Tag Archives: SOM

That looks like a wrap on caisson work at 400 Lake Shore

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It looks like caisson work is complete for the North Tower at 400 Lake Shore. Lots of equipment being loaded up on trucks, no more caissons (or precious few) still poking up out of the ground, no caissons being drilled. You know, all the tell-tale signs.

There are a whole bunch o’ steel sheets waiting to be driven into the ground, with some already in place right next to the cofferdam. (Note: It seems cliché at this point to refer to the cofferdam as “The Old Chicago Spire Hole.” I’m going to miss that name.) According to Alderman Reilly’s email to constituents and anyone else who wants to read it last week, those could very well be “tower crane sheeting.” So yeah, this *might* be an indication that the tower crane (or one of them? Still don’t know) will be right next to the old Spire Ho—sorry. Next to the cofferdam.

In fact, here are all the 400 Lake Shore-prudent tidbits from the alderman’s email:

Week of 4/22:

Continue Installation of tower crane sheeting
Demobilization of caisson equipment
Delivery of mobile crane for concrete operations
Begin excavation of site at Ogden slip and under inbound LSD ramp
Begin installation of concrete walls inside the cofferdam

Week of 4/29:

Continue excavation at Ogden slip
Begin installation of concrete walls inside cofferdam
Begin pouring of cofferdam walls and tower crane foundation

This may shock you, but I took a few photos while I was visiting on Thursday, April 25. They kinda look like a sandbox full of toys. Really cool toys. Here’s proof:

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No tower crane at 220 North Ada *yet*, but soon

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They’re starting to haul caisson equipment out of 220 North Ada.

220 North Ada is bringing more than 300 new apartments to the west end of the West Loop. But first, there has to be a tower crane. And that tower crane should be arriving very, very soon.

A visit Monday sure looked like caisson work was wrapping up. Some of the equipment has been loaded onto trucks for transport to their next call of duty, while machinery has been dismantled so it can be removed from the site as well. That likely means we’ll have some excavation work coming up next, as well as the planting of the tower crane base.

A reminder that the caisson permit for 220 was issued November 22 or 2023; the tower permit came through March 5 of this year. Next will likely be a superstructure permit, followed by the full-building permit.

Your on-site team consists of General Contractor Clayco and Concrete Contractor Adjustable Concrete Construction. The development team includes the development team of Shapack Partners, CRG, and KMW Communities. 220 North Ada’s Architect of Record is Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

Per CRG’s website, 220 North Ada will deliver 308 rental units across the 29-story tower; 62 apartments will be designated as affordable. Units will be a mix of studio, one- and two-bedrooms, and penthouses, all atop three levels of parking. 12,000+ square feet of retail space will be included at ground level. Early 2026 is the projected opening date.

Photos (lots with an iPhone) taken Monday April 22:

Drilling a caisson. March 29, 2024.

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No drilling yet, but caisson work is underway at 220 North Ada

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We’re off to a good start at 220 North Ada.

We told you last week that 220 North Ada has officially and ceremoniously broken ground in the West Loop. And while no caisson has actually been drilled yet, there is caisson activity happening on site. Stalworth Underground has equipment on the lot, and the rebar cages are starting to roll. Let’s go.

Photos taken March 20, 2024:

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220 North Ada breaks ground; 308 apartments coming to the West Loop

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I stopped by the future 220 North Ada last week after seeing the tower crane permit has been issued. The single-story building previously occupying the site had been demolished, and the lot seemed primed for new construction.

Sure enough, ground has been broken. The ceremony took place Tuesday March 12. Congrats to the development team of Shapack Partners, CRG, and KMW Communities on their big day. 29 stories, 300+ apartments on their way to the West Loop. How about we drop in next week and see if Clayco and Adjustable Concrete Construction have gotten started.

The future home of 220 North Ada is ready to rock.

Caisson work is at full bore (heh) at 400 Lake Shore

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The scene Monday, March 11, at 400 lake Shore in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.

CaissonFest is underway at 400 Lake Shore, as Keller North America and team have begun drilling into the earth around the old Chicago Spire’s cofferdam. I’m told about 50 caissons need to be drilled & filled to supplement the support offered by that big hole in the ground, the one that just got a boatload of concrete dumped into it. So this crew should be around for awhile.

Lots of equipment, lots of people on site. So, lots of photos.

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Darn Near Done: The Habitat Company announces pre-leasing at Cassidy on Canal

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Pre-leasing is open at Cassidy on Canal

The Habitat Company today announced pre-leasing has opened at Cassidy on Canal, their 33-story, 343-unit apartment tower at 350 North Canal in the Fulton River District. The development, built on the site of the former Cassidy Tire building, expects to welcome its first tenants in May. Apartments include a mix of studios, one- and two-bedrooms, plus penthouse units. Rents range from ~$2,500 per month up to over $10,000 per months for penthouses.

