Construction Update: 465 North Park wraps up caissons, starts digging

465 North Park

I’m still struck by how barren a lot looks just after caisson work concludes. This is 465 North Park, once again a blank canvas.

“Life moves pretty fast” Ferris Bueller once said. “If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” For instance, wait three weeks to go check on caisson progress at 465 North Park, and find out you’re too late. Yep. Life moves pretty fast.

Power Construction has begun digging a foundation, now that the heavy drilling is out of the way. They’re working on Jupiter Realty Company’s 47-story, 444-unit apartment tower at 465 North Park Drive in Streeterville. The Pappageorge Haymes design will include 11,650 square feet of retail/commercial space, and 181 parking spaces.

 

No more loafing on old Gonnella site as foundation crews rip into the earth

1001 West Chicago

Ahhh, the familiar din of caisson work.

Surely this development will have a cool name soon. But for now, 1001 West Chicago will have to suffice (despite the two foundation permits being filed as 728 and 738 North Morgan Street.) That was the address of the Gonnella Baking Company when it was on this site in River West. Now, the entire lot is leveled, and crews are busy drilling caissons for a huge 360-unit apartment project from Bond Companies, which came up with the bread to get this development on a roll.

The design from Fitzgerald Associates will include 10,000 square feet of retail space, and parking for 300 cars. As you can see in the photos, Revcon is out there on the caisson work; Power Construction is handling the general contractor duties.

Tower Crane Update: 625 West Adams

There are tower crane parts all over the West Loop today. And you know what? It’s fantastic.

Crews continue assembly of the giant yellow Liebherr 542 HC-L 18-36 Litronic (I can read permits) at 625 West Adams.

 

Quick Look: Tower crane assemblage at 625 West Adams

625 West Adams tower crane

This massive street crane was the first piece of equipment on hand for the tower crane assembly.

Most construction companies will tell you they have their own schedules to keep, unaffected by outside influences. That’s okay. I’m still going to pretend I’m responsible for getting the tower crane on site at 625 West Adams.

Parts began arriving Thursday, and crews immediately got to work putting them together. It looks like weather may slow things down today.

 

 

Demolition Update: Addison & Clark tears up Wrigleyville

Addison & Clark

The old Starbucks building is coming down. They’ve already reopened on Sheffield.

There’s a lot going on up near Wrigley Field. And I’m not just talking about the Cubs winning the NL Central.

A whole lot of demolition is taking place along the Clark Street corridor. On Addison Street, buildings are being removed for Addison & Clarkan 8-story mixed-use project that will see 148 apartments, a whopping 150,000 square feet of commercial space, and over 400 parking spaces. A joint venture from M&R Development and Bucksbaum Retail Properties, Addison & Clark replaces, among other structures, the Starbucks at 1023 West Addison that made Theo Epstein famous in Chicago.

Environmental Cleansing of Markham, IL are out there as we speak ripping stuff apart, then Power Construction will take over the lot and start the new SCB-designed development. Project completion is expected in Summer 2018.

With caissons sunk, 3Eleven preps for a tower crane

3Eleven

The tell-tale sign of a future tower crane, at 3Eleven

Revcon Construction has hauled away most of its caisson equipment, leaving the site at 311 West Illinois Street to Power Construction to start building the 24-story apartment tower from The John Buck Company.

A tower crane permit was filed for 3Eleven waaaay back on June 21. And now, we know where it’s going to stand: in the “back right” (southwest) corner of the lot. Expect the stub to be planted any day now.

Will 625 West Adams *ever* finish my tower crane?

Last night, I put instant coffee in the microwave, and almost went back in time.” Steven Wright

I’m guessing Steven Wright was not a patient man. I, on the other hand, have unlimited patience. To a point.

Power Construction is getting a lot done on the lot at 625 West Adams Street in the West Loop. But I’ll be darned if I don’t find myself looking out the window every morning and wishing I could put an instant tower crane in the microwave. Or something. To be honest, it’s not really *my* tower crane. At all.

In the meantime, take a look at what’s been done to this point on 625 West Adams, the new SCB-designed 20-story office tower from CA Ventures and White Oak Realty.

An overview of Chicago’s Apple flagship store

Apple from LondonHouse

Looking down at the Apple store construction from LondonHouse Chicago.

You didn’t need another post about the Apple flagship store being built in Pioneer Court on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. You’ve seen the concrete cutters, you’ve seen the tower crane stub. By now, you’re ready to see the actual store.

But I couldn’t help it. From the spectacular 22nd-floor lounge of the brand new LondonHouse Chicago across the river, you can get an amazing bird’s-eye view of the goings-on at Apple down below.

So here, enjoy the third update of the same construction site this week. And enjoy the view from LondonHouse. You’ll want to get up there yourself soon; it really is amazing.

Construction Update: Viceroy Chicago rises in the Gold Coast

Viceroy Chicago

The Viceroy Chicago rises in the Gold Coast.

Up in the Gold Coast, construction continues on Convexity Properties’ new (though slightly used) Viceroy Chicago hotel. New, as in a new 18-story, 180-room hotel. And used, as in the facade that was painstakingly dismantled from the old Cedar Hotel at 1118 North State Street. That facade is off at a facade spa getting treated like a princess, while Power Construction attends to the new tower. Then the facade will be brought back to the site and reconstructed piece by piece as part of the new building. That, along with the rooftop bar and pool, should be highlights when the Viceroy opens in Summer 2017.

You can download the Viceroy Chicago press release from March 2015 here, or see the full text below the photos:

THE RUMORS ARE TRUE – VICEROY TO DEBUT IN CHICAGO IN 2017 LOS ANGELES, California (March 05, 2015) – Viceroy Hotel Group confirmed today plans for the brand’s hotly anticipated expansion to Chicago’s renowned Gold Coast neighborhood with a scheduled opening set for 2017.

 

Working in tandem with Convexity Properties, the powerhouse luxury hospitality brand will unveil the Goettsch Partners and TAL Studio-designed property, located conveniently for guests on State Street in the Gold Coast. The area occupies the central part of a flourishing neighborhood, quickly gaining momentum as one of the most sought-after modern luxury destinations in the city.

 

Known for creating authentic and inspired experiences, Viceroy Hotel Group will be using design, art, style and culture to infuse the new property with all the amenities and services of a top-luxury hotel, while simultaneously working to maintain a distinct sense of place for guests eager to explore and experience the Chicago landscape.

 

“Viceroy recognizes Chicago is a vibrant market and a great destination for our expansion,” said Bill Walshe, CEO of Viceroy Hotel Group. “We are extremely privileged to collaborate with Convexity Properties team to create exceptional and inspiring experiences for our guests in such a highly sought-after location.”

 

Convexity Properties is collaborating closely with the City, neighbors and community groups to finalize approvals for what will be an extraordinary project for the city.

About Viceroy Hotel Group

 

Viceroy Hotel Group delivers one-of-a-kind lifestyle experiences that bring together provocative design and intuitive service in sought-after locations. Signature brand amenities and services created for the diverse business and leisure guests include dynamic dining venues featuring world-class culinary talents and destination spas specializing in health, fitness and beauty. Current properties include hotels and resorts in Abu Dhabi, Anguilla, Beverly Hills, Maldives, Miami, New York, Riviera Maya, Palm Springs, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Snowmass, St. Lucia and Zihuatanejo with forthcoming openings in Algarve, Cartagena, Bodrum, and Dubai. For more information, visit www.ViceroyHotelGroup.com.

Tower Crane Update: One up, one to go, for Simpson-Querrey

Simpson Querrey tower crane

A crane grows up in Streeterville. A red crane up in Streeterville. (Apologies to Ben E. King)

You remember that tower crane bulb planted at Northwestern University’s Louis A. Simpson and Kimberly K. Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology in Medicine from a couple weeks ago, right? Well, that has bloomed into a beautiful crane butterfly. Of sorts. But before you wander off aimlessly looking for more crane photo ops, bear in mind there will be another tower crane on this construction site. Though I’m told that likely won’t appear until the end of August at the earliest.

In the meantime, the foundation dig continues, particularly at that south end, where Crane #2 will rise from the earth. But for now, one is reason enough to snap off another round of pictures.