Tag Archives: LR Contracting

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

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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

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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:

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

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

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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.

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.

Caissons are about to come rolling along into 400 Lake Shore

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Building rebar cages at 400 Lake Shore

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!

Breakin’ rocks
Installing an outer fence

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.

After-Pour: A quiet Saturday at the old Chicago Spire site after 400 Lake Shore gets tons of concrete

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As you can see above, Nick was at the Big Mat Pour 2024 at 400 Lake Shore last week. I wasn’t, even though he told me himself that morning it was happening. Too cold for me. I’m delicate. (Yeah, I shoulda gone.)

But I was there two days later, on Saturday, when there was absolute silence. Silence. Not an unusual sound at the old Chicago Spire Site. But at least now we know that temporary stay in action will only last over a weekend.

Here, look how quiet it was. If you can “see” quiet:

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.

It’s really happening: 400 Lake Shore takes over hole-in-the-ground Chicago Spire site

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The Ol’ Spire Pit, now the future home of 400 North Lake Shore Drive

400 Lake Shore is a thing. And now 400 Lake Shore is happening.

More than a decade after foundation work for The Chicago Spire was halted (or just about as long since my last gallery post), Related Midwest has picked up the torch and construction has begun in earnest on their new 72-story, 850-foot-tall North Tower.

The glamorous address for this one is, of course, 400 North Lake Shore Drive. The permit address is 462 East North Water Street. To date, three permits have been issued;
Caissons on 12-6-2023
The tower crane on 1-11-2024
“Three levels of superstructure” on 2-0-2024.

LR Contracting, the boots-and-hardhat division of Related Midwest, is the general contractor, with an assist from Bowa Construction. Goebel Forming is on concrete. Chicago’s Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is the design architect.

Back in mid-January, 400 Lake Shore was the proud recipient of 2024’s first tower crane permit. No idea how long it will be until that crane arrives on site, but it’s another milestone to look forward to.

Tough to get close to this one for a decent view, without walking with traffic on Lower LSD (which I prefer not to attempt.) Of course, once this project starts rising above street(erville) level, there will be lots to see. In the meantime, if you live in a nearby high-rise and have a view, send me an invite. I’ll bring some beverages and we’ll watch construction together. Until then, these photos from distance will have to suffice.

Beginnings of construction for 400 Lake Shore at the Chicago Spire site

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.

The Row Fulton Market picks up where 900 Randolph left off

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Latest rendering of The Row Fulton Market courtesy of Related Midwest.

New name, same tall slim apartment tower in the West Loop, as what used to be known during construction as 900 Randolph, at 164 North Peoria, is now The Row Fulton Market, though the North Peoria address remains.

I saw the topped out tower for the first time since late summer this past weekend. As you know, Sunday wasn’t a very pleasant day. Thankfully, there’s a new batch of renderings available, courtesy of Related Midwest, that depict the new tower on warm sunny days. Which I think we’re all looking forward to.

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.

900 Randolph is just cool

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Related Midwest’s 900 Randolph.

900 Randolph has been fun to watch. Nothing fancy, nothing out of the ordinary. But tall, sleek, and darn near topped out. The skip is numbered up to 34; there are at least six poured floors above the 34th floor. That puts it into the 40s. It’s a 43-story building I was told there would be no math, but even I know that only leaves a couple levels to go.

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.

First-hand proof: There’s glass on 900 Randolph

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I missed the first few pieces of glazing at 900 Randolph by one day last week. Luckily when I went back over Wednesday, it was still there. This is what I saw with my own eyes and lens:

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.

900 Randolph still doesn’t have gla—-hold that thought

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900 Randolph, the 43-story, 300-unit apartment tower from Related Companies and Morris Adjmi Architects, has grown pretty tall out in the West Loop. I’m told crews were pouring concrete on level 37 when I stopped by Wednesday. I was also told to expect topping out early in early October, along with a pleading “we’re hoping the windows arrive by then.” Supply chain delays. Not at all unusual these days.

But Thursday came the above tweet from Twitter user @MrFernGully2U, who captured the first few pieces of glass on the exterior. One day. I got there one day too early. But thanks to the Fern Gully for looking up, and looking out for us.

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.