CHICAGO: boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v4

[chicubs111]

Does anybody know the status of the Wit hotel? I kinda like some of these little projects that are livening up state street. Also isnt there a project that supposed to be going were the governors pub was (it maybe the wit, im not sure)?..Finally im looking foward to projects like 225 west washington in the loop, I remember we had stated the height of 490 ft when it was orignally proposed at 44 stories but the developers added like 5 more floors and I dont remember and updated height for it so if anybody has info I would greatly appreciate.

[headcase]

Originally Posted by Sir Isaac Newton

It would be great if they rehabbed the old post office building. Currently it is an enormous eye-sore and an enormous waste of space. If they redid the place and put in 455,000 sf of office space, 300 condos, and 240 hotel rooms, that would be HUGE!

Waste of space, yep. EYESORE?!?!?!?! I don't think so, homey don't play that!

SSDD

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by oopy493

Yes, I saw this too, I saw them setting up to drive, and then once I was a couple blocks away, I definitely heard the pounding, luckily my office faces away from this site, so I won't have to hear the whole thing, just on my walk by every day.

so, i guess we can call this one officially U.C. i'll get page 1 updated.

this one might set the record for shortest time spent in site prep.

[TowerGuy37]

I walk by this building frequently and it went up so fast. It such an interesting building from all kinds of angles. Love how skinny it looks if your walking east on chestnut from state. My only dissappointment seems to be the way the exterior is starting to take shape. Not super crazy with the choice of the stone tiles together. I think the color choices together look as if its poured cast in place concrete. bummer. anyone else get that feeling?

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

^I drove by 757 Orleans yesterday and noticed that this appeared to be under construction as well. . .

-This building is defintely under-construction. I drove past today, and I did see a caisson on the ground.

-353 Clark isn't under-construction yet.

-The Chandler appears to be topped out.

-I also drove to 235 West Van Buren, and it looked as if at least 10 piles had been drven. But what I find interesting, is that they didn't even tear up the parking lot. That also means that they didn't pothole. Interesting.....

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

-I also drove to 235 West Van Buren, and it looked as if at least 10 piles had been drven. But what I find interesting, is that they didn't even tear up the parking lot. That also means that they didn't pothole. Interesting.....

that is interesting. it makes me second guess the "u/c" call...........

but then again, if they're driving real piles, what else could they be for other than as a part of the foundation system?

[Mr Roboto]

Holy smokes doctor jones!

Almost 60 U/C and almost 100 still proposed! 2 500+ ft'rs announced in one day! (one sorta pending?) One more giant about to start construction and another about to start site prep. Jeez, doesn't get much better than this.

btw., thanks for the pics solarwind. I always look at the grand kingsbury while crossing the bridge on randolph, and it not only looks huge, but its turning out better than I thought it would.

[bnk]

Law firm signs lease at proposed Loop tower
By Thomas A. Corfman
March 09, 2007
(Crain’s) — John Buck Co. says it has signed a lease with Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP for a new 46-story office tower that the Chicago development firm has proposed for a site at 155 N. Wacker Drive.



The giant New York law firm has agreed to take about 165,000 square feet in the 1.1-million-square-foot tower, which is scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2009, Buck says in a statement.
But Skadden’s Chicago office would take just 15% of the proposed tower, creating a significant leasing challenge for Buck, which in recent years also developed UBS Tower at 1 N. Wacker Drive and 111 S. Wacker Drive.
“The continued leasing success of (those buildings) confirms our belief that there is a strong market demand for A+ buildings in this . . . location,” says John O’Donnell, a principal with Buck.
But many experts like Buck's chances, and say existing towers will eventually feel the impact, as tenants defect to the new tower.
"It's going to compound the giant sucking sound out of the second- and third-generation Class A buildings," says Richard Schuham, executive vice-president with Studley Inc., a tenant rep firm.
Attorney Marian Wexler, the head of Skadden's local real estate practice, cites the “state-of-the-art facilities” and “enhanced technology” as reasons for making the move to 155 N. Wacker from 333 W. Wacker Drive.
Drew Nieman, also a principal with Buck, handled the negotiations with Skadden, which was advised by Elaine Melonides, managing director with Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle.
Negotiations began about five months ago.
Related story: Does Buck stop here?
Scaffolding already is being put up around the existing, 10-story office building at 155 N. Wacker, which would be torn down to make way for the new skyscraper.
Construction is expected to begin this summer. Buck confirms that construction financing will be provided by a syndicate led by Bank of America, LaSalle Bank and German financial institution Helaba. Sources have previously said the construction loans will total $290 million.
The project is a joint venture that includes an investment fund managed by Buck, Morgan Stanley’s Prime Property Fund and Chicago-based Brijus Properties. Brijus sold the site to Buck.
The tower is being designed by Chicago-based Goettsch Partners.

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by trvlr70

Kingsbury Plaza is turning out to be such a welcome surprise and much, much better than I would have imagined. Also, its isolation away from other tall buildings gives it a much better presence.

