CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by Neuman

What’s up with the bare concrete North wall of the Dana Hotel?

Also a lot of you guys keep making remarks about BP moving offices downtown. While this is true, they are only moving about a 1/3 of their current personal from Naperville and Warrenville to the Loop. Most of which constitutes their trading and operations group for the Mid-West. The rest of the positions are moving to Houston. So frankly I don't know how much office space they are really going to be moving into...

Unless someone else has solid figures on space they are shopping for?

Its the west face of Dana Hotel, not north, that is bare concrete. They probably figure it is going to be facing an alley in a few years anyhow. I don't see what's so wrong with that, I mean look at all the old buildings built right next to each other, they all have sheer brick walls with little or no windows, yet no one complains...

Anyhow, BP is moving something like 400000 sqft (not sure if this was the exact number, but its close) downtown, that makes them a major potential anchor tenant. The number was give a while back and it was big, big enough to anchor or fill a major highrise.

[honte]

^ I know some of the leading community activists in Hyde Park. They are very keen down there on sustainability, good design, keeping what makes their neighborhood great, but also progress. It is one of the most cared-for communities in Chicago. Don't forget, despite being old, too educated for its own good, and stuffy, it's also got a long history of Modern design.

One of the leaders I know is so captivated by Gang's work and progressive thought on design, he actually went to her office to check out the work himself before making a recommendation. He came away so thrilled, he has been championing this building and the design ever since.

It seems that the power of good, caring, sensitive design is making itself felt throughout the city again. Now, if we could just get someone to hire Jean Nouvel, I could sleep at night.

[the urban politician]

^ It's really good to know that Jeanne Gang is designing something so striking again for Chicago, and I am especially happy that it's going up in my old stomping grounds, Hyde Park. Hyde Park has had its problems, but it has a great legacy of architecture and I couldn't imagine anything more fitting than this structure to add another notch to its belt.

Now, we simply need to watch the market and cross our fingers. I"m guessing that its notable green features, proximity to U of Chicago, and stunning design will attract buyers. I'm assuming this meeting was too early for there to be a discussion about unit prices?

[i_am_hydrogen]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/l...eehivenov15,1,370570.story?coll=chi_mezz

Blue light special
Inside the stunning Michigan Avenue skyscraper beacon. (By the way, it is not a bug zapper.)

By Emily Nunn | Tribune staff reporter
November 15, 2007

Don't go into the light. That seems to be the agreed-upon advice from people who make it back down from the heavens after a near-death experience.

Someday, we'll all go into that light -- sorry, but it's true, at least metaphorically -- but very few people will get the chance to go into the spectacular 20-foot-high light that sits atop the Metropolitan Tower, at 310 S. Michigan Ave., 457 feet in the sky.

If you've never noticed the glass and steel lantern before, you should take a look: It's shaped like a giant beehive (hence the building's nickname, the Beehive Building) and hovers above four tremendous carillon bells that play Handel's "Cambridge Quarters," supported by four carved stone bison standing sentinel over the city. At night it glows an ethereal cobalt blue. It's lovely.

[Busy Bee]

^ Good article, now just rebuild the pyramid spire on the old Ward's HQ and the Boul Mich wall will be set.

[Dan in Chicago]

Originally Posted by honte

Now, if we could just get someone to hire Jean Nouvel, I could sleep at night.

Yes! I am jealous of New York's plan for a Nouvel tower by MOMA. Anyone who hasn't checked it out should look at the thread. Great news about the Solstice. I'm sorry I didn't go, except it seems they didn't need any additional support.

Victor and I went on a height hunt this morning, and we got some disappointing news. Elysian will be only 685'-8" tall to the tips of the spires, and 673'-11.5" to the roof. The parapet will come to 682'-6", so it will look about 9 feet taller than the roof height.

We also looked at blueprints for R+D659, which will be 17 floors, 191'-5" (architectural height), and 189'-8" (roof height).

[Steely Dan]

^ thanks dan, page 1 has been updated accordingly.

