily Companies. Stalworth Underground has the honor of ripping holes in the soil and filling them with concrete for the 15-story, 176-unit apartment project. Antunovich Associates took care of the designs; Power Construction will be on the build.

The good word from Stalworth is there will be 59 bell caissons dug at Marlowe, down to about 80 feet. Diameters range from 2-and-a-half to 3-and-a-half feet, with bells up to 10 feet.

Aloft Chicago Mag Mile keeps digging while we wait for a tower crane

Posted on by
Reply
Aloft Chicago Mag Mile

Stalworth Underground drives piles into the Streeterville sand, as foundation work for the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile continues.

The tower crane was permitted for the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile on March 31, but we’ll have to continue to be patient. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot going on where the newest Streeterville hotel will be planted. You see, there are still piles to drive and sand to dig. LOTS of sand.

I still can’t get my head around the idea that much of Chicago as I know it was beach. But start digging, and you’ll find it. They’ve certainly found it at 243 East Ontario. I bet sand is easier to drive piles through than rock, though. But you’ll have to check with Stalworth Underground about that.

As you may recall, Tishman is building the 18-story, 336-room Aloft Chicago Mag Mile here, designed by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates.

Caisson work is underway at Nobu Hotel. For real this time

Posted on by
Reply
Nobu Hotel caissons

You can’t tell me that ain’t a big ole caisson rig, and it’s hard at work at the Nobu Hotel.

This time I’m certain. A caisson rig used for drilling caissons is drilling caissons at the Nobu Hotel site in the West Loop. It’s not a “quad sheet press,” like the one I misidentified back in March. Nope, this is for real. There’s a big red Revcon rig, digging holes. Plus, there are all those augers and, you know, caisson equipment.

The Nobu Hotel is coming to the Fulton Market neighborhood courtesy of Nobu Hospitality. The 11-story, 119-room hotel features designs by Modif Architecture and Studio K. Centaur Construction of West Lake Street is the general contractor. (The Big Green W will be here doing masonry work.)

 

Your (my) new Chicago Tower Crane count stands at 33

Posted on by
Reply
Chicago tower cranes

Forgotten tower crane at the DePaul School of Music

The conversation with myself went something like this, as I stood on the Fullerton CTA platform Monday morning, waiting for a Brown Line train:

Me: “I’m kinda surprised the tower crane at the DePaul School of Music is still there.”

Also me: “The Depaul School of Music! I forgot the DePaul School of Music!”

So there’s one tower crane I’d forgotten to include. That brings the current (as far as I know) active count to 33. Generally moving north to south, they are:

  1. Eight Eleven Uptown (811 W Agatite)
  2. Hotel Zachary (3630 N Clark)
  3. Addison & Clark (1025 W Addison)
  4. Elevate Lincoln Park (930 W Altgeld)
  5. DePaul School of Music (2330 N Halsted)\
  6. Atrium Village (1140 N Wells)
  7. Wicker Park Connection (1640 W Division)
  8. No. 9 Walton (9 W Walton)
  9. Simpson Querrey Center N (303 E Superior)
  10. Simpson Querrey Center S (303 E Superior)
  11. One Bennett Park E (451 E Grand)
  12. One Bennett Park W (452 E Grand)
  13. 465 North Park (465 North Park)
  14. Apple Store (401 N Michigan)
  15. 8 E Huron (8 E Huron)
  16. Hubbard221 (221 W Hubbard)
  17. 3Eleven (311 W Illinois)
  18. Vista Tower E  (401 E Wacker)
  19. Vista Tower W (363 E Wacker)
  20. 171 Aberdeen (171 N Aberdeen)
  21. McDonald’s HQ W (110 N Carpenter)
  22. McDonald’s HQ E (110 N Carpenter)
  23. Illume Chicago (111 S Peoria)
  24. 625 West Adams (625 W Adams)
  25. Landmark West Loop (1035 W Van Buren)
  26. Ancora at Riverline (720 S Wells)
  27. Alta Roosevelt (801 S Financial)
  28. 1101 South Wabash (1101 S Wabash)
  29. 1136 South Wabash (1136 S Wabash)
  30. One Grant Park (1200 S Indiana)
  31. 1411 South Michigan (1411 S Michigan)
  32. Three Hiltons (123 E Cermak)
  33. Solstice On The Park (1616 E 56th)

At last sightings, we still had stubs in the ground at the Cook County Central Campus Health Center (1950 W Polk), and One South Halsted. There are tower crane permits for 4 properties that haven’t been planted yet:

  1. Aloft Hotel (243 E Ontario)
  2. Nobu (854 W Randolph)
  3. Essex On The Park (808 S Michigan)
  4. No. 508 (508 W Diversey)