The Three Tower Cranes of the Obama Presidential Center

Posted on March 6, 2023 by danieldschell

There are three tower cranes building the Obama Presidential Center.

Took me awhile to get to Jackson Park, but I got there. And if you’re thinking of going, know that road construction makes walking a lap around the Obama Presidential Center construction site a rather grueling task.

Side Note: From here, I walked up to Hyde Park, where I’m *pretty* sure I had catfish for the first time in my life. (I’m a picky eater; it’s hard to explain.) So a shout-out to Daisy’s Po-Boy and Tavern on South Harper. Delicious.

I’d be lying if I said I understood who all is involved, and how they’re involved, in the construction here. What I do know is where you can go to learn some of that very information. First, visit Lakeside Alliance. To me, that’s sorta like your general contractor information. Next, visit Concrete Collective. That’s got your concrete contractor info.

Enjoying the photos? Metra and CTA rides (and Amtrak trains to Milwaukee), Zipcars, Divvy Bikes, camera lenses, domain fees, snacks & energy drinks, and comfortable walking shoes add up. You can help offset expenses by making a greatly-appreciated donation to Building Up Chicago.

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University of Chicago’s four-story parking garage on its way up

Posted on April 14, 2022 by danieldschell

The University of Chicago’s tower crane at 1306 E 61st

Up until about a week ago, the tower crane building a parking garage for the University of Chicago at 1306 E 61st in Woodlawn was our southernmost and easternmost tower crane. That title vanished when the Obama Presidential Center erected the first of its three rigs. Thankfully for U of C, that designation comes with neither a trophy nor a monetary award, so they didn’t miss out on much more than a mention on B.U.C.

Clark Construction is the CG on the parking structure. They received the full build permit December 8 of last year, the caisson permit on November 18, and the tower crane permit on September 21. No idea how long the crane’s been up, but they’ve gotten a lot done so far.

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The first of three tower cranes is up The Obama Presidential Center

Posted on April 12, 2022 by danieldschell

Tower Crane #1 at The Obama Presidential Center, taken from Wooded Island in Jackson Park.

I’d be lying if I said I understood who all is involved, and how they’re involved, in the construction of The Obama Presidential Center. What I do know is where you can go to learn some of that very information. First, visit Lakeside Alliance. To me, that’s sorta like your general contractor information. Next, visit Concrete Collective. That’s got your concrete contractor info.

The Concrete Collective was responsible for erecting the first of three tower cranes on the site last week. And you might be wondering just how many photos of a tower crane you need to see.

I say, about this many:

Stuff That’s Done: The Woodlawn Residential and Dining Commons at the University of Chicago

Posted on April 8, 2021 by danieldschell

The new Woodlawn Residential and Dining Commons is open on the University of Chicago campus. The Commons is a joint development between the University and Capstone Development Partners. It was designed by Boston’s Elkus Manfredi Architects, and was built by Turner Construction. The 16- and 7-story buildings contain almost 900 rooms and 1,300 beds.

The Woodlawn Residential and Dining Commons at the University of Chicago April 2021

Progress Update: The Study at University of Chicago

Posted on March 31, 2021 by danieldschell

The Study at University of Chicago is next door to The David M. Rubenstein Forum, which we featured Tuesday.

Foundation work had barely gotten underway last time (and first time) we visited The Study at University of Chicago in Woodlawn in February of last year. Just across the Midway Plaisance from the University’s Hyde Park campus, the new hotel from developer Hospitality 3 will provide 167 rooms, plus a restaurant, conference spaces, and a winter garden across its 13 stories.

The Study is designed by Holabird & Root. Completing the Ampersand Team is J.T. Magen & Company, the general contractor. Grand opening was expected in the first quarter of this year, so things are a bit behind schedule. But nothing has gone as planned for the last 13 months or so, so don’t sweat it.

The Study at University of Chicago, Woodlawn.

Stuff That’s Done: The David M. Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago

Posted on March 30, 2021 by danieldschell

14 months ago, I called this the most unique construction project in the city. No one told me I was wrong.

The David M. Rubenstein Forum on the University of Chicago campus is done and open and really darn cool.

Congrats to the whole team on this one: The University of Chicago; architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro out of NYC and Chicago’s own Brininstool + Lynch, and general contractor Turner Construction.

The David M. Rubenstein Forum, March 2021

The Study at University of Chicago is on the books

Posted on March 2, 2020 by danieldschell

Rendering from Hospitality 3

Foundation work is well underway, and Tower Crane Watch is in full effect, at The Study at University of Chicago at 1277 East 60th Street in Woodlawn. Just across the Midway Plaisance from the university’s Hyde Park campus, the new hotel from developer Hospitality 3 will provide 167 rooms, plus a restaurant, conference spaces, and a winter garden across its 13 stories.

The Study at University of Chicago is designed by Holabird & Root. Completing the Ampersand Team is J.T. Magen & Company, the general contractor. Grand opening is expected in the first quarter of 2021.

: U of C’s Rubenstein Forum is right next door.

: Equipment arrives February 3

University of Chicago getting Woodlawn Residential and Dining Commons ready for 2020-21

Posted on February 5, 2020 by danieldschell

Is this rendering from U of C, the Woodlawn Commons is to the left.

A 16-story tower and a zig-zagging maze of a 7-story building comprise the new Woodlawn Residential and Dining Commons. It will include, as you may have guessed, housing and dining facilities for University of Chicago students, as well as amenities and outdoor spaces.

The Woodlawn Commons is a joint development between the University and Capstone Development Partners. It is being built by Turner Construction, as is the David M. Rubenstein Forum going up one block east.

The design is by Boston’s Elkus Manfredi Architects. The firm’s CEO and founding Partner David Manfredi earned his masters degree here at U of C.

Here’s some uchicago news you can use to learn more (lots more) about Woodlawn Commons. The University expects to have it open for the 2020-2021 school year.

Checking out U. of C.’s David M. Rubenstein Forum in Woodlawn (corrected)

Posted on February 4, 2020 by danieldschell

This will be the David M. Rubenstein Forum at the University of Chicago. ( DSRNY rendering)

We have a winner for Most Unique Construction Project in Chicago right now.

The David M. Rubenstein Forum is being built by the University of Chicago on its Hyde Park campus. **Most of the campus may be in Hyde Park, but this particular project is south of the Midway Plaisance, placing it in the Woodlawn neighborhood. Sorry, my mistake.** It’s part Jenga tower, part shipping container park. There’s a lot of concrete, a ton of glass, and when it’s finished, it will have lots of ways for U of C students to utilize it.

The school describes it, in part, this way:

The ground floor includes the main lobby and a restaurant, with stairs leading to the building’s largest multipurpose event space, capable of accommodating groups up to 600. Immediately above the base is a 285-seat auditorium. The top floor of the tower features a flat-floor multipurpose space, which can accommodate meetings of 75 and other events.

The Rubenstein Forum is a collaboration between design architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro out of NYC, and Chicago’s own Brininstool + Lynch. On the build is Turner Construction. I’m grateful to them for the Facebook photo of the tower cranes included in the photo gallery. (The bird joke is theirs, not mine.) I didn’t get down to Hyde Park when they were still in the air.

If you click on all those links I’ve provided above, not only will you find everything you need to know about the Rubenstein Forum, but you’ll also see a ton of great renderings, plus some stellar drone footage.