When I snapped a bunch of South Loop construction photos a few nights ago, I failed to wander far enough to include Ancora at Riverline in the mix. And the guilt got to me. So, to make it up to Ancora, it gets ts own gallery.
That’s some good-looking glass across the river at Ancora.
Ancora, the Phase One tower of CMK Companies‘ Riverline development in the South Loop, has reached another milestone, as the first level of glass stretches around the exterior. That would be the 7th floor of Perkins+Will’s 29-story, 452-unit design. Overall, co-developer and general contractor Lendlease has the tower at or near the 23rd floor. It’s hard to tell with all that orange wrapping and yellow formwork, but those materials are worth the obstructed view when the setting sunlight hits it.
The Phase Two tower was initially reported to be called “Current,” an 18-story tower with 251 condominiums and 28 townhomes. But the Riverline website no longer includes information about that building.
There’s more glass happening at the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center in Streeterville. Lots more glass. Once a feature exclusive to the north elevation, the south side’s getting cladding now as well.
Power Construction tells us not to fret about losing tower cranes just yet. One crane will come down soon, probably in early November, but the second crane could finish out the year still before it’s taken down. They must know how painful it would be to say goodbye to both at once.
If you go by floor count, it looks like the Ancora tower at Riverline is a teenager now. The CMK Companies apartment-and-townhome building will grow to 29 stories when all is said and done, and Lendlease continues to build.
Like all new construction wrapped in multi-colored building materials, Ancora is best seen on sunny days. And the best-best views are in the evening, as the sun goes down, from the west side of the Chicago River.
Northwestern University’s Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center.
Great big huge Thank You to Brian Tuffy and Power Construction for a tour Friday of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center in Streeterville. Now topped out with the ceremonial purple beam in place, the 14-story Phase One can expect lots of curtain wall installation in the coming weeks.
As for those two tower cranes, they’ll be around for another month or so. Phase Two, which will see 16 additional stories added to the current phase, won’t begin anytime soon, and tower cranes ain’t free just because you aren’t using them.
The beginning of the pedestrian bridge over Superior Street that will connect the S-Q Center to 320 East Superior.
Some of the work being done on the four below-ground levels.
Elevator shafts, from below and above. Taken with great bravery.
Tower cranes. They’ll be around a couple more months.
Views from inside the upper floors.
Finally, the massive generator on the ground floor that will power the entire facility in case of a power outage.
Cladding installation has begun at the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center.
Out in Streeterville, the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center has climbed just about as high as it will go, with Power Construction crews now working on the 14th floor. That means Simpson-Querrey needs another feature with which to grab our attention: Glass. Shiny, curvy glass. It’s made its debut along the north elevation.
Are we gonna lose two tower cranes as the Perkins+Will project nears topping-out? I don’t have an answer to that. Yet. There’s a Phase Two for this project, when 16 additional laboratory floors will be added to the 600,000 square feet being built now. I vote to leave the cranes up there until whenever Phase Two starts. They’re a nice addition to the skyline.
Ancora at Riverline rises next door to River City. You can see the outline of the townhomes facing west, toward the South Branch of the Chicago River.
There will be construction at Riverline for a long time. A very long time. Ten new buildings, 3,600 residential units, covering 14 acres in the South Loop along the Chicago River. Designed by Perkins+Will, Riverline will basically be its own new neighborhood once completed, sometime around 2024.
Ancora, the first building of Phase One, broke ground in September. Lendlease, the general contractor and part of the development team with CMK Companies, is kicking tail on the podium, as the core rises to about ten stories. Ancora will be a 29-story tower, with 420 apartments and 24 townhomes. The second tower, Current, doesn’t have a start date yet, but we do know it will be an 18-story condominium tower with 251 condos and 28 more townhomes.
Gorgeous curves on the north elevation of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center.
The two cores got off to a big lead at the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center but now the ironwork is making a move, gaining ground on the concrete towers.
The south elevation of the Simpson Querrey Center gets all the sunlight and attention, but around back along Superior Street, the curvy steel cuts quite the striking figure. It’s definitely worth watching this one from the south and the north. Of course, as is usually the case with most high-rise construction projects, do it on a sunny day. Remember, this phase of the Perkins+Will design will be 14 stories high.
Ancora at Riverline, at sunset, from the Harrison Street bridge.
Ancora from above, courtesy Olin Eargle of @properties.
Call it Ancora, call it Phase One of Riverline, call it whatever you want, but it’s growing. And will continue to do so until it reaches 29 stories. CMK Companies’ first portion of the Riverline development along the Chicago River is making its presence known in the South Loop. The podium has reached the fourth level, while a pair of cores shoot up through the center. You’ll find the best spots to view Lendlease’s handiwork along the Harrison Street bridge.
The Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center rises in Streeterville.
More iron, more concrete, more fun for spectators. The Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center continues to grow in Streeterville. Northwestern University’s new facility, on the site where Prentice Women’s Hospital once stood, is growing toward its goal of 14 stories. (Phase Two will add up to 16 additional floors.)
Power Construction has been hard at work on this one since ground was broken back in May 2015. Designed by Perkins+Will, construction has included extensive foundation work below grade, now hidden by all the superstructure we see today. And there remains a lot of work to be done, with the goal of a late-2018 opening.
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