1001 West Chicago plants itself a tower crane

Posted on September 14, 2016 by danieldschell

A crane builds a crane at 1001 West Chicago.

If it seems Power Construction is everywhere around Chicago these days, it’s because Power Construction is everywhere around Chicago these days. Tuesday, while most of the crew continued work on the foundations for 1001 West Chicago, the rest of the gang took part in yet another tower crane erection. The design from FitzGerald Associates brings 360 apartments in two mid-rise towers, 10,000 square feet of retail (including a grocery store) and 300 parking spaces for all those residents and shoppers.

: Spotted from the Building Up Chicago HQ.

: NOPE

: Let’s give the non-tower crane a little love. It’s important, too.

: Foundation work continues.

A tower crane juts into the River West sky

Posted on September 13, 2016 by danieldschell

As seen from the Building Up Chicago offices, the new tower crane at 1001 West Chicago.

Crews are assembling Chicago’s latest tower crane at 1001 West Chicago today. The crane was permitted back on August 23. Look for more photos in this space as they become available. (In other words…”when I can get up there to take some.”)

The Tower Crane Permit.

Quick Look: Crews climbing the walls to get back to work at 3Eleven

Posted on September 12, 2016 by danieldschell

Power Construction crew gets busy after a weekend off at 3Eleven.

Some of us are better at relaxing than others. Some take a couple days off for the weekend reluctantly, and pace and fidget until Monday morning arrives, and they can get back to the work week.

Like these guys, climbing the walls to get back at it on the 3Eleven construction site.

Signage a good sign at Homewood Suites/Hampton Inn

Posted on September 12, 2016 by danieldschell

The Hampton Inn & Homewood Suites at 118 North Jefferson has signs stating such.

The new West Loop hotel from Jupiter Realty continues to stride towards completion. The combination Homewood Suites & Hampton Inn is now clearly marked at the top of the south-facing facade. Designed by VOA Associates, the Homewood/Hampton will have 336 rooms and about 8,000 square feet of retail space, plus 117 indoor parking spots. The building permit also mentions a restaurant on the 24th floor.

Power Construction has been on the job since ground was broken in March 2015. And it looks like they’re close to making Jupiter’s goal of opening the Homewood-Hampton this month. There’s work to do in the lobby, and some mints to put on pillows, but my guess is, folks will be catching shut-eye here within the next two weeks.

: Nope.

: The main entrance, and the garage entrance, at 118 North Jefferson.

: Some work remains on the sidewalk in front of the hotel(s).

625 West Adams gets Labor Day permit, allowing more labor

Posted on September 7, 2016 by danieldschell

Watching the construction site at 625 West Adams on Wednesday morning.

625 West Adams has received its ultimate building permit from the City of Chicago, one that will allow for the full build of the 20-story office tower. Workers from Power Construction can be seen on-site this morning, celebrating the permit’s filing by arriving at the job site and going about their business like it’s just another day, That’s professionalism right there, folks. Never get too high, never get too low.

The full-build permit, filed by the City of Chicago September 6th.

Glass is in session at 30 East

Posted on September 6, 2016 by danieldschell

Shiny, newly-installed windows stand along East Balbo Avenue in the new 30 East.

30 East is a residential tower from Gilbane Development Company that will cater to students from the multitude of colleges in and around the South Loop. And when better than Chicago’s official first day of class to tell you about 30 East’s first day of glass?

Last week, Power Construction crews began installing windows along the tower’s third level. In all, there will be 16 floors with 134 furnished apartments, ranging from studios to 4-bedroom units. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, 30 East will also have 8,000 square feet of retail space at the ground level. Gilbane expects to have the tower ready for Fall 2017 classes.

: Prepping for pane.

: A new glass panel is positioned for installation.

: Don’t get too caulky.

: Hey. How’s it goin’?

: 30 East, as seen from State Street.

: The L passes by.

: Another L passes by – almost through – 30 East.

: Looking south from Harrison Street.

625 West Adams putting that shiny new tower crane to good use

Posted on September 1, 2016 by danieldschell

625 West Adams, from above. Hard to tell from up here what kind of heights have been reached at ground level.

625 West Adams is right outside our back window. It has a big yellow tower crane. Perhaps you’ve heard me speak of it a time or two. And while that new-crane smell may have worn off by now, the new crane’s purpose is just beginning.

As Power Construction continues to make progress on the 20-story office tower, that cranes been throwing things around the lot like a champ. And for good reason; there’s a lot of work to be done to have 625 West Adams ready for its debut in early 2018.

Gratuitous Tower-Crane-And-Building-Up-Chicago-Office shot.

Simpson-Querrey doubles down on its crane game

Posted on August 31, 2016 by danieldschell

Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine

In the foreground, South Crane grabs the spotlight, as North Crane fades to the back, like that other guy in Wham!

At the beginning of August, I promised you a second tower crane would appear at Northwestern University’s Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine in Streeterville. Problem is, I told you to wait until the end of August at the earliest, yet upon visiting Tuesday, there was South Crane, standing even taller than North Crane.

The Simpson-Querrey Institute joins The Sinclair in the Gold Coast as the only two projects in Chicago requiring dual tower cranes. Double the fun!

: The Climb.

: The Summit.

: The Cab.

: It lifts things.

: The Cranes, North and South, not Frasier and Niles.

: Look up, see cranes.

: I think that’s a crane part.

: And this.

Quick Look: The 3Eleven tower crane. (It’s more of a late look)

Posted on August 30, 2016 by danieldschell

The tower crane at 3Eleven is up and running. But mostly up.

They set up the crane at 3Eleven in River North the day before vacation. So it’s been up and running for a week and a half. Monday was my first chance to see it. And now you can see what I saw when I walked by.

It’s already dragging things around the lot at 311 West Illinois Street.

Another day, another tower crane. This time, it’s 3Eleven

Posted on August 17, 2016 by danieldschell

Another shiny yellow crane is shooting up through the ground in Chicago.

This one’s at 3Eleven in River North. They planted a seedling last week, and darned if that thing hasn’t thrived in the rich soil at 311 West Illinois Street. There is no physical evidence to suggest it has anything to do with being sewn right up against Assumption Catholic Church, but then again, there’s an equal amount of evidence to disprove that theory.