Vista Tower Crane Update: East Crane is planted as West Crane blooms

Posted on January 6, 2017 by danieldschell

Even when they’re on the ground, tower cranes are cool.

West Crane will always be able to sneer at East Crane with a knowing, I-Was-Born-First smirk. But only by a couple of days. No sooner had construction crews rooted the first crane into the ground, the second one found a rebar bed of its own.

As one does when it’s about 10 degrees outside, dedicated skyscraper nerds (skyscraperds?) hung around Thursday afternoon to watch West Tower reach sky-cab status. Meanwhile, Eastie’s resting comfortably in place, waiting for concrete to be poured into its foundation.

There’s also the matter of the large hole in the middle of the site, that everyone but me seemed to be allowed to climb into. Unfair.

: The Navy Pier Ferris wheel creates a backdrop for West Crane assembly.

: Your cab awaits.

: More parts. I don’t know what they’re called, but I bet they’re important.

: East Crane can only watch for now. Like the rest of us.

: The cab has been readied for moving.

: And now the climb back to the top begins.

: Taking a breather. That’s a lot of stairs.

: The four crewmen have climbed to the top, and are now hailing a cab.

: And here it comes.

: Almost there.

: The four crewmen secure the cab in place atop the stem.

: And there it is. West Crane has a cab.

: Another angle of East Crane.

: The pool’s almost filled.

: Now…

: …..about that fortified hole in the ground.

How about a McDouble? There will be a pair of tower cranes at McDonald’s headquarters

Posted on January 4, 2017 by danieldschell

That tower crane obscured by all the caisson equipment doesn’t belong to the McDonald’s HQ site. But soon, there will be two of them here.

By now you know, tower cranes are a favorite of mine. Two tower cranes? I can barely contain my bliss. We’ve seen them here in Chicago within the past 12 months at The Sinclair, the Simpson-Querrey Biomedical Research Center, and most recently, at Vista Tower. And coming soon, McDonald’s HQ. (HQ stand for headquarters, not headquarter-pounders)

On December 15, the City of Chicago filed permits for the two cranes at 110 North Carpenter Street in the West Loop, and look what they did! They’ve already named them West Crane and East Crane! Which really takes the pressure to come up with clever crane monikers off me.

They’re still busy with caisson work at the new Home of the Golden Arches, so don’t expect cranes to sprout right away. But they’ll be here soon enough. Now, if that completes your order, please pull up to the next window.

East Crane.

West Crane.

Obvious Update: Driving piles at McDonald’s headquarters is noisy

Video

Crank up the volume on your pc/tablet/phone, and you’ll be able to enjoy what West Loopers are hearing, as piles are driven into the ground at the new McDonald’s headquarters at 110 North Carpenter Street.

But don’t worry. Locals know the importance of bringing such a high-profile company to the neighborhood, so they’re willing to put up with the noise for a few days. Besides, all major construction projects are noisy, and the folks on adjacent properties are always understanding of the temporary inconveniences.

Right?

: This guy was working much more quietly, not disturbing a soul…

: …despite working right beside the pile driver.

First of two Vista Tower cranes is in the ground

Posted on January 3, 2017 by danieldschell

The two cranes of Vista Tower. West Crane, on the right, is set in its foundation. East Crane, to the left, is awaiting its turn.

Not only does Vista Tower win the First Tower Crane of 2017 Award, it wins the second tower crane of the year plaque as well.

Just as the City of Chicago promised us with the two permits filed on the last day of October and the second day of November, Vista Tower is putting two tower cranes into the freshly-caissoned ground in the New East Side neighborhood.

You’ll notice a striking difference between the two stub sections of crane that are now on site. “West Crane” where the taller towers of Vista will stand, looks like it’s on steroids when compared to “East Crane.” I wouldn’t advise messing with either of them, though.

Shout-out to bKL Architecture for being on-scene Tuesday morning and breaking the big crane news with an Instagram photo.

: In the distance, West Crane.

: Crews secure West Crane into position atop its foundation.

: East Crane looks on and waits.

: Lower Wacker Drive is a staging area of tower crane parts.

: Working on the foundation for East Crane.

: Another large hole in the ground.

: Upper Wacker Drive is getting some work done of its own.

Construction Progress: Chicago Blackhawks Training Center

Posted on December 30, 2016 by danieldschell

The Chicago Blackhawks Community Training Center on the city’s west side.

