Still work to do at the topped-out 609 West Randolph

609 West Randolph topped out earlier this month, but there’s still a lot of work to accomplish for Skender. As proof of that, I’ll share some photos taken May 17 and 21.

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A Sears Tower Tower Crane Survey

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.

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Skender tops out 609 West Randolph

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.

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.

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.

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More drone video! Adjustable Concrete soars over 609 West Randolph

Screenshot of Adjustable Concrete’s drone video post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COTQE51hrVU/?igshid=6w19acigdqal

Flying is so much better than walking on the sidewalk, don’t you think?

Shout-out to Adjustable Concrete for sharing the drone video above of their pouring cycle at 609 West Randolph.

A couple long-distance shots of on-going work as well:

🏗 May begins in Chicago with 11 tower cranes in the air 🏗

Remember that era of 30-something tower cranes?

Where are our tower cranes?

  • West Loop – 4
  • River North – 2
  • One each in: The Loop (320 South Canal); West Town (1454 West Randolph); Portage Park (Clarendale Six Corners); Gold Coast (Gild); Illinois Medical District (IL Health)

What are they building?

  • Residential – 5.5 (300 North Michigan is half res/half hotel
  • Office – 4
  • Medical – 1 (IL Health)
  • Hotel – .5 (300 North Michigan)

Who has tower cranes?

  • Power Construction – 6
  • 5 GCs with one each: Ryan Companies (Clarendale Six Corners): Clark Construction (320 South Canal); Skender (609 West Randolph); Walsh Construction (Salesforce Tower); Pepper Construction (UI Health)

We still have a stub only at 2050 West Ogden. 354 North Union has begun caisson work; that should be getting a tower crane permit any day now. 1000M, 320 South Clinton, 345 North Morgan, and 178 West Randolph still have outstanding tower-crane permits.


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609 West Randolph scores its hoist permit

Skender is sending 609 West Randolph vertical.

Another day, another hoist, as 609 West Randolph gets a permit to attach a hoist over in the West Loop.

609 W Randolph got its tower crane permit just before Christmas 2020, and the foundation permit followed in January.

First Visit: 609 West Randolph plants a crane, begins ascent

601 West Randolph awaits its new neighbor and business partner

Bye bye tired surface parking lot, stick around 1890s four-story boutique loft building, and hello new 15-story office tower.

609 West Randolph is coming to, and staying in, the West Loop. Vista Property Group is putting up an new 15-story office building while preserving and integrating the small structure at 601 W Randolph. Skender is tasked with bringing the Antunovich Associates vision to life.

609 W Randolph got its tower crane permit just before Christmas 2020, and the foundation permit followed in January.