You can read the entire press release on pre-leasing here.

September 2023:

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Caissons are about to come rolling along into 400 Lake Shore

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Building rebar cages at 400 Lake Shore

I’ve been posting a lot about 400 Lake Shore. I know it. No, I’m not in the pocket of the developer or the contractors. (I’m available though.) This is just the next big thing in Chicago, I have some free time available, and the Divvy ride from Montrose down to Navy Pier is really, really good exercise. So indulge me.

Here’s a thing I know for certain: caisson work is about to begin in earnest at 400 Lake Shore. Equipment that started pouring onto the site Wednesday tells us Keller North America is about to dig deep. If you’re reading this today (Thursday the 7th) it was expected that the first caisson would start drilling today.

Here’s something I don’t know for certain: one tower crane? Two tower cranes? Chicago’s first tower crane permit of 2024 was issued January 11, for this construction site. And now, another tower crane has been issued for the site on March 5. Thing is, this new permit is identical to the first one. So I can’t clarify if it’s an erroneous duplicate of that first one, or if we can expect two tower cranes to erect this tower. Someone out there knows the answer; let’s hope they read my stuff.

More pics!

Breakin’ rocks
Installing an outer fence

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220 North Ada has the permits and blank canvas to get started

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220 North Ada, at Ada & Fulton Streets, is cleared and ready for takeoff.

The development team of Shapack Partners, CRG, and KMW Communities is erecting a 29-story, 308-unit apartment tower at he west edge of the West Loop. Included in those 308 apartments will be 62 affordable units. The tower will also include parking stalls for 115 cars, racks for 58 bicycles, and more than 12,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

220 North Ada is a design by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It replaces a single-story brick commercial building that was a recent home of Reve Burger (I didn’t get a chance to try it.) That structure has been demolished, leaving a clean slate for caisson work to begin. According to the link above from CRG, that work should begin this month. Clayco is the general contractor, with Adjustable Concrete Construction (they seem to be everywhere these days) serving as the concrete contractor. The goal is to have 220 North Ada open for residents in the first quarter of 2026.

On the fifth of this month, Clayco scored Chicago’s second tower crane permit of 2024. It’s the fourth permit issued so far for 220 North Ada:

Demolition (224 N. Ada) – issued 05/16/2023
Caissons – issued 11/22/2023
Foundation/superstructure – issued 02/13/2024
Tower crane – issued 03/05/2024

Rendering of 220 North Ada from CRG.
The former 224 N Ada.
This parking lot is part of the new construction now.
SW corner of Ada & Fulton.

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After-Pour: A quiet Saturday at the old Chicago Spire site after 400 Lake Shore gets tons of concrete

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As you can see above, Nick was at the Big Mat Pour 2024 at 400 Lake Shore last week. I wasn’t, even though he told me himself that morning it was happening. Too cold for me. I’m delicate. (Yeah, I shoulda gone.)

But I was there two days later, on Saturday, when there was absolute silence. Silence. Not an unusual sound at the old Chicago Spire Site. But at least now we know that temporary stay in action will only last over a weekend.

Here, look how quiet it was. If you can “see” quiet:

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It’s really happening: 400 Lake Shore takes over hole-in-the-ground Chicago Spire site

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The Ol’ Spire Pit, now the future home of 400 North Lake Shore Drive

400 Lake Shore is a thing. And now 400 Lake Shore is happening.

More than a decade after foundation work for The Chicago Spire was halted (or just about as long since my last gallery post), Related Midwest has picked up the torch and construction has begun in earnest on their new 72-story, 850-foot-tall North Tower.

The glamorous address for this one is, of course, 400 North Lake Shore Drive. The permit address is 462 East North Water Street. To date, three permits have been issued;
Caissons on 12-6-2023
The tower crane on 1-11-2024
“Three levels of superstructure” on 2-0-2024.

LR Contracting, the boots-and-hardhat division of Related Midwest, is the general contractor, with an assist from Bowa Construction. Goebel Forming is on concrete. Chicago’s Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is the design architect.

Back in mid-January, 400 Lake Shore was the proud recipient of 2024’s first tower crane permit. No idea how long it will be until that crane arrives on site, but it’s another milestone to look forward to.

Tough to get close to this one for a decent view, without walking with traffic on Lower LSD (which I prefer not to attempt.) Of course, once this project starts rising above street(erville) level, there will be lots to see. In the meantime, if you live in a nearby high-rise and have a view, send me an invite. I’ll bring some beverages and we’ll watch construction together. Until then, these photos from distance will have to suffice.

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