1000M, for the final construction visit?

Posted on August 25, 2023 by danieldschell

The days of watching construction at 1000M are drawing to a close. Just a handful of the top levels remain unglazed. Soon the tower crane will come down and this will look like a finished product while crews work on the interior.

1000M gave us the rare thrill of watching a skyscraper begin twice. First when caisson work got underway, and then again, after a pandemic-induced delay left the site dormant for months and months. The tower crane base that had been planted was removed, it went from condos to apartments, the design was tweaked, and it roared back to life early in 2022.

It’s always weirdly sad to me when a building wraps up construction and there’s nothing to watch anymore, but this one legit tugs at the heartstrings, knowing Helmut Jahn isn’t here to enjoy its completion.

1000M should be open to residents in 2024. And please, if you get one of these apartments, invite me over. I’ll even help you move in, if that’s what it takes.

The glass is half full at 225 North Elizabeth

Posted on August 22, 2023 by danieldschell

A USAF Thunderbird flies over 225 North Elizabeth during the 2023 Chicago Air & Water Show.

Another tower crane gone since my last visit. Of course, it has been three months since I’ve been out and about. The topped-out and craneless 225 North Elizabeth has achieved approximate half-glassness. That’s an industry term; don’t bother looking it up if you’re not privy to insider information. Only us cool, in-the-know construction-types have it.

At Cassidy on Canal, the glazing is half up, and the tower crane is half down

Posted on August 21, 2023 by danieldschell

The half-staff tower crane at Cassidy on Canal, 09/18/2023.

Cassidy on Canal is topped out at 350 North Canal in River West. The tower crane is on the way done, as the glass exterior rises toward the top. It appears The Habitat Company’s 343-unit apartment tower is on pace for its scheduled Spring 2024 opening. Great location, too.

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.

Cassidy on Canal brings the pane

Posted on May 17, 2023 by danieldschell

A week late, but here’s a whole mess o’ photos of the first level of glass installation at Cassidy on Canal, taken Wednesday May 10.

225 North Elizabeth gets its glass in gear

Posted on May 8, 2023 by danieldschell

The glazing is underway at Sterling Bay’s 225 North Elizabeth.

The future 28-story apartment tower at 225 North Elizabeth in the Fulton Market District is up to about the 20th level. But it’s much easier to count the levels of glass than the levels of concrete. There’s one. One level of glass. I know this for a fact because I took a look on a gorgeous May Sunday and did the math in my head. There’s one level of glass. Not a complete level, mind you. But one, just the same.

Here are some photos to prove it:

More from 1000M as it rises into Chicago’s skyline

Posted on April 19, 2023 by danieldschell

1000M is at that age where the up-closes aren’t as dramatic as the far-offs. Which is why this post exists in the first place. Wednesday the 12th was as perfect a day as Chicago ever sees in mid-April, and while I didn’t set out to take more progress photos of Helmut Jahn’s South Loop apartment tower, the views once I backed away had their way with me.

So here ya go. A bunch more 1000M photos taken from a variety of perspectives, including Northerly Island (my first real visit there and OMG!), Grant Park, and the Museum Campus. Please enjoy:

Cassidy on Canal: A Pictorial progress update

Posted on April 18, 2023 by danieldschell

Leaps and bounds in the Futon River District, as McHugh & McHugh continue upwards at Cassidy on Canal.

Another apartment tower rises in Fulton Market, as 225 North Elizabeth climbs

Posted on March 29, 2023 by danieldschell

Sterling Bay’s 28-story, 350-unit apartment development at 225 North Elizabeth.

More two-week old photos today, this time spotlighting progress at 225 North Elizabeth. I haven’t been here since dirt was being moved, so it was a surprise to see this apartment building from Sterling Bay already up to the underside of the ninth floor. And since it’s been two weeks since this visit, it’s a safe bet McHugh & McHugh have reached 11 or 12 by now.

Designed by Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture, 225 North Elizabeth will deliver 350 new units across 28 stories, with 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and room to park 90-some cars.

225 has all the big permits lined up, including:

caissons permitted 9/17/22
tower crane permitted 10/17/22
superstructure permitted 11/8/22
full building permitted 1/5/23
hoist permitted 1/6/23

Sterling Bay plans to open the tower to residents in 2024.

Here are some photos taken March 15:

Sun’s out, One’s out

Posted on March 5, 2023 by danieldschell

That’s “One” as in “One Thousand M,” though most folks ’round these parts refer to it as 1000M.

I know I was just here, but it wasn’t sunny that day. So I came back. Nuff said. Here are the pics:

Catching up on 1000M, the sky-high apartments coming to the South Loop

Posted on February 1, 2023 by danieldschell

1000M construction progress, taken from Grant Park, looking west.

1000M got started, then it stopped. And we had to wait a long time for it to getting revved up again. Sort of like when the sequel to your favorite movie is announced, but then the release is delayed. Once it comes out, you’re the first in line to see it. Then you see it 17 more times over the nest week and a half. That’s what I was going to do; watch progress at the rejuvenated 1000M. But, well, I didn’t.

But I did take a look this past Sunday, in the cold of late January. The JAHN-designed tower bringing apartments in the sky to the South Loop looks to have reached the high 30s in floor count, with glazing covering about 20 0f those. And here are some photos to prove I was there: