CHICAGO: boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v4

[SamInTheLoop]

Great photos above Shawn. Finally, something is rising from the Clare site! It' just unfortunate that since I'm already over 20 years old I likely won't make it to see its topping out...Also, you reminded me how much I loathe the Bernardin! (it's hard to believe Michael Reschke didn't develop that building, as it has his signature (lack of) design taste written all over it!

[SamInTheLoop]

Shawn, BVic (or anybody): You guys came through almost instantaneously and big-time when I said I wanted to see more VDT high-rises downtown. Not to push my luck, but I'm also a huge fan of Booth Hansen's recent (and current) work - so do you guys know of any firm plans, rumors or just plain guesses as to what their next downtown project is?

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by Jaroslaw

--Today's preference for white-collar careers allows skilled craftsmen to test new limits on how much they can charge.

Seriously, I've always had a good feeling for 50 E. Chestnut, I think something like this would fit rather well over Millenium and Grant parks, I am not quite convinced by the predominance of glass--the Heritage, the Legacy, 340, that blue Randolph-Mich pencil...

Worried about how the back (W) side of the Clare will end up looking, from some 3-D renders I remember it was just a blank parking wall a la the W side of Bloomingdale's / Four Seasons, except with dark screens.

Great photos, goes without saying, despite the rather nasty image host.

I do think 50 E. Chestnut is a design that works well for this particular infill site, but I have to disagree regarding its appropriateness for a site overlooking the parks - I am completely, wholeheartedly embracing the city's
return to its modernist roots (predominance of glass) and if anything I think we need to step it up another few notches and start to really push the envelop again with regularity - ideally almost everywhere but particularly in the most visible locations, ie overlooking the parks, the lakefront, on the river, etc...

[honte]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

^
Meh, its pretty typical of 1920's neigborhood apartment blocks. Nothing really special, as these are a dime a dozen citywide. I'll gladly take the increase in height and density near the lake.

Actually, the building is pre 1920s, probably closer to 1905. If you look closely, it has elements of Art Nouveau in the entryways and brickwork.

What kills me is how they are using it as a giant three-story billboard, as if no one could care one iota about the imminent demolition of a contributor to the neighborhood.

It's not a building quite good enough to cry over, but I had to had to respond to the "dime a dozen" part. It's a bit better than that.

[honte]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Shawn, BVic (or anybody): You guys came through almost instantaneously and big-time when I said I wanted to see more VDT high-rises downtown. Not to push my luck, but I'm also a huge fan of Booth Hansen's recent (and current) work - so do you guys know of any firm plans, rumors or just plain guesses as to what their next downtown project is?

Well, what about that messy dorm thing planned for South Clark? You know, the modern one kind of plunked down on top of that 1920s building?

I'm sure that once Smithfield breaks ground on SoNo, we'll be hearing of another project.

[BorisMolotov]

I just had a completely unrelated thought about the Cityfront Plaza Tower 3, the middle one. If the two outer towers are named after the vertical street they border, and the middle one doesn't border any vertical street, what are they planning on calling it?

[VivaLFuego]

Originally Posted by honte

Actually, the building is pre 1920s, probably closer to 1905. If you look closely, it has elements of Art Nouveau in the entryways and brickwork.

What kills me is how they are using it as a giant three-story billboard, as if no one could care one iota about the imminent demolition of a contributor to the neighborhood.

It's not a building quite good enough to cry over, but I had to had to respond to the "dime a dozen" part. It's a bit better than that.

Is it really a significant increase in density? From aerial photos I count 8 "tiers", which may or may not each have front and rear units, and I don't know if there's garden units. I wouldn't be surprised if the current structure has 30-40 units. How many will the new one have? Something similar judging by the rendering But even if its a modest density increase, its still progress in my book, but why not shoot for an even taller building?

[DANTHEDISCOMAN]

Originally Posted by BorisMolotov

I just had a completely unrelated thought about the Cityfront Plaza Tower 3, the middle one. If the two outer towers are named after the vertical street they border, and the middle one doesn't border any vertical street, what are they planning on calling it?

Fairclair

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by BorisMolotov

I just had a completely unrelated thought about the Cityfront Plaza Tower 3, the middle one. If the two outer towers are named after the vertical street they border, and the middle one doesn't border any vertical street, what are they planning on calling it?

i believe it's tentatively titled "The Grand at Cityfront Plaza".

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by Sir Isaac Newton

TUP - I found this....I didn't have a membership so couldn't read the entire article, but it says that the North tower sold 65% of the units in just the first 3 weeks. Who knows if they are exaggerating at all. A friend of mine who is a real estate agent did go to the grand opening though...and said that it was a madhouse there and that people were signing contracts right and left.

http://www.globest.com/news/795_795/.../151157-1.html

Originally Posted by Mojava

I visited the X/O sales center last week and the sales agent told me they were 50% on the north tower (the larger one). They have not yet begun sales on the other tower.

^ Thanks guys, that info was quite useful

[SamInTheLoop]

Originally Posted by honte

Well, what about that messy dorm thing planned for South Clark? You know, the modern one kind of plunked down on top of that 1920s building?

I'm sure that once Smithfield breaks ground on SoNo, we'll be hearing of another project.

Oh yeah - forgot about the dorm...

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by Chicago Shawn

^
Meh, its pretty typical of 1920's neigborhood apartment blocks. Nothing really special, as these are a dime a dozen citywide. I'll gladly take the increase in height and density near the lake.

Sorry dude, not me, and I am going to have to totally disagree with you on this one and go with Honte. There might be a number of these across the city, but they are classic and already have character. I don't think they should be demolished.

Height and density aren't everything, not even close to the lake.

[left of center]

^ I'll also have to agree with Victor on this one. Every piece of classical architecture we lose is another bit of the city's character that can bever come back, replaced by something that vainly tries and fails miserably and mimicing what was lost.

[brian_b]

I noticed a few things today while getting some stuff done

1) The first vertical section of the tower crane at The Allure at K Station is in place, and they've poured a decently-sized concrete mat away from the core.

2) A survey team was out marking up the sidewalk and concrete at the northwest corner of Grand and LaSalle. The site is fenced off. It looks like it's an empty lot that used to have a gas station on it. Anyone know what is planned for this site?

[SamInTheLoop]

I made it to the presentation on MoMo today at the CAF, and am very glad I showed up. This was a great overview of the project - the 2 Booth Hansen architects presenting were very good and interesting speakers - sharp, articulate, very exacting in their language regarding details of the design, engineering and development process. It sounded as if there might have also been an engineer from Thorton-Thomasetti (I'm guessing) who contributed. I think this tower is easily shaping up as a top 5% of this boom. I think the curtain wall is going to be great, I love the muscularity of the design and I think it fits its site very well. Interesting fact - the steel truss on the 9th floor is transferring a load of (and this is just from memory so hopefully I'm quoting correctly) something like 32,600,000 lbs.! I really can’t wait to have all of this infill in the immediate area completed, with MoMo, all of the Block 37 towers, the Wit hotel, etc. And once again, I’m calling for more Booth Hansen downtown! Speaking of, one of the architects did mention that they are corrently working on a high-rise planned to be LEED-certified…no word if it’s in Chicago, but I sure hope so!

[DANTHEDISCOMAN]

Originally Posted by brian_b

I noticed a few things today while getting some stuff done

2) A survey team was out marking up the sidewalk and concrete at the northwest corner of Grand and LaSalle. The site is fenced off. It looks like it's an empty lot that used to have a gas station on it. Anyone know what is planned for this site?

So do you mean they were surveying just the sidewalk or the actual lot that is fenced off too? I can't wait for this site to be redevoloped, it is the worst hands down in all river north.

[Tom In Chicago]

Yeah. . . Booth Hansen are shaping up to be one of the more interesting firms playing in the skyscraper game. . .

[aaron38]

Braving hypothermia, I made a walking tour of downtown today. All photos of the big boys are in their respective individual threads.
Roughly, from South to North...

1720 S. Michigan Ave




Marquee Michigan Ave




Vision on State in the skyline




Reebie Lofts (I think) Not much happening today



The Columbian



Astoria Tower Site


Printer's Corner


Vetro



Library Tower



MoMo




The Tides and 340 OTP


Tides glass instalation with the Streeter



The Chandler



River North Marriott Suites



Parkview West



Avenue East




Fairbanks at Cityfront Plaza





600 N Fairbanks





600 N LSD
Construction has resumed on the North tower. They were pouring columns today.





Grand Kingsbury
(Green cause of the Metra train windows)




50 E Chestnut



Construction at the Claire




With frostbite setting in and no more big projects to photograph, I retreated to the suburbs to post.

[VivaLFuego]

^ Great photos, thanks.

600 LSD is coming along great

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Speaking of, one of the architects did mention that they are corrently working on a high-rise planned to be LEED-certified…no word if it’s in Chicago, but I sure hope so!

Could it be that one at 5440 N Sheridan?