Originally Posted by Mr Roboto

btw., thanks for the pics solarwind. I always look at the grand kingsbury while crossing the bridge on randolph, and it not only looks huge, but its turning out better than I thought it would.

i gotta agree with you guys, the height is really amazing in that part of town. it's making quite a significant impact, which is hard for a 450 ft. building to do in downtown chicago. it's really a great cap stone to all the recent development along the near north branch. if you stand on the lake street bridge looking north, kingsbury plaza and its friends have done a wonderful job creating another layer of skyline urbanization. it's makes downtown look and feel bigger from within, as opposed to seeing not much of anything in the sky down that way several years ago.

[chicubs111]

The height in the picture for 155 north wacker now looks appropriate in scale to 650ft...I remember some older pictures and the building definelty looked like it topped 700ft easily...actually the picture now looks kinda squat...but hey cant win them all

[Chicago3rd]

Originally Posted by bnk

Law firm signs lease at proposed Loop tower
By Thomas A. Corfman
March 09, 2007
(Crain’s) — John Buck Co. says it has signed a lease with Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP for a new 46-story office tower that the Chicago development firm has proposed for a site at 155 N. Wacker Drive.



The giant New York law firm has agreed to take about 165,000 square feet in the 1.1-million-square-foot tower, which is scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2009, Buck says in a statement.
But Skadden’s Chicago office would take just 15% of the proposed tower, creating a significant leasing challenge for Buck, which in recent years also developed UBS Tower at 1 N. Wacker Drive and 111 S. Wacker Drive.
“The continued leasing success of (those buildings) confirms our belief that there is a strong market demand for A+ buildings in this . . . location,” says John O’Donnell, a principal with Buck.
But many experts like Buck's chances, and say existing towers will eventually feel the impact, as tenants defect to the new tower.
"It's going to compound the giant sucking sound out of the second- and third-generation Class A buildings," says Richard Schuham, executive vice-president with Studley Inc., a tenant rep firm.
Attorney Marian Wexler, the head of Skadden's local real estate practice, cites the “state-of-the-art facilities” and “enhanced technology” as reasons for making the move to 155 N. Wacker from 333 W. Wacker Drive.
Drew Nieman, also a principal with Buck, handled the negotiations with Skadden, which was advised by Elaine Melonides, managing director with Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle.
Negotiations began about five months ago.
Related story: Does Buck stop here?
Scaffolding already is being put up around the existing, 10-story office building at 155 N. Wacker, which would be torn down to make way for the new skyscraper.
Construction is expected to begin this summer. Buck confirms that construction financing will be provided by a syndicate led by Bank of America, LaSalle Bank and German financial institution Helaba. Sources have previously said the construction loans will total $290 million.
The project is a joint venture that includes an investment fund managed by Buck, Morgan Stanley’s Prime Property Fund and Chicago-based Brijus Properties. Brijus sold the site to Buck.
The tower is being designed by Chicago-based Goettsch Partners.

I wish they would shut up about the older office towers. This is called free market baby. Those land lords sat on too much stock and let it go downhill..plus the buildings do have a shelf life....duh. The older towers....let's be inventive landlords and start making them evolve into something that will make downtown more comprehensive.

[Chicago3rd]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

i gotta agree with you guys, the height is really amazing in that part of town. it's making quite a significant impact, which is hard for a 450 ft. building to do in downtown chicago. it's really a great cap stone to all the recent development along the near north branch. if you stand on the lake street bridge looking north, kingsbury plaza and its friends have done a wonderful job creating another layer of skyline urbanization. it's makes downtown look and feel bigger from within, as opposed to seeing not much of anything in the sky down that way several years ago.

Walking across the Randolph bridge today was thinking the same thing. The city use to drop off at the river at that corner....high rises then plains. Now it is really becoming denser. Love the tilt off axes and and the curves.

[Mr Roboto]

Originally Posted by chicubs111

The height in the picture for 155 north wacker now looks appropriate in scale to 650ft...I remember some older pictures and the building definelty looked like it topped 700ft easily...actually the picture now looks kinda squat...but hey cant win them all

^I dunno. 155 N wacker sure looks like a tall monster to me either way. Especially compared to whats there, obviously.

Im wondering though, is the building with giordano's going to stay? i cant tell from the rendering. Its just three buildings being demolished, is that correct?

[17shakespeare]

600 North Lake Shore Drive recently sent out invitations for a party on Thursday March 15th to celebrate the topping off of the north tower and the move to work on the south tower.

[SolarWind]

March 9, 2007

353 North Clark

[spyguy]

You're awesome!

[BorisMolotov]

Is that yet another building U/C? That is a caisson, right?

[Sir Isaac Newton]

Originally Posted by BorisMolotov

Is that yet another building U/C? That is a caisson, right?

If it is U/C, that could mean a 500+, 600+, and 800+ building going U/C all within about 24 hours of each other! Not to mention, 2 other 200+ buildings have gone U/C over the last couple of days too.

[TransitEngr]

Hey guys... should 150 E. Ontario be moved up to "Site Prep. - Demo"???


I can't see the roofs of the existing structures there from the sidewalk, so I can't see if they're demolishing from inside.

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by 17shakespeare

600 North Lake Shore Drive recently sent out invitations for a party on Thursday March 15th to celebrate the topping off of the north tower and the move to work on the south tower.

Wow, that went up really fast. Already topped out??

And great news about 353 N. Clark.