There is lumber coming out of the woodwork at 625 West Adams

Posted on September 19, 2016 by danieldschell

From above, 625 West Adams is starting to look three-dimensional.

It’s about wood and scaffolding right now at 625 West Adams in the West Loop. As the future 20-story office tower begins rising above street level, Power Construction crews are climbing and hammering like some sort of Tool Time playground, and Tim Taylor and Al Borland are getting a lot done. Have a look for yourself…

: Gratuitous tower crane shot, sky level.

: Gratuitous tower crane shot, street level.

: It’s a Hall Of Mirrors.

The Sinclair loses a tower crane, but gains some glass

Posted on September 12, 2016 by danieldschell

On Tuesday of last week, The Sinclair had two tower cranes. By the weekend, this one had been dismantled.

The Sinclair made news up in the Gold Coast for a couple reasons. First, it tore down that old Jewel store from the 1700s. Then, it erected two tower cranes on one construction lot.

Now, one of those tower cranes is gone. But in order to keep the excitement going, McHugh Construction has begun hanging glass on the first two levels. Not bad for a tower that appears to have only reached nine or ten floors.

Upon reaching its ultimate height, the Solomon Cordwell Buenz-designed Sinclair will have 35 stories and 390 apartments, with an anticipated opening of Summer 2017.

: My last-known picture of The Sinclair with two tower cranes, from 360 Chicago at the John Hancock Center

: The corner of LaSalle and Division. The Sinclair’s official address, for now, is 1201 North LaSalle Street.

: The tower crane building the actual residential tower will remain on site for the duration.

: Clark and Division.

: The parking podium along Clark Street. It was the tower crane that built this section that is now gone.

: Glass along Division Street.

: Glass at the corner of Clark and Division.

: Since its earliest days of construction, The Sinclair has had a top-notch scaffold game.

: Tell-tale signs of where a tower crane once stood.

Elevate Lincoln Park gets a building permit

Posted on September 9, 2016 by danieldschell

A rendering from Baker Development of Elevate Lincoln Park, which received a building permit Thursday.

You may not recognize the address (930 West Altgeld Street) but Baker Development‘s latest project, Elevate Lincoln Park, is a go. It will occupy the spaces previously known as 2518-2534 North Lincoln Avenue. On the way are 191 apartments, three levels of parking, and ground-floor commercial space, designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz.

The original schedule of events for Elevate Lincoln Park had foundation work beginning in June, so things are still a tad behind schedule. McHugh Construction may not be able to catch up to those lofty plans, but fear not. They’ll complete work all in good time.

: The Permit, issued September 8, 2016.

: Remember the tennis courts along the Red/Brown/Purple Line tracks? Yep, they’re gone.

: Demolition started in May.

: This is the blank canvas on which McHugh Construction will build Elevate Lincoln Park.

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.

With demolition complete, Elevate Lincoln Park can up its game

Posted on August 19, 2016 by danieldschell

The signs are everywhere: ELEVATE Lincoln Park is coming.

There isn’t even rubble left of Lincoln Centre; just memories. Memories of an R before an E that just never looks right. Those tennis courts are gone too.

With the lots at 2518-2534 North Lincoln Avenue scraped clean, ELEVATE Lincoln Park can now begin construction. A project of Baker Development, ELEVATE Lincoln Park brings a 10-story, 200-unit rental complex, designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz, plus 16,300 square feet of retail space, to the Lincoln Park neighborhood. McHugh Construction will be the general contractor, with completion slated for October 2017.

: A rendering of ELEVATE Lincoln Park from Baker Development.

Demolition Update: Addison & Clark tears up Wrigleyville

Posted on August 11, 2016 by danieldschell

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 & Clark, an 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.

: A rendering of Addison & Clark from SCB.

: This Kris Bryant mural has nothing to do with the Addison & Clark project, but GO CUBS!

: Whoa, gettin’ kinda close there, big fella.

: A latte of the Starbucks building is gone. (sorry)

: Bricks are being salvaged, palletized, and trucked away.

: The Starbucks demolition permit.

: The 1027 West Addison demolition permit.

: The Addison & Clark foundation permit.

Will 625 West Adams ever finish my tower crane?

Posted on August 9, 2016 by danieldschell

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.

: Is it just me, or does that tower crane stub still look kinda stubby?

: Another maze.

: Instead of one big building…

: …it looks like a series of smaller projects…

: …that will all meld together into one office tower.

: The 625 West Adams site.

: Still lots of rebar.

Northwestern Mutual goes mixed-use in Milwaukee

Posted on July 30, 2016 by danieldschell

My apologies for the horrible Google Maps photo, but this is the block, before demolition, where construction is taking place, and THERE’S EVEN A SOIL SAMPLING RIG!

This is Part II of my follow-up visit to Milwaukee, and my attempt to sort out what I initially incorrectly wrote about in regards to the Northwestern Mutual development there. You’ve seen the ridiculous number of photos of the Northwestern Mutual Tower and Commons. Now you can take a look at the nowhere-near-as-far-along project at 777 North Van Buren Street.

A rendering of 777 North Van Buren Street from Northwestern Mutual.

That’s where Northwestern Mutual is building a 34-story mixed-use building to accompany the office tower immediately to its southeast. The Solomon Cordwell Buenz-designed tower will contain retail space on the first floor, along with parking that will extend through the first eight floors. (There will be a whopping total of 1,400 parking spaces, including some underground parking for residents, to be used for the retail shops as well as the office workers at the Tower and Commons.) Atop that will be 25 residential floors containing 308 “high-end” apartments and 14 penthouse units. The 34th floor will be amenity space.

C.D. Smith is the general contractor on the project, with completion expected in Spring 2018.

For now, 777 North Van Buren is barely more than a hole in the ground, but it’s a hole in the ground *with a road leading into it* and that’s enough for me. Here are photos a few photos of the progress as of July 10th. If you’re in Milwaukee, and have more photos of the construction site, email them to the blog, or tweet them to me.