The Day The Tower Cranes Took Over

Posted on July 7, 2016 by danieldschell

For many, the appeal of living in Chicago is the change of seasons. But what we should be promoting is the change of tower cranes. For just when one comes down, another (or three) goes up.

With lots of new construction comes lots of tower cranes. There isn’t much that can be built around town without the use of one (or two – looking at you, Sinclair.) A long walk on my regular rounds turned up no fewer than three seedlings being planted for future tower cranes.

Up in Lincoln Park, DePaul is building a new facility for music education. The DePaul School of Music won’t be a very tall structure, but it will be spread out over a large lot. Bulley & Andrews is erecting its tower crane near the middle of the lot, so it’ll reach 360 degrees around the site.

At 822 North Clark Street in the Near North neighborhood, McHugh Construction is setting up a tower crane to erect a 7-story Mormon church. I’ll have more about this project once I know for sure what I’m talking about.

Finally, at 8 East Huron in River North, Clark Construction has begun putting up a tower crane for the 26-story residential tower from CA Ventures. Designed by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, 8 East Huron has been sitting on its tower crane permit since May 24. I was getting a little antsy waiting for this one.

: Way over there is the tower crane seedling for the DePaul School of Music.

: Another shot of the starter kit for the tower crane at the new Mormon church at 822 North Clark Street.

: A profile photo of the tower crane at 8 East Huron.

More Photos Than I Know What To Do With: The Byrne Flyover

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The newest section of the Jane Byrne Flyover.

I cannot recommend enough that everyone live where construction is right outside your window. Quiet construction. Relatively un-dusty construction.

Like the Jane Byrne Flyover, for example. Close enough to be mesmerizing, yet far enough away that nary a peep can be heard.

They’re building a new ramp from the inbound Dan Ryan Expressway to the outbound Eisenhower Expressway. As soon as I see equipment amassing inside the Circle Interchange (as it used to be known) I get the coffee hot and the Red Bull cold for optimal night-work spectating. That’s when McHugh Construction lifts the beams into place that form the roadway. Usually. They did some day-time work this time around, as well.

The photos that follow are from two phases of work: One from June 6-8, and just this past weekend, June 17-19.

: When the trucks start lining up with beams, you know there’s a show coming to town.

: They try to hide from me, but I see ’em.

: Bridge supports on either side of the Halsted Street bridge.

: Two things to note: Steve, who does all the heavy lifting. And those support pillars lying on the ground.

: Here, with Steve’s help, those support pillars are up and ready for beams.

: Steve lifts a beam into place on June 7, when this first portion of this round of beams went up.

: …and another, this one on the morning of June 8.

: Traffic nightmare: The Kennedy ramp to Congress Parkway was closed for the next round of Flyover work.

: Traffic goes by to the outbound Dan Ryan as a beam is set on the Congress Parkway ramp.

: Then, on June 16, beams are staged on the Kennedy-to-Congress ramp.

: Cross bracing is set on the ramp, to be fastened to the beams before they’re lifted into place.

: A finished section, and a ramp full of beams for the next section.

: More beams are unloaded form semi trailers.

: It’s now Saturday evening, June 18, and McHugh Construction crews are preparing to set beams into place.

: Gwetting ready to lift the first beam. To the right, the Congress-to-Ryan ramp has been closed.

: Here’s the scene.

: A second crane is up and ready to go in the “outbound” lane.

: Both cranes are ready.

: Another look at Steve. He was born to do this.

: Bridge crews atop the bridge support, ready to secure the beam once it’s been lifted.

: Lift-off, just inches off the ground.

: And now almost in place.

: Beam #1 is in place, and crews work to secure it.

: Here, Beam #2 is almost in place next to the first beam.

: Bright and early Sunday morning, the fruits of their labors: six beams all in a row.

: A few ground-level views, taken Sunday morning, June 19.

: Bridge work and stuffed pizza. What more is there to life?

More Photos Than I Know What To Do With: The Sinclair

Posted on June 18, 2016 by danieldschell

The Sinclair, at Clark and Division Streets, designated 1201 North La Salle on permits.

Up at Clark and Division Streets in the Gold Coast neighborhood, crews are busy building a new Jewel-Osco store to replace the one torn down last year. But this is no ordinary Jewel. This one will have a produce department, dairy section, a bakery, and a 35-story, 390-unit luxury apartment tower known as The Sinclair.

Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, The Sinclair has quickly become one of the coolest construction projects in Chicago. You can thank McHugh Construction for that. But more important than making the project look cool, it’s McHugh’s task to have the tower ready for residents in Summer 2017.

: One of the tower cranes at The Sinclair.

: Yes, there are two of them.

: You remember the old Jewel store, don’t you?

Raquets Down, Racket Up as Demolition Begins for Elevate Lincoln Park

Posted on June 8, 2016 by danieldschell

Sorry, no more service here, Ace.

Tennis, anyone? Well, you’re a little too late. Those elevated tennis courts you saw on your Brown Line ride between the Fullerton and Diversey stops are no more. Game, set, match.

Taylor on the tear down; McHugh on the new construction.

In its place will soon be ELEVATE Lincoln Park, a mixed use project from Baker Development Company.

Approved by the Chicago Plan Commission back in July 2015, permits were filed for five addresses spanning North Lincoln Avenue from 2518 to 2534 between May 3 and May 5. Your plan commission says to expect a 10-story, 200-unit complex designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz that will also include 16,300 square feet of retail space.

The original schedule for ELEVATE Lincoln Park had designs on beginning caisson work by the first of this month, so progress is a tad behind schedule. But not to worry. Demolition is a pretty good sign things are well underway.

The taggers got to Lincoln Centre before Taylor demo crews did.

A commuter’s view, from a CTA Brown Line train.

Somebody feed that excavator, stat!

Soil sampling rigs showed up on site back in September. A good sign it’s time to sell your condo.

Another angle of the carnage.

A rendering of Elevate Lincoln Park from Baker Development Company.

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