The new Apple Store in Pioneer Court features Chicago’s lowest tower crane.
You can handle more pictures of the Apple Store construction, right? It’s still cool, and it still has that tower crane where you can just about reach your hand up and high-five the crane operator. The only negative I can find right now with this project is that the lower-level sidewalk of the Michigan Avenue Bridge is closed for work, so that’s one less vantage point for viewing.
To my dearest readers, followers, and stalkers:
It is my goal to avoid posting about the same projects too often. Which is why I don’t just stare out the living room window behind me and post hourly updates of 625 West Adams. No, I try to give you some variety, getting to as many construction sites as I can to keep things fresh, so you don’t get bored. But…
The rare occurrence of sunshine and blue skies in Chicago forces a change of the rules. I know I just sent out three dozen shots of One Bennett Park last week, but that was a grey, overcast day. under cloudy skies. But Thursday? Thursday was glorious. And I assure you, every skyscraper nerd in the city was out there Thursday, snapping photos like it’s their job. And few buildings looked as spectacular bathed in sunlight than One Bennett Park.
And so, because I simply can’t help myself around this beauty, I give you, yet again, more of One Bennett Park.
The Simpson-Querrey Biomedical Research Center rises in Streeterville.
The new Simpson-Querrey Biomedical Research Center has gone full-3-dimensional in Streeterville. This is why you don’t turn your back on construction. One day everything’s at street level, and the next thing you know, there are concrete towers 8 or 9 stories into the air. I don’t know why I underestimated progress here though. With two tower cranes, anything is possible.
Learn more about Northwestern University’s Simpson-Querrey project here.
One Bennett Park, 451 East Grand Avenue in Streeterville.
As One Bennett Park continues to sprout up through Streeterville, it seems to get brighter as well. Which isn’t a bad thing, since the sun doesn’t shine in Chicago anymore. Might as well have something in the sky that’s yellow and shiny. Not that One Bennett park is that high yet. Hard to tell with that golden shroud wrapped around it, but the core seems to be about 6 or 7 floors up. But oh, how high it will rise. 69 stories. And no, it won’t be yellow.
Goodbye Museum of Contemporary Art, hello Aloft Chicago Mag Mile.
A demolition permit filed Tuesday by the City of Chicago looks like the beginning of the new Aloft Chicago Mag Mile. Brought to you by Tishman, designed by Valerio Dewalt Train Associates, the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile is slated to bring 336 rooms across 19 floors to 237 East Ontario Street in Streeterville, home of the former Museum of Contemporary Art. Taylor Excavating will handle the tear-down chores.
Rendering of the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile from Tishman.
Rendering of the Aloft Chicago Mag Mile from Tishman.
Optima Center Chicago II stands up on its heels, accentuating the height difference between it and Little Brother to its right.
It was never a matter of if Optima II would rise higher than its predecessor, Optima Chicago Center, but a matter of when. That’s because we knew from the get-go that Optima Chicago Center II, at 220 East Illinois Street in Streeterville, was expected to rise a full 12 floors higher than the first tower, at 200 East. And 54 stories opposed to 42 stories, when compared apples-to-apples (apartment tower-to-apartment tower, in this case) will always win the height battle.
All that math a side, it’s been several weeks since 220 caught and passed 200, on its way to the aforementioned 54 floors (and 381 apartments.) Optima Chicago Center II is a design, development, and construction project of the multi-talented Optima, Inc.
465 North Park begins its climb skyward at North Park Drive and East Illinois Street in Streeterville.
Directly across East Illinois Street from the AMC River East 21 multiplex, 465 North Park is going all Hollywood with its real-life set design. Cast and crew from Power Construction have been toiling away ever since the City of Chicago yelled “ACTION” by granting a full building permit back in September.
In the First Act, Case Foundation started drilling caissons in July, which will play the supporting role in keeping 465 North Park’s 48 stories above ground where they belong. Produced by developer Jupiter Realty Company, the 444 apartments designed by Pappageorge Haymes Partners will also include 181 parking spaces and 11,650 square feet of retail/commercial space.
Expect 465 North Park to open in limited theaters in 2018. Because it’s only in Chicago.
https://twitter.com/BuildUpChicago/status/814578616721899520
The thing about high-profile two-story developments is, you can miss a lot of progress in a very short period of time. And I don’t want you missing that progress. So here are a few shots of the current state at the new Apple flagship store along the Chicago River at 401 North Michigan Avenue. Featuring the lowest tower crane in Chicago, the Apple Store also affords unobstructed construction views from multiple vantage points. Apple’s new location is expected to open in October 2018.
One Bennett Park is on its way to 69 stories in Streeterville.
It’s barely been more than 2 weeks since the last update on One Bennett Park in this blog space, but skyscraper warrant extra attention while they’re still low enough to the ground to see. Plus, One Bennett Park has changes a lot in the past 14 days or so. Not only is the core growing, but there’s more ground work being done as well. And iron work. And there are lots of pretty colors.
Oh shoot, don’t take my word for it. Take my pictures instead. And take these friendly reminders about One Bennett Park as well:
Developer: Related Midwest
Architects: Robert A.M. Stern (with a hand from GREC Architects)
General Contractor: Lendlease
Address: 451 East Grand Avenue
69 stories, 280 apartments, 70 condominiums
Completion in 2019
One Bennett Park, rising above the streets of Streeterville.
The tower crane is up, so there’s no stopping One Bennett Park now. All Lendlease crews need to do now it use it to stack 69 stories on top of each other, and the Robert A.M. Stern-designed (I’m infatuated with the project they designed for 220 Central Park South, remember?) tower will be ready for move-in. Seems pretty simple, right?
Building Up Chicago 