Tearing down West Randolph Street

Posted on December 7, 2016 by danieldschell

Jessica Alba’s billboard is still around. 729-735 West Randolph? Not so much.

Not all of it, of course. There are a few restaurateurs who’d fight that plan.

Specifically, we’re talking about 723-733 West Randolph. The building marked 735 doesn’t have a demolition permit that I’ve been able to find, but that could just be someone putting the wrong numbers on the front door. Either way, it’s mostly rubble now. Making the space is the ever-reliable Heneghan Wrecking.

: Above and behind the destruction.

: 735 is an ugly building, but it looked for a while like it would be spared the wrecking ball. Newp.

: Kennedy-side rubble.

Ace Hotel discards its tower crane

Posted on December 6, 2016 by danieldschell

The tower crane’s gone from the Ace Hotel.

It’s a sign of progress to see how many tower cranes are sprouting throughout Chicago. It’s another sign to see how many of those cranes are disappearing from construction sites around town. Done with one job; on to the next.

The Ace Hotel at 311 North Morgan Street in the West Loop is one of the latest area projects to lose its tower crane. The GREC Architects-designed 159-key, seven-story boutique hotel is topped out, and Sterling Bay is looking to have full houses in the very near future. General contractor Power Construction is doing what it can to make that happen soon.

: Gone too are the shipping containers that held the original facade in place during early construction.

Like the bottom bun, McDonald’s foundation off to a good start

Posted on December 5, 2016 by danieldschell

Lots of irons in the fire at the new McDonald’s HQ.

With Harpo Studios a distant memory, foundation work is underway in the West Loop on what will be the new headquarters for the McDonald’s Corporation. And you know, you can’t start building a burger without a good bottom bun.

The foundation permit, issued November 7.

A foundation permit was issued by the city on November 7. Equipment from Michels Corporation (they did the caisson work on the newly-opened River Point Plaza) is tearing away at the soil in the block surrounded by Carpenter, Randolph, and Aberdeen Streets, and Washington Boulevard. Once that work is done, general contractor McHugh Construction will start going vertical with the Gensler-designed HQ.

: You’re just making it harder for spectators, aren’t you

River Point is open!

Posted on December 1, 2016 by danieldschell

Looking north through River Point Plaza, with the Kinzie Street railroad bridge standing at attention on the right.

River Point, the 52-story office tower from Hines, is now open. That’s likely uncontrollably exciting to those of you who have or will have your new office at 444 West Lake Street in the West Loop, but it’s quite a spectacle for the rest of us, too.

I haven’t been inside yet (insert hopeful emoji here), but I took a stroll through River Point Plaza Thursday evening. The one-and-a-half-acre park, designed by landscape architect The Office of James Burnett, sits above the fork in the Chicago River, offering views to the east past the Merchandise Mart, and to the north toward the Kinzie Street railroad bridge. During construction of River Point, Hines promised us a spectacular public park at the foot of the tower. What Hines delivered is, in fact, a spectacular park at the foot of the tower. But don’t take my word for it. Take my photos that follow instead, then get yourselves over and see for yourself.

Kudos to everyone involved in the River Point project, including design architect Pickard Chilton, civil engineer Magnusson Klemencic Associates, and contractors Lendlease and Clark Construction. Magnificent work, all around!

: Looking east along the Chicago River, with the red-and-green-topped Merchandise Mart on the left.

: Paths and trees and lights on the River Point Plaza.

: Looking south across the plaza, with 150 North Riverside in the distance.

: More plaza, more Chicago River scenery.

: Wreaths and arch.

: The view of River Point from Wacker Drive.

: The north elevation, an angle I’ve been waiting to see.

: Looking up at corners.

: Humble beginnings. Seems like forever ago.

: This was a handsome child.

American Flag, Tower Crane, and Water Tank, for a Thursday

Posted on December 1, 2016 by danieldschell

Last night, in the West Loop

West Loop lot ready for transition to McDonald’s HQ

Posted on October 25, 2016 by danieldschell

Spotted: A yellow street crane is assembled on the future McDonald’s HQ site.

Yes, there’s still “demolition” work taking place on the former site of Harpo Studios in the West Loop. But only if you count the big hole Heneghan Wrecking has been digging as demo work. Because other than that, the block lying within Randolph, Carpenter, Washington, and Aberdeen is a smoothed-over dirt field, ready to play canvas to Sterling Bay’s development.

As we wait for the inevitable influx of equipment onto the McDonald’s site, a street crane (surface crane? We need a definitive name for non-tower cranes) has begun assembly.

Tower crane assembly is underway at 171 Aberdeen

Posted on October 12, 2016 by danieldschell

The forst section of tower crane is added to the stub at 171 Aberdeen.

Two tower crane permits. An additional foundation permit to add more caissons. Both scenarios conspiring to delay the assembly of a tower crane for 171 Aberdeen, the 11-story mixed-use apartment project in the West Loop.

But that’s all in the past. Tuesday, Central Crane Service was on site putting the crane together at long last. By the end of the day, the main shaft was up, with the cab sitting atop it. Expect the boom Wednesday, and an operational crane no later than week’s end.

Videos and photos follow:

625 West Adams, late-night edition

Posted on October 8, 2016 by danieldschell

625 West Adams, all aglow on West Loop Friday evening.

We’re getting to that time of year, when we have more free time after dark than we have during daylight hours. Fortunately for all of us, some construction looks darn cool after the sun goes down.

Join me for a quick walk around 625 West Adams in the West Loop, a Power Construction Production. 20 stories of offices when it’s complete; just a couple levels of lumber and supports right now. All aglow.

Tower crane. Water tank. American flag.

Posted on October 8, 2016 by danieldschell

No big whoop, but the other day, I noticed I could get a tower crane, a water tank, and the Stars and Stripes in one photo. Maybe not The Big Three, but *A* Big Three. And then about an hour later, it happened again. So I figured I’d let you see them. Besides, no one ever won a Pulitzer for a photo they didn’t share.

Soul City Church gets a permit to add on in the West Loop

Posted on October 7, 2016 by danieldschell

Soul City Church sits at the corner of Adams Street and Racine Avenue.

Soul City Church, at 1150 West Adams Street, is ready to undertake a major expansion of its facilities in the West Loop.

Wednesday, a permit was filed for Soul City to build a three-story addition in the empty lot next door to the east, as well as make renovations to the existing church. The construction will add a multi-level auditorium, church offices, lobbies, even a roof terrace for use by the Soul City congregation.

Neighbors of the West Loop was there when plans were presented back in June and has details of what’s to come now that the permit is filed, including Soul City’s plan to share use of its new addition with the neighboring community. Focus will serve as the general contractor.