After 18 months of labor, the tower crane comes down at 465 North Park

Posted on April 9, 2018 by danieldschell

A tower crane at half-mast; you know a tower is nearing completion.

Remember when the stub photobombed groundbreaking ceremony? (Photo courtesy 465 North Park)

A year and a half after being put into service above Streeterville, the tower crane at 465 North Park came down last week. Power Construction used it to erect the 48-story, 444-unit apartment tower by Pappageorge Haymes Partners for Jupiter Realty, but with the exterior topped out and glazed, it’s time to concentrate on getting interiors ready for the anticipated opening later this year.

You can reminisce about tower crane assembly at this link, then check out the gallery of the crane coming down below.

Progress Update: The Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center

Posted on April 3, 2018 by danieldschell

Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center April 2018

The Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, at 303 East Superior Street in Streeterville.

My apologies in advance for not making it here in nicer weather. This curvy-on-one-side glass beauty deserves to be viewed under blue skies.

Gone are the two tower cranes that held court atop the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center that Northwestern University is building in Streeterville. Power Construction has been hard at work on this one since ground was broken back in May 2015. Designed by Perkins+Will, the exterior looks nearly complete, while interior work continues, with the goal of a late-2018 opening.

The glass is almost full at the topped-out 465 North Park

Gallery

Posted on February 8, 2018 by danieldschell

This gallery contains 12 photos.

One Bennett Park nears the top

Posted on December 11, 2017 by danieldschell

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A post shared by One Bennett Park (@onebennettpark)

With that Instagram photo, One Bennett Park posted a selfie and announced last week that Lendlease crews have reached to within five floors of topping out the 69-story residential tower.

The Related Midwest project is combined design of Robert A.M. Stern Architects and GREC Architects, bringing a mix of 348 apartments and condominiums to the Streeterville neighborhood. Completion is scheduled for 2019 move-ins, so there’s still a lot of work to be done. But topping out soon will be a big milestone, even if it means the beginning of the end for One Bennett Park’s two pretty, yellow tower cranes.

Even at night, 465 North Park is still topped out

Posted on December 6, 2017 by danieldschell

Because it’s tradition in some parts of the world — a tradition I just invented — to celebrate the topping out of a building three times, here are more photos of the newly-topped 465 North Park. This time, taken on a gorgeous Chicago fall evening that felt like spring. Enjoy.

aLoft Chicago Mag Mile adds some glass as it rises in Streeterville

Posted on December 4, 2017 by danieldschell

Fresh glass at the aLoft Chicago Mag Mile in Streeterville.

Don’t look now (you can look when we get to the photo gallery) but Tishman has the *aLoft Chicago Mag Mile nearing the top (on or about the 15th floor, I’d say) of its 18-story goal at 243 East Ontario in Streeterville. And as if that wouldn’t be enough of a milestone, they’ve also started installing glass, on level 3 of the Valerio Dewalt Train-designed hotel.

When completed next winter, the aLoft Chicago Mag Mile will open 336 new guest rooms to Chicago’s most vibrant shopping neighborhood.

*Looks like I’ve been spelling it wrong all this time. “aLoft” – little ‘a’ big ‘L’

The sunny day 465 North Park deserves as it celebrates topping out

Posted on December 1, 2017 by danieldschell

Yesterday, we shared topping-out news at 465 North Park in Streeterville. Sad thing is, that news was accompanied by a gallery full of dreary-day photos. We think 465 North Park deserves to bask in better light, and Thursday provided that for us. So, without further ado, here’s the photo gallery the new tower deserves, from a sunny, gorgeous Chicago fall day.

465 North Park has topped out in Streeterville

Posted on November 30, 2017 by danieldschell

The top of 465 North Park, now topped out.

A Facebook post back on November 18 from Pappageorge Haymes Partners announced the topping out of 465 North Park, the 48-story apartment tower from Jupiter Realty.

Jupiter Realty’s photo of Alderman Reilly posing with the tower crane stub, September 2016.

Power Construction began work on the Streeterville tower in earnest back in July of 2016, then planted the soon-to-come-down tower crane in September. It was such a big deal, the alderman posed with.

465 North Park replaced an empty lot at Illinois Street and Park Drive, directly across the street from the AMC River East theaters. Its development is a win for everyone, because we all need a place to live, and no one wants to preserve empty lots. With 444 apartments that will open in 2018, the tower includes a sky lounge on the 38th floor, an outdoor pool deck, and every other creature comforts renters have come to expect from new construction in Chicago.

So, congratulations to the 465 North Park team of Jupiter Realty, Pappageorge Haymes Partners, and Power Construction, for reaching new heights at 465 North Park!

Not of One Bennett Park, but from One Bennett Park!

Posted on November 9, 2017 by danieldschell

These photos were sent to me by Nick, one of the tower crane operators over (at) One Bennett Park. They provide further proof that some of the best views in Chicago — some of the best views in *any* city around the world — are enjoyed by the men and women in hard hats who climb the stairs and ride the hoists to work every day.

Thanks for these, Nick!

: Sunrise over Lake Michigan.

: Nick, at night.

: Cloudy Chicago.

Simpson Querrey giveth, and Simpson Querrey taketh away

Posted on November 8, 2017 by danieldschell

A little birdie landed on the roof of Simpson Querrey and sent us this photo of the derrick crane and South tower crane.

Within hours of assembling its third crane on the site of the Simpson Querrey Biomedical Research Center, Power Construction began using it to take down the South tower crane at the topped-out facility. That derrick crane you see in the photo above would be Chicago’s 34th crane in the air (It’s not a tower crane, but it *is* a crane that required a permit from the City of Chicago, so based on that technicality, it goes on the count) but we’re back down to 33 with the South tower crane being dismantled.

A reminder to those of you walking around on what’s left of the crane, in the photos below: You never have to worry about me taking your jobs. Trust me on that.