Steel is starting to climb high at The Ardus

Posted on August 9, 2017 by danieldschell

The skeleton of The Ardus is coming into view.

It’s been somewhat slow-going — you might even say it’s been arduous… — but a big yellow street crane is starting to move progress along at The Ardus, laying steel in place for the soon-to-be apartment building from Cedar Street. The combination renovation/new construction project is bringing 149 rental units to 676 North LaSalle Street, adding two floors to, and gutting, an existing office building and erecting an entirely new structure immediately to its east.

That existing portion of the project has had no such sign of sluggishness, as the gutting continues in earnest. But now it’s nice to see the shell of the new building start to look like a building. And though we won’t get to see a tower crane at The Ardus, that street crane is pretty enough to suffice. Method Construction, one entity of Cedar Street, is the general contractor.

A steely start at The Ardus

Posted on June 12, 2017 by danieldschell

Steel on site at The Ardus in River North.

The Ardus formerly known as 676 North LaSalle Street (I’ll never stop using that joke, so don’t try to fight it) has moved past the digging-a-hole stage and has started erecting steel beams.

At eight stories, The Ardus is on the cusp of needing a tower crane, but with no permit in sight, it looks like street cranes will do the heavy lifting. That’s okay though. Construction by any other means is still worth watching.

And while new life springs from the ground to the east, on the west side of the lot, the old 676 building still looks completely gutted, as GC Method Construction prepares to renovate the structure while adding two additional stories to the top.

: For the record, I *ALWAYS* obey this sign.

The Ardus begins caisson work at 676 North LaSalle

Posted on April 26, 2017 by danieldschell

Chicago, say hello to my new favorite construction crew member.

Tuesday was a big day in the life of The Ardus. A crew from Michels Corporation began drilling caissons at 676 North LaSalle Street in River North, even as the existing building next door continues its gutting and transformation. Booth Hanson has designed 149 apartments to be built into the new and existing structures for Cedar Street Companies. One of those companies, Method Construction, is the general contractor.

Also yesterday, The Ardus received its full building permit from the City of Chicago.

The full building permit arrived in the mail yesterday.

The Caissons

: Drilling the second caisson for The Ardus.

: Working on Caisson #3.

: Storage space is at a premium.

The Renovation

The overhaul of 676 North LaSalle into The Ardus is underway

Posted on April 5, 2017 by danieldschell

The Ardus, 676 North LaSalle, starts with demolition work, under the watchful eye of Gallery on Wells.

Demolition is happening in earnest, inside and out, at 676 North LaSalle Street in River North, transforming a six-story building into The Ardus.

A project of Cedar Street Companies, The Ardus will have about 150 residential units, with below grade parking. Most of those units will be in a new tower on the corner of LaSalle and Huron Streets. But some will be in the existing building itself, hence the demo work before renovations occur, including additional stories on top.

Booth Hansen has done the design work for the transformation as well as the new property. Method Construction, one of the Cedar Street companies, is the general contractor. Alpine Demolition is doing the wrecking.