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by i_am_hydrogen

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/l...eehivenov15,1,370570.story?coll=chi_mezz

Blue light special
Inside the stunning Michigan Avenue skyscraper beacon. (By the way, it is not a bug zapper.)

By Emily Nunn

Enjoyable pics, video, and story of one of my favorite buildings.

Also, the Tribune has some things related to the Carbide and Carbon building.

Video

And some photos here
http://www.chicagotribune.com/carbide

[Alliance]

Looking gorgeous.

[harryc]

Pit for the mat has been dug ( bottom of mat being installed ).



Odd cement blocks - anyone know what these are called or why they exist ?






Neighborly love - wall with pole sockets in it ( 4 bolts on plate for now ), Big caissons, and then sheet pile.



Waste no time - forms ready

[harryc]

Overview



Good book ( yes the pile driver is pounding )



Tight pattern

[harryc]

Good Morning !



The foundation work continues



Self raising form being constructed

[emathias]

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

I’ve been asking the same question for a while now. I really want to see this one move forward soon. I know somebody on here knows what the hold-up is….Shawn perhaps???

I don't know for sure, but it's quite possible that they're waiting for 300 N Lasalle to get past the stage of pouring the concrete core before they start on the Kinzie development. Carol Street is really congested with the construction stuff right now. It does appear they're doing some utilities work under Kinzie west of Wells, though.

When they do build on 161 W Kinzie, I hope they do something to add additional entrances to the Merchandise Mart "L" stop, so everyone doesn't have to go into the Mart just to board the train.

[harryc]

Originally Posted by emathias

I don't know for sure, but it's quite possible that they're waiting for 300 N Lasalle to get past the stage of pouring the concrete core before they start on the Kinzie development. Carol Street is really congested with the construction stuff right now. It does appear they're doing some utilities work under Kinzie west of Wells, though.

When they do build on 161 W Kinzie, I hope they do something to add additional entrances to the Merchandise Mart "L" stop, so everyone doesn't have to go into the Mart just to board the train.

Yes the congestion is a real issue ( for trucks, makes biking more interesting ) there were 7 cement trucks and 2 pipe trucks just between LaSalle and Clark this morning. I was down there 3 times today and each time the road was blocked at LaSalle, with the valets having fits, and a yellow bug driving like a maniac - to no avail.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by 10023

Umm, ok then. I've been away from Chicago for a while, it seems.
...
Division should be lined with mid-rise, mixed-use buildings with ground level retail all the way from Wells to the river.

You HAVE been away from Chicago for a while. Division has residential-only 3-flats from Larrabee to Crosby on the south side of the street, and there's what's essentially a strip mall with a Dominicks in it on the north side just west of Orleans, and a residential mid-rise with no retail right where Orleans dumps into Division. Not to mention Seward Park between Orleans and Clyborn. I think your dream of an all-retail Division Street is pretty much already outside the realm of possibilities.

[harryc]

400 N Dearborn - River North Marriot - putting in glass where construction elevators were. [Nov 16] (the crane in front is from 353 N Clark )




501 N State - Palomar [Nov 15]



Something next to River City. [Nov 16]



Not a skyscraper - but next to one - development of the Sears tower parking garage to have ground level shops.[Nov 16]

[forumly_chgoman]

^^^^wait what are they doing w/ the garage on adams....I have not heard anything

[Sir Isaac Newton]

[QUOTE=harryc;3173154]Something next to River City. [Nov 16]



Those are the cranes for the Roosevelt Collection.

Harry - thanks again for the pictures!

[harryc]

Originally Posted by forumly_chgoman

^^^^wait what are they doing w/ the garage on adams....I have not heard anything

Putting in space for retail on the first floor. Here are some pictures from last month as they were breaking up the floor and digging down another few feet.

[ Sept 29 ] Base of a support column



[ Sept 29 ] Old oil tanks - apparently when the garage was built they just knocked down the old building, drove a few caissons, and paved over all the debris.

[EarlyBuyer]

harryc: Thanks for the pictures!