That looks like a wrap on caisson work at 400 Lake Shore

Posted on April 25, 2024 by danieldschell

It looks like caisson work is complete for the North Tower at 400 Lake Shore. Lots of equipment being loaded up on trucks, no more caissons (or precious few) still poking up out of the ground, no caissons being drilled. You know, all the tell-tale signs.

There are a whole bunch o’ steel sheets waiting to be driven into the ground, with some already in place right next to the cofferdam. (Note: It seems cliché at this point to refer to the cofferdam as “The Old Chicago Spire Hole.” I’m going to miss that name.) According to Alderman Reilly’s email to constituents and anyone else who wants to read it last week, those could very well be “tower crane sheeting.” So yeah, this *might* be an indication that the tower crane (or one of them? Still don’t know) will be right next to the old Spire Ho—sorry. Next to the cofferdam.

In fact, here are all the 400 Lake Shore-prudent tidbits from the alderman’s email:

Week of 4/22:

Continue Installation of tower crane sheeting
Demobilization of caisson equipment
Delivery of mobile crane for concrete operations
Begin excavation of site at Ogden slip and under inbound LSD ramp
Begin installation of concrete walls inside the cofferdam

Week of 4/29:

Continue excavation at Ogden slip
Begin installation of concrete walls inside cofferdam
Begin pouring of cofferdam walls and tower crane foundation

This may shock you, but I took a few photos while I was visiting on Thursday, April 25. They kinda look like a sandbox full of toys. Really cool toys. Here’s proof:

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

Two Questions at 400 Lake Shore

Posted on April 3, 2024 by danieldschell

These caissons are awfully far from the pit of despair.

Question #1. Are we getting two tower cranes here?

Question #2. There are a few caissons well to the south of the Spire hole. Is the footprint of the North Tower that large? Or are some of the caissons for the South Tower being drilled now?

Photos were taken March 29, 2024:

400 Lake Shore North Tower construction — II In One Contractors rig

Caisson work is at full bore (heh) at 400 Lake Shore

Posted on March 13, 2024 by danieldschell

The scene Monday, March 11, at 400 lake Shore in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.

CaissonFest is underway at 400 Lake Shore, as Keller North America and team have begun drilling into the earth around the old Chicago Spire’s cofferdam. I’m told about 50 caissons need to be drilled & filled to supplement the support offered by that big hole in the ground, the one that just got a boatload of concrete dumped into it. So this crew should be around for awhile.

Lots of equipment, lots of people on site. So, lots of photos.

Caissons are about to come rolling along into 400 Lake Shore

Posted on March 7, 2024 by danieldschell

I’ve been posting a lot about 400 Lake Shore. I know it. No, I’m not in the pocket of the developer or the contractors. (I’m available though.) This is just the next big thing in Chicago, I have some free time available, and the Divvy ride from Montrose down to Navy Pier is really, really good exercise. So indulge me.

Here’s a thing I know for certain: caisson work is about to begin in earnest at 400 Lake Shore. Equipment that started pouring onto the site Wednesday tells us Keller North America is about to dig deep. If you’re reading this today (Thursday the 7th) it was expected that the first caisson would start drilling today.

Here’s something I don’t know for certain: one tower crane? Two tower cranes? Chicago’s first tower crane permit of 2024 was issued January 11, for this construction site. And now, another tower crane has been issued for the site on March 5. Thing is, this new permit is identical to the first one. So I can’t clarify if it’s an erroneous duplicate of that first one, or if we can expect two tower cranes to erect this tower. Someone out there knows the answer; let’s hope they read my stuff.

More pics!

With caissons in the ground, it’s pile-driving time at RIU Plaza Hotel

Posted on September 13, 2022 by danieldschell

Yes, caissons are done, but not foundation work, on the RIU Plaza Hotel site at 150 East Ontario in Streeterville. W.E. O’Neil and crew are driving piles into the soil to help support the weight of the 28-story, Lucien Lagrange-designed hotel.

Hey, you know what we should be seeing soon here? Yep. Tower crane permit.

Piles are being driven at 150 East Ontario.

North Union II/III get started at 868 North Wells

Posted on September 8, 2022 by danieldschell

One of the first caissons for 868 North Wells at North Union.

One day after getting a foundation permit for the next two buildings at North Union, crews were drilling holes in the earth and filling them with concrete at 868 North Wells Street in Near North.

That single permit issued Tuesday allows Power Construction and Keller North America to work on two structures here: a 27-story residential tower with 411 units, and a five-story building with 23 units. (JDL Development shows a 25-story tower, so we’ll assume the two extra floors are the two below-grade parking levels mentioned in the permit, which includes 129 spaces. They also show 428 units instead of 411; we’ll just wait and see how many there will be when the dust settles and the appliances are installed.)

As they were for North Union’s first tower, a block north at 920 North Wells, Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture is the design architect. McHugh Concrete joins the team as concrete contractor.

Finally! RIU Plaza Hotel construction has begun at long-vacant Streeterville lot

Posted on August 27, 2022 by danieldschell

RIU Plaza Hotel rendering from Lucien Lagrange Studio.

The lot that sat empty at 150 East Ontario for what seemed like an eternity is finally seeing action. Big action.

The RIU Plaza Hotel construction has begun in Streeterville. The City of Chicago issued a permit for caissons and foundation on July 19 for a 28-story, 390-room hotel. W.E. O’Neil is the general contractor. Lucien Lagrange Studio is the design architect. And that’s a big yellow Keller North America rig drilling caissons.

We stopped by in late July to have a first look at site prep, then headed back over this week to see the caisson action. And action we got. Very happy to see work started on this site.