CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[nomarandlee]

Originally Posted by X-fib

I have felt this way from the start. WP is too prominent a location for anything but a very significant building. And yes it should be the second tallest even if it means waiting a little longer for market projections to come around. Best way to do accomplish this, in my mind, is to build a single multi-use building instead the proposed three towers.

I don't necessarily agree. As long as the design it top notch and fits and enhances its already unique position and surroundings in a thoughtfully and seamless way then that is all that mattes. The sucker is going to be tall and nothing to trifle at all at 89 storys. BOC in Hong Kong or Chrysler Building are not the tallest and certainly falling down the list in terms of the height charts in the future in their own respective cities but they are seen as unique and iconic by many because of their design and not so much the height.

Yea, if somehow the office portion could be mixed with the condo or hotel portion and made taller that would be great, but if the design has to be compromised in the slightest to do it then I would rather have the a "small" 89 short building.

[Eventually...Chicago]

hey if you told me i could put St. Peter's Cathedral at wolf point, i would do it.

as long as the building's looks match the importance of the site and it is well designed that is all i care about. I'll take a richly detailed, 20 story building over an uninspired 80 story building.

Of course, i just rather take a 200 story masterpiece... but wouldn't we all?

[Sir Isaac Newton]

Originally Posted by GregBear24

In a sinister way, I almost hope that the current wolf point proposal doesnt happen. I know I'm going to get destroyed by opposition on this, but I just believe that the WP site needs to be the best of the best, even by chicago's standards. It doesn't have to be taller than the spire, but it appears they're aiming for a height between trump and WV. I'd rather have one huge anchor building for our incredible skyline than three including a 1200 footer. The site is possibly the greatest for a supertall in the U.S. if not the world, and it should be a lasting legacy like big john, sears, or the spire. It must define this city.

I agree as well. Not to mention, it seems like a fairly small site to be cramming 3 high-rises into, in the first place. It almost seems like it would be easier to get rid of one, if not both of the smaller buildings and add floors to the biggest building (in addition to having a more positive impact on our skyline).

[IRLaw]

What's the latest news on this project, I'm moving to the neighborhood at the end of December upon the completion of my unit, please tell me that Fioretti isn't yielding to NIMBY pressures!

[SamInTheLoop]

^ He already did yield to NIMBY pressures by filing the proposed downzoning.
However, don't expect that to get anywhere. In the off-chance that he convinces dpd, zoning board and city council to downzone, he will undoubtedly be served with a massive lawsuit and will likely lose. Expect XO to be built as currently planned, and probably with relatively minor delay...

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Eventually...Chicago

hey if you told me i could put St. Peter's Cathedral at wolf point, i would do it.

as long as the building's looks match the importance of the site and it is well designed that is all i care about. I'll take a richly detailed, 20 story building over an uninspired 80 story building.

Of course, i just rather take a 200 story masterpiece... but wouldn't we all?

I am definitely with Nomarandlee and Eventually on Wolf Point. As long as we end up with a superb design that really capitalizes on the site, I am 100% in favor of the Hines/Habitat scheme. People need to stop obsessing with declarations of projects needing to be above a certain number of stories/ft, etc and start dealing with things like top-notch architecture, urban design, and that little oft-overlooked thing called 'reality'...

[Neuman]

CUBS WIN!!!

[harryc]

I Know now what constitutes UC ( real caissons in the ground ) but what is Topped Out ? would this be TO ? ( One11 W Illinois )

[Dan in Chicago]

^ Sure, the structure is complete. The actual roofing might add a foot or so to the height, but I don't think anyone has ever been strict enough to enforce a delay over that.

What probably isn't clear about the TO status is whether it means the structure is complete, or just that maximum height is reached. For example, Marina City (or the Emerald buildings under construction now in Greektown) reached maximum height when their cores were topped out, but I don't know that the buildings are said to be topped out until the main frame catches up with the core. If anyone in the construction industry can say more about it, I'd be interested.

Steely - the newly announced K Station towers are updated in Emporis as building #s 177830 and 190110. 9 West Erie has been added with ID# 308994.

[Mr Downtown]

I guess it's safe to call Amli900 topped out, as only one small piece of formwork remains on the roof.

Do Chicago construction crews not mount an evergreen tree or flag on top as part of a topping-out ceremony?

