CHICAGO | 300 North LaSalle | 785 FT / 239 M | 60 FLOORS - Page 32

brian_b · #**621** Posted **Mar 21, 2007, 11:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by otis1

Retention work, as shown in the photos, has begun. The general contractor intends to have this entire site excavated in 5 weeks. This is an ambitious proposition to say the least. These guys are going to work 7 days a week until its done (thank god i dont work for them).
Tentatively, the south tower crane will be erected first. The plan is to use a triple 9 (a MASSIVE crawler crane) on a barge for assembly. This seems like an insane thing to do, but i guess its been done before. The river will likely be closed during dangerous picks.
It should be fun to watch... from a safe distance

Will you (or someone else) have info on when the best days to watch will be? I think I have a nice vantage point too, if I knew ahead of time I may be able to take good photos.

marcus · #**622** Posted **Mar 22, 2007, 2:26 AM**

I love this render! not sure if it's here, but i got it from SSC from retrograde:

simcityaustin · #**623** Posted **Mar 22, 2007, 5:20 AM**

I just think this is a great location for this building. It's going to blend in nicely, yet be very noticeable, and the tenants are going to have nice views because of the low/mid rises around it. Plus it's just a classy building.

kalmia · #**624** Posted **Mar 22, 2007, 6:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chitown

Oh, sweet. So, theoretically, this should move fairly fast, right?

yes, theoretically

but I don't know how they are doing things. It would be best to fabricate as much offsite where it can be done fast in a spread out area and with (I'm assuming) cheaper labor and less of it.

Would they be able to bring in barges with large sections on the river? I don't think they would tie up river traffic too much.

marcus · #**625** Posted **Mar 22, 2007, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marcus

I love this render! not sure if it's here, but i got it from SSC from retrograde:

just making sure people see this

BorisMolotov · #**626** Posted **Mar 31, 2007, 12:19 AM**

The core is one level above the street now!

Chitown · #**627** Posted **Mar 31, 2007, 5:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BorisMolotov

The core is one level above the street now!

Awesome. I love this project.

otis1 · #**628** Posted **Apr 4, 2007, 11:23 PM**

Some new info,

The general contractor has realized the 5 week excavation plan is not going to happen. The new completion target is around mid may.

Work on a LaSalle street lane closure has begun. The steel will be hoisted from there.

We have to slow down a bit on the core as it is becoming increasingly difficult to get material up there without a tower crane. We need to finish some interior slabs before we can assemble the hanging stairway to access the core as well. Its becoming a bit like chutes and ladders.

I will keep everyone posted about the dates of the barge/tower crane erection schedule. Its too early now to say when. It would probably be unwise to take a chicago river architectural tour during that phase of construction.

If thats not crazy enough for you, you might ask: How are they going to get that crane that is closest to the river out of there, since it will be blocked in by a 30' deep hole?

Well, its going south. They plan to DRIVE it OFF the river wall and ONTO a specially rigged tall barge. The barge will be not only moored off to the riverwall but will require a tugboat positioned to the south of it, ramming the barge into the seawall at full throttle while the crane operator makes the transition. There will be heavy coast guard presence and a team of divers standing by. The crane operator is required to wear a life vest (This is not something he is looking forward to, he has expressed concerns that a life vest is rather futile when you are in the belly of a 100 ton machine)

These are the kinds of things that can happen when you let an ex-army-paratrooper run a construction project.

SamInTheLoop · #**629** Posted **Apr 4, 2007, 11:33 PM**

^ Dude - your updates are the best ever.....I love the dramatic description of this project's logistics......keep the posts coming!

spyguy · #**630** Posted **Apr 4, 2007, 11:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by otis1

The crane operator is required to wear a life vest

These conditions sound ideal

Good luck to construction crews.

VA_Gentleman · #**631** Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 12:00 AM**

Wow, that sounds dangerous. I hope the crane doesn't tip over into one of the buildings lining the river. But I guess it has probably been done before. Good luck.

sentinel · #**632** Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 12:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by otis1

Some new info,

The general contractor has realized the 5 week excavation plan is not going to happen. The new completion target is around mid may.

Work on a LaSalle street lane closure has begun. The steel will be hoisted from there.

We have to slow down a bit on the core as it is becoming increasingly difficult to get material up there without a tower crane. We need to finish some interior slabs before we can assemble the hanging stairway to access the core as well. Its becoming a bit like chutes and ladders.

I will keep everyone posted about the dates of the barge/tower crane erection schedule. Its too early now to say when. It would probably be unwise to take a chicago river architectural tour during that phase of construction.

If thats not crazy enough for you, you might ask: How are they going to get that crane that is closest to the river out of there, since it will be blocked in by a 30' deep hole?

Well, its going south. They plan to DRIVE it OFF the river wall and ONTO a specially rigged tall barge. The barge will be not only moored off to the riverwall but will require a tugboat positioned to the south of it, ramming the barge into the seawall at full throttle while the crane operator makes the transition. There will be heavy coast guard presence and a team of divers standing by. The crane operator is required to wear a life vest (This is not something he is looking forward to, he has expressed concerns that a life vest is rather futile when you are in the belly of a 100 ton machine)

These are the kinds of things that can happen when you let an ex-army-paratrooper run a construction project.

Wow. Brilliant sh*t; this stuff is the reason why I became an Architect

Wish I could visit the site some time *hint, hint*

bnk · #**633** Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 12:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by otis1

I will keep everyone posted about the dates of the barge/tower crane erection schedule. .

Wow thanks alot otis.

I appreciate every post you contribute.

It is kind of cool to have an insider view of the real construction info.

Looking forward to more.

Thanks again.

bnk

honte · #**634** Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 12:22 AM**

Many thanks, Otis1.

Now, what about that hint you dropped in the Aqua thread? Do you mean the 300 N. LaSalle site?

aaron38 · #**635** Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 1:11 AM**

Someone needs to tell one of the science channels to get a camera crew down there to document this choreographed chaos.
Be sure to let us know the dates. Driving a crane onto a barge sounds plenty worthy of burning a vacation day and hoping a train.

budman · #**636** Posted **Apr 5, 2007, 1:25 AM**

Absoulutely fascinating. A couple of good friends of mine dock their boats at Marina City...I guess they should be careful during this phase of the construction. Any idea how long it will last?