Wanda Vista Tower starts going 3-dimensional

Posted on February 14, 2017 by danieldschell

Those kinds of heights are right about at my level. And you want me on that wall. You *need* me on that wall.

Tired of Wanda Vista Tower photos yet? Don’t be. Because before you know it, all the fun construction will be hundreds of feet in the air, and much harder to watch. So let’s enjoy Vista Theater being presented by McHugh Construction while it lasts.

With the gigantic mat pour done (the junior mat at the east end of the site has been poured too), the tower has started going vertical. I was especially happy to see guys hanging on a wall, four feet off the ground. I could do that; anything over six feet high would have to be someone else’s job, though.

Quick Look: The Wanda Vista Tower concrete pour, after the fact

Posted on February 5, 2017 by danieldschell

I wanted to use “The After Mat” but decided against it.

Moon and crane above the Wanda Vista Tower construction site, Sunday evening.

The word of the day is… CONCRETE. At least at Wanda Vista Tower

Posted on February 4, 2017 by danieldschell

The big pour is underway at Wanda Vista Tower.

It’s happening. The gigantic mat pour everyone’s been talking about is going on now at Wanda Vista Tower. All manner of concrete distribution is being utilized, the coolest being a line of troughs at the west end of the mat, sending concrete flowing directly from the trucks into the mass of rebar below.

Missed the fun? No you didn’t. They’ll be at it for awhile. You’ve got time to get over there.

Rebar galore as Wanda Vista Tower prepares for its humongous concrete pour

Posted on February 3, 2017 by danieldschell

The Wanda Vista Tower site is no ordinary construction yard. It is a sea of rebar. It’s a seabar.

And very very soon, it’ll be a see of concrete. Charge your camera batteries, tighten up the tripods, and set your time-lapse mode. This will be spectacular to watch. It may take hours and hours and hours for McHugh Construction to accomplish the feet, but it’s February in Chicago. Who wouldn’t want to be outside for this?

Why won’t the Wanda Vista tower cranes joust? Because they’re luffers, not fighters

Posted on January 27, 2017 by danieldschell

The two tower cranes of Wanda Vista Tower.

Wow. You clicked on this story, even after reading that headline? I owe you a drink or something.

Wanda Vista Tower has its two tower cranes up and running. Both are luffing cranes, with jibs that angle toward the sky, rather than staying parallel to the ground at all times.

Down at ground level, there’s enough rebar being installed in the foundation mat. If you feel the earth tilt a little extra in the coming days, it’ll be from all the concrete being poured into that thing.

First of two Vista Tower cranes is in the ground

Posted on January 3, 2017 by danieldschell

The two cranes of Vista Tower. West Crane, on the right, is set in its foundation. East Crane, to the left, is awaiting its turn.

Not only does Vista Tower win the First Tower Crane of 2017 Award, it wins the second tower crane of the year plaque as well.

Just as the City of Chicago promised us with the two permits filed on the last day of October and the second day of November, Vista Tower is putting two tower cranes into the freshly-caissoned ground in the New East Side neighborhood.

You’ll notice a striking difference between the two stub sections of crane that are now on site. “West Crane” where the taller towers of Vista will stand, looks like it’s on steroids when compared to “East Crane.” I wouldn’t advise messing with either of them, though.

Shout-out to bKL Architecture for being on-scene Tuesday morning and breaking the big crane news with an Instagram photo.

: In the distance, West Crane.

: Crews secure West Crane into position atop its foundation.

: East Crane looks on and waits.

: Lower Wacker Drive is a staging area of tower crane parts.

: Working on the foundation for East Crane.

: Another large hole in the ground.

: Upper Wacker Drive is getting some work done of its own.

Solstice on the Park has a tower crane, just in time for longer days

Posted on December 28, 2016 by danieldschell

Hyde Park’s newest tower crane reigns high above Solstice on the Park.

About the same time the Winter Solstice was making its appearance, Solstice on the Park was planting a tower crane at 161 East 56th Street in Hyde Park. And now that the days will be getting longer (I’m ignoring the part about them getting colder, too), Linn-Mathes can really get busy on the foundations.

Note the parking configuration on this elevation drawing from Studio Gang.

The building Studio Gang designed for developer Antheus Capital will fit 250 apartments and a whopping 316 parking spaces into the 26-story tower. **Those parking spaces appear to be spread over six stories, two of which may be below grade, if the elevation rendering on the Studio Gang website is to be taken literally. The foundation permit calls for five levels of parking.**

Studio Gang, Antheus Capital, and Linn-Mathes comprise the same team responsible for building City Hyde Park, which opened late last year.

: See that tower crane way over there? I think that’s Solstice on the Park. Somewhat kinda pretty sure.

Humongous caissons still rule the day at Vista Tower

Gallery

Posted on November 30, 2016 by danieldschell

This gallery contains 21 photos.

It’s time to rise and shine for Solstice on the Park

Posted on October 21, 2016 by danieldschell

Solstice on the Park, from Studio Gang.

Studio Gang is at it again in Hyde park.

Fresh off the success of City Hyde Park, Studio Gang’s latest South Side creation, Solstice on the Park, had a foundation permit issued by the City of Chicago Wednesday, after being approved by the Chicago Plan Commission back in February. Coupled with the demolition permit filed Monday to dig out the underground parking lot at 1616 East 56th Street, and Solstice on the Park is officially ready to rise. The Solstice team, as it did on City Hyde Park, includes developer Antheus Capital and general contractor Linn-Mathes.

You should expect the 26-story tower to include 250 apartments and a whopping 316 parking spaces. What you shouldn’t expect is to see anything resembling the former parking garage; Taylor Excavating has already transformed the site into a large hole. I hope you moved your car.

: City Hyde Park, the previous project from Gang and the gang.

Vista Tower caisson work, second only to the Cubs as a spectator sport

Posted on October 12, 2016 by danieldschell

Even the pigeons are mesmerized by caisson work going on at Vista Tower.

Vista Tower doesn’t need pre-sales of condo units. Just charge $5 for each one of us leaning against the railings along Wacker Drive, and by The Tides and The Shoreham atop Field Boulevard. It would raise a fortune.

Case Foundation continues to bore holes into the Lakeshore East earth, then fills them up with cement and rebar and corrugated metal tubes and even the occasional iron tube. Seriously, stop by and watch some time. Unless you have a meeting to go to. because you won’t make it back to the office in time.