[jet cm]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

I guess it's safe to call Amli900 topped out, as only one small piece of formwork remains on the roof.

Do Chicago construction crews not mount an evergreen tree or flag on top as part of a topping-out ceremony?

probably more than you ever wanted to know but it agrees with what I've heard in the past:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3732/is_200110/ai_n8986046

[Loopy]

^No kidding, a 15 page article on the custom! Thanks for posting, it was a good read. I love it when good old-fashioned Paganism pops up in our techno-culture.

"In one sense, topping out might be called a Janus ceremony. Janus, the Roman god of doorways, is often depicted with two faces, one looking backward and one looking forward-meant to depict vigilance, not duplicity. Topping out is, in one sense, a transition period for many ironworkers, a time to reflect on what has been accomplished while looking ahead to the next job. The satisfaction of the job well done is tempered by the prospect of an uncertain future and the recognition that this job is almost over. If someone comments on how well (i.e. how fast) the job is going it would not be uncommon to hear another ironworker reply "Yeah, we're working ourselves right out of ajob." Some men will have other jobs lined up; the rest will go back to the union hall to await their next job assignment. "

[harryc]

Originally Posted by jet cm

probably more than you ever wanted to know but it agrees with what I've heard in the past:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3732/is_200110/ai_n8986046

Thanks - great article.

"Ironworkers belong to the union called The International Association of Bridge, Structural, and Ornamental Ironworkers, which was established in 1896. Local #1 is in Chicago, the putative birthplace of the skyscraper. "

[Tom In Chicago]

I've never heard of "topping out" ceremonies for concrete structures. . . perhaps they have their own traditions. . .

[ChitownBill]

Amli 900 is topped out, I have this in front of me along with Burnham Pointe Astoria tower and Roosevelt collection, I have a ever changing view, it is interesting to watch the different trades go about their work on each project.

[SlatsGrobnik]

Hey Pandemonius--It's been seven months. No news on your mystery tower. Can you at least say if it is sill being considered? Or has it died without ever being proposed?

[museumparktom]

Found these on SCC Windy City Photo that will blow you away thread. Thought they gave a great overall veiw of the hottest neighborhood in the Chicago Boom - The South Loop Congress to Cermak - the River to the Lake
And there is so much more room to grow.

Posted by Spyguy from BartShore on flickr

[Pandemonious]

Originally Posted by SlatsGrobnik

Hey Pandemonius--It's been seven months. No news on your mystery tower. Can you at least say if it is sill being considered? Or has it died without ever being proposed?

I still expect something will happen with it, but as I said then I have no idea when that would happen. With a possible olympics coming, and the resounding success of many tall chicago skyscrapers recently... it would seem stupid NOT to go forward with it.

Carley just plopped his 100 story building proposal right near the spire, so he seems to think the market is still healthy here, and it is even bringing in a new kickass hotel into a market ripe with new flashy hotels as is.

IMO Chicago will already have the best skyline in the world even just with what is built/under construction today. This boom is mind blowing already, but I predict it will get even crazier.. mark my words. There is so much energy and momentum in this city now, and it can be felt every day when I am walking to work.

In reference to the photos above.. I dream that one day skyscrapers will completely fill in the deserted areas along the river and all the way up to the highway/UIC to the west. Roosevelt provides a huge retail corridor already, and I would love to see some more mixed use happening there, creating possibly a double decker road type system branching off of roosevelt like tributaries to fill in those barren/unsightly areas with high density, and preserving some new parkspace along the river. The time for manufacturing and warehouses to dominate the areas surrounding the river will hopefully come to an end.

We still haven't even seen the huge project that Smith/Gill is working on that will go north of River City. That will hopefully be a catalyst for more expansion into the underutilized areas South and West of the Loop.

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by Pandemonious

IMO Chicago will already have the best skyline in the world even just with what is built/under construction today. This boom is mind blowing already, but I predict it will get even crazier.. mark my words.

Could you maybe republish your updated supertall list?

Also, when you mention "crazier" is this a continued expansion of what we are seeing now? or is there something beyond that?

[Pandemonious]

Originally Posted by Alliance

Could you maybe republish your updated supertall list?

Also, when you mention "crazier" is this a continued expansion of what we are seeing now? or is there something beyond that?

That particular comment you are quoting was speculative guess about the future of the highrise boom in Chicago.

I'm not sure what list you are refering to?