There’s still construction to watch at River Point

Posted on August 9, 2016 by danieldschell

But it helps if you keep your eyes down, instead of up.

There’s a small corner of open space left above the arch.

Yes, there’s still a tiny bit of cladding left to install at the very top of the west-facing side of River Point, and there’s a construction elevator to finish removing. Then all that glass where is used to be will need to be filled in.

Of course, there’s a ton of work to be done inside River Point. But only a chosen few will get to see that process. Which leaves the rest of us to watch the plaza out in front of the tower, along the Chicago River.

Designed by The Office of James Burnett, the one-and-a-half-acre park will sit 35 feet above the river, with fantastic views of the Main and South branches.

: Lendlease dismantles the construction elevator from the west face of River Point.

: River Point Plaza, from the L.

: Construction continues on the plaza in front of River Point.

: A passing architecture cruise reflected in the River Point arch.

More Milwaukee: Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons

Posted on July 26, 2016 by danieldschell

Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons, 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Back in late June, the Mrs. went up to Milwaukee and brought back a couple souvenirs for me: photos of the under-construction Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons. Thankful for the keepsakes, I posted what I thought I knew about the project. A reader named John Anderson soon let me know, however, that I knew a lot less than I thought I did, and I had erroneously lumped two projects — and their respective information — into one post. (777 West Van Buren is the second project. I’ll post about that another day.)

Well, lucky for me, Sting visited Milwaukee this month. And when Sting is in Milwaukee, you drop everything and go to Milwaukee. That gave me a chance to sing “Roxanne” at the top of my lungs, and to take my own walk around downtown Milwaukee and see what Northwestern Mutual is up to for myself.

So, here’s what I think I now know:

The Tower portion of this project, at 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, will be 32 stories high, and about 550 feet tall, with the Commons portion extending to the tower’s west. It is a design from Pickard Chilton of New haven, Ct. Northwestern Mutual is, of course, the developer, along with Hines (think River Point here in Chicago, along with a whole lot of others.) Gilbane Building Company is the general contractor. Completion comes in 2017.

That was exhausting. How about some photos from a glorious July afternoon in Milwaukee:

: It is a striking tower…

: …from every angle.

: There will be a roller coaster of some sort at the top.

: Tower and tower crane, from a distance.

: A render from Northwestern Mutual.

: A rendering from Pickard Chilton.

: Just barely peeking out above the *stunning* Milwaukee Federal Building & Courthouse.

: The new hovers over the old.

: Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons, as of July 10, 2016.

: The Commons.

: Northwestern Tower, seen through the construction site at 777 North Van Buren Street. I’ll get to that another day.

: Jackson and Van Buren? I’m in Milwaukee, right? Not the West Loop?

: The Commons, looking from the south on East Wisconsin Avenue.

Yes, that’s a lot of photos. Let me know if I got any details wrong, folks.

Children’s Memorial Hospital Being Reduced to Scrap

Posted on June 26, 2016 by danieldschell

Piles of scrap are growing on the Children’s Memorial Hospital site. Do Not Enter. Says so right on the sign.

You already know about the demolition of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park, and the development that will take its place at North Lincoln and West Fullerton.

Fewer words, more pictures. That’s what you came here for.

: There lives a beast within the rubble.

: And the beast must be fed.

: Gut the inside…

: …and push it all outside.

: Omega Demolition is on the clock.

: Son-of-beast.

: This rendering from Hines of The Lincoln Common shows the site’s future.

Introducing RP150 to the Chicago Skyline

Posted on June 6, 2016 by danieldschell

May, 2016. RP150 rises above the Metra tracks in the West Loop.

Eurythmics. Wham. Go West. Daft Punk. Air Supply. Names that conjure up images of groups, yet only represent a duo. Now you can add a Chicago act to that list: RP150.

You may know RP150 as two separate entities. But to me, they’re like peas and carrots. It’s hard to remember what this city looked like without them, and now they’ll be here, together, forever.

150 North Riverside is a 54-story office building, designed by the Chicago architecture firm Goettsch Partners, between Lake Street, Randolph Street, and the Chicago River. Right next to it, on the north side of Lake Street, is River Point, a 52-story office tower at 444 West Lake Street designed by Pickard Chilton. Being developed by Riverside Investment & Development Company, and Hines, respectively, the two neighbors will deliver about 2,250,000 rentable square feet to the West Loop. There will also be nearly three full acres of public park space, for those of us who don’t need to rent an office in either building. And glass. Lots of shiny glass.