Ancora aweigh: Riverline puts up a tower crane and gets busy

Posted on January 16, 2017 by danieldschell

A pretty yellow tower crane rises above Ancora, the first phase of the Riverline project from CMK Companies.

You can’t stop a development with a tower crane. You can’t even hope to contain one.

Riverline has one of the newest machines in Chicago construction. A pretty yellow one at that. And its first task is Ancora, the 29-story apartment tower at 720 South Wells Street in the South Loop previously known (according to permits) as “Building D.”

Perkins + Will designed Ancora for CMK Companies, and it will be the first of many structures erected in the Riverline project. There will be 452 apartments and 246 parking spaces included with this phase. Lendlease is taking care of the heavy lifting.

: The Ancora and Alta Roosevelt tower cranes, off in the distance.

Riverline mega-development begins caisson work in the South Loop

Posted on September 29, 2016 by danieldschell

Caisson work for Building B at Riverline is underway at 720 South Wells.

Everything has to be massive these days. Now you know that. Granted, some of the things we’re all referring to as “massive” lately are quite large, but we’re about two days away from ruining that word.

Anyway, the quite-large Riverline development CMK Companies is building along South Wells Street, in the lot just to the north of River City condominiums, is in full caisson mode these days. Case Foundation crews are out in full force, with the usual array of tools and equipment, drilling holes into the earth that will eventually support the weight of “Building D,” as the first of five phases is affectionately known. Per the permit on file, at least.

Building D will get Riverline started with a 27-story residential tower, containing 452 units and 246 parking spaces. It’s a design by Chicago’s Perkins+Will. Lendlease is the general contractor.

Double-Duty Tower Crane Gone From 1333 South Wabash Avenue

Posted on July 10, 2016 by danieldschell

Noticeable for its absence: the tower crane that used to stand between 1345 South Wabash (left) and 1333 South Wabash (right)

The tower crane that schooled us all in stamina and stick-to-itiveness is now gone from the side-by-side towers at 1333 and 1345 South Wabash Avenue in the South Loop.

Planted smack dab in the middle of the double site, the crane built the south tower, 1345 Wabash first, then turned its attention — and boom — north to work on 1333 Wabash.

CMK Companies is the developer of both residential towers. 1345 is a 15-story condominium tower with 144 units (the website says only 2 are left!) while 1333 will feature 28 stories and 307 rental apartments. Both were designed by Chicago architecture firm Brininstool + Lynch, and both are being built by general contractor Lendlease.

: The double-duty tower crane, seen here working on 1345 Wabash in June 2015.

: The tower crane and its two creations.

: The top of 1333 Wabash.

: 1333 Wabash, looking south down Wabash Avenue.

: Work continues on the podium along Wabash Avenue.

: 1333 and 1345, looking north up Wabash Avenue.

: The back of 1333 Wabash, from Michigan Avenue.

Riverline Lowers the Boom

Posted on June 19, 2016 by danieldschell

There’s a massive yellow crane on site at Riverline, waiting to throw stuff around.

They started pushing dirt around this March in preparation for the huge Riverline project along South Wells Street in the South Loop. The lot has been level — and idle — for a while now, but the ridiculous yellow crane above looks like a pretty good sign more work is imminent.

Approved by the Chicago Plan Commission back on November 19, Riverline is a massive development from CMK Companies. Expect 5 buildings to rise on the site, in multiple construction phases. They’ll combine for 2,700 dwelling units and 16,500 square feet of retail space.