CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[jcchii]

I really like 340

too bad BCBS is going to crowd it with the expansion

[Norsider]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ yeah, the mid-90s were the doldrums for us construction geeks. there wasn't much of anything going on. BCBS and northwestern hospital were pretty much the only things with any sort of height that went up in those years. i remember when BCBS was announced, i couldn't believe that a new office building was gonna be built downtown. it was all so exciting...... an it's a measely 400' building, LOL! then, when park tower was announced in 1998 it was like "holy crap, good times are here again". and they truly were, as this just might yet be the biggest skyscraper boom in the history of our city. in fact it was park tower's construction that lead me to SSP. it was 1999 and i was new to the whole internet thing and i was just browsing the web for info about it and i came across a little website called "Nylad's skyscraper page". and the rest, as they say, is history.

compared to the dearth of construction activity in the '90s, i'd much rather have the boom we're experiencing now, even if it does mean that we have to take all of the bad (grand plaza) with the good (UBS tower).

This really takes me back. Back in college I worked as a pool boy at an apartment building on Huron and Wabash during summers. I walked by the Park Hyatt work site every day on my way to "work." I remember these giant Harley motorcycles that the the contractor rode to the site. From the pool on top of the 8 level parking garage, I could also see them building 1 Superior. It looked nice and slim from that angle, little did I know what a monstrosity it was. Then after school I was off to Vancouver for volunteer work. I was so homesick for Chicago and hungry for urban real estate news i scoured the web for something that would tide me over. Nylad's Skyscraper Page to the rescue. My login says 2003, but I've been skimming these boards since 2001.

[wrab]

Originally Posted by SolarWind

May 3, 2007

The Tides

I can't quite believe that I'm saying it, but this tower is only moderately awful for a Lowenberg POS.

[dropdeaded209]

the glass on 600 Fairbanks blows everyone else away (and we still have seven more stories to go!) too bad trump didn't spring for nicer glass. and let's not even get started on the Joffrey Bldg...

jahn is back, baby!

[Busy Bee]

Ditto on bringing back old (relatively speaking) memories. I can't remember for the life of me how or exactly when I happened upon SSP (Nylad's... I had forgotten all about that), but I know I was still in high school, possibly Junior or Senior year, so 1999-2000. At the time I had been cutting clippings out of the Sun-Times and Trib about State Street (1996), Mag Mile (600 N), Borders at Water Tower and the general upswing in retail that was starting at the time. I also have tons of clippings (litterally a giant rubbermaid container) on early loft projects, infill developments, Green Line renovation, civic building renovations and streetscape projects that were highlighted, and of course Park Tower. To think how far we have come since then is astonishing.

I began to follow the forum religiously when I got in college (2000-2001) and for some reason or other abstained from joining and commenting until recently. No regrets though. But I would like to say that this site is immensely important to me, a true passion of mine. This site and other real estate blogs like New York's Curbed and YoChicago are the first thing I check in the morning and the last at night... and several several times in between. SKYSCRAPERPAGE reigns supreme though and I want to thank everyone involved in moderation and site webmasters for keeping this fantastic resource going over the years. I don't know where or how I would know about construction/development/transportation/architecture news as quickly and easily as I do at SSP. A true web gem!

[tm30]

Sad news:

Plane crash kills prominent suburban developer, partner

By Diana Wallace
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Friday, May 04, 2007

The founder of Itasca-based Hamilton Partners, a prominent commercial developer throughout the Chicago suburbs, died in a plane crash in Montana Thursday along with one of his partners.

Allan J. Hamilton, who was active in commercial real estate development in the Chicago area for more than 35 years and founded Hamilton Partners in 1987, was behind the controls of his twin-engine jet when it crashed into a farm field near the Beaverhead County Airport in Dillon, Mont.

Hamilton lived in Huntley and owned a ranch near Twin Bridges, Mont., according to Coroner Ron Briggs.

Also killed was Hamilton partner John Mark Wauterlek of Glen Ellyn, who went by Mark.

Wauterlek is the son of John Wauterlek of Barrington, the head of Hamilton's industrial division.

Hamilton Partners has built several high-profile office complexes around the suburbs, including Greenspoint in Hoffman Estates, Riverwalk in Buffalo Grove, Esplanade in Downers Grove and Hamilton Lakes in Itasca, where the company is headquartered.

The firm also has an office in Salt Lake City and owns a number of properties in the Denver area, said Hamilton's partner Ron Lunt, who worked with Hamilton for 35 years.

Hamilton, who Lunt said was about 69, leaves behind his wife Phyllis and sons Mark and Kirk, who both work for the firm.

Wauterlek, who was 29 or 30, was the husband of Sarah Wauterlek.

The Cessna 550 twin-engine jet was traveling to Dillon from Rockford when it crashed Thursday morning, Beaverhead County Sheriff Jay Hansen said in a news release.

The sheriff's department received a report of an explosion near the airport at 10:40 a.m., Hansen said.

Only small flames were coming from the plane when firefighters arrived, Fire Chief Scott Marsh said.

"The initial impact burned all the fuel that was on the airplane," Marsh said.

Investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the crash, Hansen said.

_________

Condolences to the Hamilton family. Weren't they just planning an offiice tower by Printer's Row?

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by SimbyHeart

Wow solarwind u are the man! Those pictures of 340 are just awsome, its amazing what a well taken photograh can do for a building that does'nt come across as being so slim from far away, yet the photographs are perfect, they capture the look of the building's vertical lines from the base moving up, great vantage points.

