Stuff That’s Done (and renamed): The Residences at the St. Regis Chicago

Posted on March 23, 2021 by danieldschell

Oh, the photos I’ve taken during this build.

I haven’t been inside yet (there’s a good chance I never will be) but what is no longer Wanda nor Vista is open.

The Residences at the St. Regis Chicago is all glassy and glorious over in Lakeshore East. The hotel portion is still a work in progress; that will bring nearly 200 guest rooms when open later this year. But the condos are move-in ready (and have been for awhile.) And, as luck would have it, I’m an experienced mover. (Wink wink. HMU.)

Congratulations to all involved, including architecture firms Studio Gang and bKL Architecture, developer Magellan Development Group, and General Contractor James McHugh Construction. You’ve done Chicago and its skyline proud.

I was tempted to fill a gallery with construction-progress shots from the last — wow, fur years. But you can find those on your own, if interested, but checking out the Vista Tower link. Instead, a whole bunch of photos from this past weekend, from a whole bunch of different vantage points.

March 2021 Tower Crane Survey rendered obsolete, as the last of Cirrus-Cascade’s three cranes comes down

Posted on March 12, 2021 by danieldschell

You know what it means when the tower crane dips below the top of the building.

Make it 13 active tower cranes in Chicago right now, as Lendlease is removing the third and final crane from the Lakeshore East jobsite of Cirrus Condominiums and Cascade Apartments.

Cirrus Condos, Cascade Apartments nearing completion

Posted on March 11, 2021 by danieldschell

Cirrus Condominiums and Cascade Apartments rise in Lakeshore East.

If you’re ever unsure which tower is Cascade and which is Cirrus, remember that Cirrus is taller, and it has the better views of Lake Michigan. You give the condos better views.

Quick refresher, then we’ll roll the photos.

General Contractor – Lendlease
Design Architect – bKL Architecture
Developer – Magellan Development & Lendlease
Cirrus Condominiums – 47 stories, 363 units
Cascade Apartments – 37 stories, 503 units

One of these is Cascade; One of these is Cirrus; Two of these are cool

Posted on August 26, 2020 by danieldschell

Photos from August 17

Design Architect: bKL Architecture

Developer: Magellan Development Group

GC: Lendlease

The Balcony is Closed: A February update at Cirrus and Cascade

Posted on February 18, 2020 by danieldschell

Twilight shot over Lake Shore Drive, courtesy of Derek Svehla up in the tower crane.

That means you, Daniel.

The last time Cirrus Condominiums and Cascade Apartments appeared on this blog, I pointed out the need to get as many photos as possible before construction rose above “theater level” from N. Harbor Drive. Well, here’s the thing about that. With construction looming so close to that elevated walkway, you can’t have construction nerds standing within an arm’s length of carpenters and iron workers, offering our advice on how work should be done. And so, the sidewalks have been (understandably) walled off to provide a safety buffer between pedestrians and professionals, limiting us tower crane enthusiasts to get shots where we can. Which is still pretty cool, tbh.

: Just a peek

Fall 2016: Vista Tower Caisson Theater

Posted on January 31, 2020 by danieldschell

Vista Tower opens this year. It’s a pretty big deal.

McHugh Construction and Case Foundation put on a show during foundation work, drilling caisson after caisson with diameters the likes I’d never seen from such a good vantage point. From September through December of 2016, it was Caisson Theater.

Vista Tower opens this year. It’s a pretty big deal.

Posted on January 23, 2020 by danieldschell

Soil sampling at Lower Wacker Drive and Field Boulevard, August 2016.

Vista Tower opens in 2020. That’s this year. Seems like a decade ago there was the occasional soil sampler in the lots bisected by Field Boulevard in Lakeshore East. But then earth was scraped, caissons were sunk, foundations were poured, two tower cranes were erected, frustums were frustummed, and here we are.

You know what we haven’t seen from this blog in a long time? A big ole Vista Tower photo dump. In part because once a tower under construction reaches 39,000 feet in the air, or whatever this glorious beast is, it’s hard to watch the work that’s being done. But I’ve passed by her a few times over the past several months, always snapping a few shots on the way. You might want to see them, so if you do, here they are.

Like I said, she’s glorious, ain’t she?

Just the cranes – Cirrus, Cascade triple the fun

Posted on January 22, 2020 by danieldschell

What’s that old saying I just made up a couple weeks ago? Oh yeah, I remember:

Tower cranes should be cherished. Two tower cranes should be cherished and celebrated. Three tower cranes should be cherished, celebrated, and should get their own post.

It’s true at One Chicago Square just as it’s true at Cirrus & Cascade in Lakeshore East. What’s more, these are three shiny yellow Liebherr cranes. My favorite cranes (that aren’t lit up.)

This is their own post.

Slightly overhead views of Cirrus, Cascade

Posted on January 20, 2020 by danieldschell

Those of us without a helicopter, drone, or a really, really long selfie stick are running out of time before construction on Cirrus Condominiums and Cascade Apartments reaches above the elevated street levels of Harbor and Waterside Drives in Lakeshore East.

For that reason, I give you a whole slew of (somewhat) overhead shots, taken January 19, looking down on Lendlease’s continuing progress on the two bKl Architecture-designed residential towers.

: A sluice!

Thought you might wanna see some photos from Cirrus/Cascade, IJKL, all that stuff

Posted on December 11, 2019 by danieldschell

3 gloomy tower cranes are still 3 tower cranes!

Another gloomy weather day in Chicago, perfect for taking pictures with lousy cameras. I had to be downtown Monday, so I took a few detours, one of which was the three-crane wonder that is Cirrus Chicago construction. And Cascade Chicago construction. Honestly, I don’t know which is which over here, and I think there’s gonna be a third tower at some point too. What I do know is, this is one of two Chicago construction sites featuring 3 tower cranes, the other being One Chicago Square in River North.

I snapped off a bunch of iPhone pics, if you want to see them. I won’t win any awards for these, but at least now you can see what the early stages of construction look like over here, without having to make the trip to Lakeshore East.

A few particulars:

Lendlease is the general contractor here, as well as co-developer with Magellan Development. (Side note: “IJKL LLC” sounds like something that would be chanted at a college football game. I’m getting a t-shirt made.) They’re getting help with the concrete from McHugh Construction. bKL Architecture is the design architect.