On the grounds of now-demolished Malcom X College (which just happens to be across the street from the brand-new Malcolm X College), the Chicago Blackhawks Community Training Center is being constructed at 1801 West Jackson Boulevard. McHugh Construction has pulled off quite the power play, linking steel together to form the facility’s frame, and even getting the roof in place. The One Goal? Have the center open in December 2017.

HOK designed the dual-rink, 125,000-square-foot icehouse.

: The Blackhawks flags fly at Ogden and Van Buren.

: You can see where the boards will curve at the north end of the east rink.

: Bleacher seating takes shape.

: Working on the seating areas.

A permit makes it official: Motor Row is getting a new hotel

Posted on December 20, 2016 by danieldschell

Fresh off the presses, Monday’s permit for 22 stories and 466 units at 123 East Cermak Road.

Last week, a permit to prep the lot at 123 East Cermak Road was filed by the City of Chicago, and it appeared at the time there would be a new hotel coming to the north end of Motor Row. Now it’s official.

A permit was filed Monday, allowing for:

466 UNITS, 22 STORIES, MIXED USE-HOTELS, ASSEMBLY AND MERCANTILE, NO PARKING

As mentioned last week, McHugh Construction owns the lot, and they’ll serve as their own general contractor. Antunovich Associates handled design duties.

Now that construction can begin, it’s time to crowd-source a name. The Hughtel?

New hotel coming to Motor Row?

Posted on December 14, 2016 by danieldschell

Looks like it’s finally time to move some soil at 123 East Cermak.

Yesterday, a permit was filed by the City of Chicago for “SITE PREPARATION WITH SOIL RELOCATION AND RE-GRADING” at 123 East Cermak Road. That’s a lot owned by McHugh Construction, and a site where Antunovich Associates has helped design a mixed-use development along East Cermak between Michigan and Indiana Avenues.

A couple years ago, those plans included a hotel, data center, and retail space, all to be located within a block of the new Wintrust Arena. Which of these plans are becoming reality? Could it be all of them?

The small empty lot in the background is 123 East Cermak, with 111 up front.

The empty lot is empty no more: Here comes the Rafael Viñoly tower

Posted on December 13, 2016 by danieldschell

Crews are clearing the lot and prepping for the start of construction for Rafael Viñoly’s 1200 South Indiana

*** UPDATE: Crescent Heights, on its website, is calling this project One Grant Park. Let’s go with that then, at least for now. ***

The empty lot on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road (or Indiana Avenue and Roosevelt, which coincides with the project address) is no longer idle.

On Wednesday of last week, the Sloopin Blog reported that neighbors had been told to expect construction to start this week on 1200 South Indiana, the 76-story rental tower from developer Crescent Heights. And sure enough, what remained of the concrete slabs has been scraped up, smoothed over, and crews are erecting safety fencing on the perimeter of the lot. Soon, foundation crews will start drilling massive caissons into the ground to support the 792 apartments atop 12 levels of parking within the Rafael Viñoly Architects design.

1200 South Indiana will be another big project for McHugh Construction, already busy at The Sinclair and Vista Tower.

: Render of 1200 South Indiana from Rafael Viñoly Architects.

: Construction barriers are up along Michigan Ave and Roosevelt Rd.

: And the sidewalk is closed, along with one traffic lane, on Indiana Ave.

: The foundation permit, filed October 14 (It’s been 2 months already?)

A Night at The Sinclair

Posted on December 13, 2016 by danieldschell

That wouldn’t be a bad movie title. But this is no more than a few photos of The Sinclair (the live Progress Cam is pretty cool) in the Gold Coast neighborhood, taken after dark. And as everyone knows, the only images that come close to the beauty of new construction on a sunny day are those taken when buildings are lit up at night.

Like the bottom bun, McDonald’s foundation off to a good start

Posted on December 5, 2016 by danieldschell

Lots of irons in the fire at the new McDonald’s HQ.

With Harpo Studios a distant memory, foundation work is underway in the West Loop on what will be the new headquarters for the McDonald’s Corporation. And you know, you can’t start building a burger without a good bottom bun.

The foundation permit, issued November 7.

A foundation permit was issued by the city on November 7. Equipment from Michels Corporation (they did the caisson work on the newly-opened River Point Plaza) is tearing away at the soil in the block surrounded by Carpenter, Randolph, and Aberdeen Streets, and Washington Boulevard. Once that work is done, general contractor McHugh Construction will start going vertical with the Gensler-designed HQ.