Yeah, I posted about that jigsaw puzzle again

Posted on May 22, 2021 by danieldschell

When I post construction photos on this blog, I don’t use filters. I’ll brighten them up a bit if they need it, and edit out the spots when the mirror gets dirty without me realizing, but generally speaking, I want you to see construction sites the way they are. Not artistic interpretaions.

But yeah, that photo above has been heavily filtered. I wanted it to kinda sorta look like the jigsaw puzzle I showed you this week on Facebook.

You can still get one from my friend Adrianne here. (This isn’t an ad; I first noticed this mural just a couple weeks ago, then walked into her store to say hi, and she showed me these puzzles. I got one, and you might want one too.)

The mural’s artist is Juan de la Mora. (He works at Studio Gang!) You can follow him on Instagram. The photographer is Tom Harris. I need to talk to him about how he got rid of that utility pole for his shot. He must know people. You can follow Tom on Instagram as well.

The completed puzzle. Sorry I didn’t post Progress Updates.

Hines announces topping out of One Oak Brook Commons

Posted on May 21, 2021 by danieldschell

You remember One Oak Brook Commons, right? I rode my battery-powered rolling suitcase out there last month to take a look at construction progress on the 17-story apartment building, the first project built in the Oak Brook Commons development.

Yesterday, Hines announced One Oak Brook Commons has topped out. That means congratulations are in order for W.E. O’Neil and Antunovich Associates, as well as Hines. There may be no more *upward* for this one, but there’s more *onward* to come.

You can read the full Hines announcement here

RaveLaw demolition commenceth

Posted on May 20, 2021 by danieldschell

Several months ago, I went to Chase Bank’s ATM at Ravenswood & Wolcott and transferred all my money from the old bank to the newly-completed branch next door. And it’s a good thing I did, because that old building started coming down yesterday.

That’s Precision Excavation out there doing the dirty work. If you still have money in this branch, they’ve probably found it by now. Sorry.

Once the dust and rubble clear, construction can begin on Ravenswood and Lawrence. But the cool kids (me) are calling it RaveLaw.

Metra and CTA rides, Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, and comfortable walking shoes are adding up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

Low and slow is the way to go as early CA6 construction continues

Posted on May 19, 2021 by danieldschell

Maris Construction is busy erecting CA6, an eight-story, 72-unit condo building from Belgravia Group on the West Loop corner of Racine and Jackson. We went by last week so see what’s cookin’, on what is a deceptively-large lot. Foundation work is ongoing, even as excavation at the north end of the lot continues.

Just because: Pre-demolition photos at 3415-3425 North Ashland. A bunch of them.

Posted on May 19, 2021 by danieldschell

There’s a four-story, 48-unit residential building coming to the 3400-block of North Ashland Avenue in the Lake View neighborhood. That means it’s demolition time for the three low-slung brick buildings right smack-dab next to the L tracks just north of Roscoe Street, but south of Loyola Press.

You used to be able to sit down to read the information posted at 3415 N Ashland, but sadly, it’s now inside the demo fence.

Brophy Excavation is doing the demolition work.

Check out this link from the 44th Ward for more info on 3415 North Ashland. Then see the gallery with the ridiculous number of pictures I took before this all comes down.

Metra and CTA rides, Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, and comfortable walking shoes are adding up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

Progress Update: Inspire West Town is a wonder of concrete stalagmites

Posted on May 18, 2021 by danieldschell

Took a quick peek at Inspire West Town (670 North May) Monday to see how progress was coming along, and wasn’t disappointed. New growth is shooting up all over. Of course, it *is* spring.

Bond Companies is the developer of this eight-story, 118-unit building, a project designed by FitzGerald, with Global Builders in charge of construction.

Inspire West Town progress, on a gray May day.

Metra and CTA rides, Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, and comfortable walking shoes are adding up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

The Plumbers Union parking garage is underway in the West Loop

Posted on May 18, 2021 by danieldschell

It didn’t take long after the permit was issued to get work started on the Plumbers Local 130 parking garage at 1371 West Randolph in the West Loop. Crews have begun tearing up the surface parking lot, and a protective tunnel now covers the Randolph sidewalk.

With the building permit coming through Friday, which followed the tower crane permit received May 6, we should start seeing caisson work (and a tower crane stub!) very soon.

Once again, W.E. O’Neil is handling the heavy lifting. OKW Architects is the design firm.

Metra and CTA rides, Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

A Sears Tower Tower Crane Survey

Posted on May 18, 2021 by danieldschell

Visits to Skydeck aren’t quite back to pre-pandemic normal. I usually go up there and spend a couple hours taking pictures of everything I see. Three times. Can’t do that anymore. So I got what I could remember I wanted to get.

Like tower cranes. Some of them, anyway.

One of the secrets to taking photos from Skydeck is avoiding the bad windows. Much of what looks like smooth, clear glass will distort your pictures. Short on time, I failed to be selective. I also failed to be prepared.

You’ll see what I mean.

Clarendale Six Corners is missing; it’s too far away. I also tried to see the tower crane in Oak Park, but had no luck. Oh for a tripod, more time, and something ridiculous like a 1000mm zoom lens.

320 South Canal is the easiest one to see. That booom just about touches the Sears Tower. Okay, not really. But it’s nearby.

Are you not entertained? Metra and CTA rides, Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

Demolition about to begin at 1200 West Carroll for Sterling Bay office building

Posted on May 17, 2021 by danieldschell

A demolition permit was issued Thursday, May 13 for 1212 West Carroll. Coming down will be a metal building at the corner of Carroll and Racine, as well as a brick structure to its west. They comprise what used to be the Midtown Transfer facility. Heneghan Wrecking, already busy a block away with the AMD Milling Company demolition, is wasting no time, having already set up demo fencing around the perimeter, as you’ll see in the photos below.

Going up will be another West Loop office project from Sterling Bay. 1200 West Carroll will be a 14-story, 485,000-square-foot Class A office building designed by Gensler. You can learn all you’ll ever need to know by following this Urbanize Chicago link, or see what Sterling Bay themselves have to say about 1200 West Carroll here:

1200 West Carroll is a 484,617 SF new construction, Class A office building on the west end of Fulton Market. Featuring elevated architecture, smart design, and reimagined offices and amenities, 1200W sets a new office standard in one of Chicago’s most dynamic submarkets. 1200W presents a unique opportunity for forward-thinking companies seeking sophistication and excitement, both in and around the building. Enjoy unparalleled access to the places and spaces you need to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity and take your business to the next level.

As our world adapts to a new normal, a new way of working, 1200 West Carroll rises to a new standard in wellness and sustainability. This shift presents a valuable new opportunity to re-think the value our building can provide – for our tenants, our community, our city, and the world.

Before (demolition fencing) and after. Some photos show ADM demolition a block away.

Enjoy the photos? Metra and CTA rides, Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

Skender tops out 609 West Randolph

Posted on May 14, 2021 by danieldschell

That didn’t take long at all.

Skender took to Twitter Friday to announce the topping-out of 609 West Randolph in the West Loop.

https://twitter.com/SkenderBuild/status/1393206301635842050

Design architect Antunovich Associates was all over the ceremonial news as well, and much earlier. I saw this post and thought “Already? That can’t be right.” So, my apologies to everyone at Antunovich.

https://twitter.com/AntunovichAssoc/status/1392176876353953802

Heck, I was there that day (and a couple days before that), and I had no idea topping out was imminent. Nice work by everyone involved. Fast work, too.

Next milestone to come: Glass.

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides, Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.