Totally disagree. You should see 340 from out in the lake, its very slim.

[Chicago Shawn]

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

I think the following is related to Randolph Tower so I'll write it here:

Whatever old buildings to the east of Randolph Tower (so they must be around 170-180 E Randolph) are apparently under demolition. These look to be very old buildings judging by their design and scale; I'd hazard a guess of between 1885-1905. There is scaffolding on the facade, but the only spot from which I've seen the apparent demolition is from the 'L on Lake st. Can anyone shed light on if this is part of the Randolph Tower plan? Are these buildings getting facademized as part of the project (I think I spied some nice terra cotta under the scaffolding)? Demolished completely?

Its not at all part of Randolph Tower. The three buildings were sold to the developer through the city and will be replaced with a lovely surface parking lot. However, the PD requires an admendment for future development of the lot within 2 years, or the city will take back the property for the original sale price.


And now my contribution to memory lane:
I remember just yahoo searching for new construction back around 1998 when I stumbled upon Emporis, Nylad's high-rise page and the World's Tallest Building's site with a link to Marshall's Hot 500 list. I found out about SSP after Emporis closed the public message board, the high-rise boom took off and the rest is history. I remember thinking back around 2001 that Chicago was highly unlikely going to see construction of a 60+ story building anytime soon, and certinally nothing over 400' south of Congress. How wrong I was, and how happy I am. My previous state of thought was a result of the 90's doldrums while reading up on other cities outdoing Chicago in terms of height and design quality. I really hope this boom continues onward forever, and the quality continues to improve on the majority of our new buildings. Also, as someone who works in the tourist industry on the side, I can confirm that many visitors to our city are completely godsmaked at how clean our downtown has become and how much construction activity is present.

[sentinel]

I remember being downtown all the time as a kid, growing up right outside of the City, coming down with my parents to a restaurant or visiting friends/family or even going to the Sears Tower skydeck and always wanting to make buildings like the Sears Tower (I even had this one really cool scale paper model of the Sears Tower that I bought in the giftshop when i was about 11). Even though back then, 17 odd years ago, the skyline wasn't as impressive perhaps as it is now, it nevertheless was powerful enough to make such a lasting impression that it would lead me to design school for 6 years and wanting to be an architect. No highrises just yet, but hopefully soon enough

[Norsider]

Originally Posted by tm30

Condolences to the Hamilton family. Weren't they just planning an offiice tower by Printer's Row?

Sad news indeed. Hamilton Partners developed a lot of quality real estate.

Re you question: I thought they just secured some financing for 29 or 39 s. lasalle.

[alex1]

600 n. Fairbanks shows what a glass wall should look like. 340 is sexy and looks amazing from Hyde Park. The strong white horizontal breaks give the downtown some nice texture from afar.

very very nice projects those two have turned out to be.

[hoju]

^You can see 340 from hyde park? From where?

[alex1]

Originally Posted by hoju

^You can see 340 from hyde park? From where?

the lake front (Promontory Point)

[Alliance]

Originally Posted by alex1

600 n. Fairbanks shows what a glass wall should look like. 340 is sexy and looks amazing from Hyde Park. The strong white horizontal breaks give the downtown some nice texture from afar.

very very nice projects those two have turned out to be.

I give a for each of them

However...I'm hesitant to give it to fairbanks...as its simply not finished yet.

[the urban politician]

Well, since we're all telling fuzzy little stories, here's mine:

Never cared about highrises my whole life.

Lived in Chicago in 2002.

Was totally in love with the city's development, especially the highrises going up everywhere.

Surfed the net. Ran into SSC and SSP.

The rest is history. I can't believe I missed out all these years. Highrise booms are like a shot of dopamine in the brain. LOVE 'UM

[APPRAISER]

Originally Posted by the urban politician

Well, since we're all telling fuzzy little stories, here's mine:

Never cared about highrises my whole life.

Lived in Chicago in 2002.

Was totally in love with the city's development, especially the highrises going up everywhere.

Surfed the net. Ran into SSC and SSP.

The rest is history. I can't believe I missed out all these years. Highrise booms are like a shot of dopamine in the brain. LOVE 'UM

I believe I share the same experence as you!

[BVictor1]

Originally Posted by hoju

^You can see 340 from hyde park? From where?

I can see 340 OtP from Garfield Blvd (55th St.) and King Drive.

[chicubs111]

anyone know whats going on with 150 east ontario project? I know we usually dont hear about this 50 story building too much but last i heard they are demolishing a building where this will replace it. Chicago has alot of sleeper projects that seems to fade in the background and then all of a sudden there is some action...lol..i love this city.

[ardecila]

Well, the pace of high-rise construction is somewhat limited by the amount of high-rise construction teams and tower cranes. Skilled workers can be flown in to work the job, but that is much more expensive as you are removing them from their friends/family for several months at least. This leads to a lot of stalling on projects, not to mention that banks are now more reluctant to provide loans due to concerns of oversupply in the residential and office markets.

As for 150 East Ontario - I LOVE the design. It's simply beautiful, and it's art-deco and glassy at the same time. IMO, it's very New York-ish, forgoing the distinctive Chicago parking podium for a unified design. I hope against hope this thing will be built, right after the Chicago Spire.

[BVictor1]

Double Post