CHICAGO | Boom rundown - everything over 12 floors. v5 - Page 250

BVictor1 · #**4981** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 4:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron38

In Solar's last pic of 353 N Clark above, are they pouring the slab with the raker beams still in place? It looks like they've become part of the rebar mat. Interesting technique, although you'd think that a beam that large in the slab would weaken it.

I think that once they pour the concrete and let it cure, it'll create the same lateral forces upon the retaining wall that the raker beams are now producing and then the beams will be cut.

harryc · #**4982** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 5:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by aaron38

In Solar's last pic of 353 N Clark above, are they pouring the slab with the raker beams still in place? It looks like they've become part of the rebar mat. Interesting technique, although you'd think that a beam that large in the slab would weaken it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

I think that once they pour the concrete and let it cure, it'll create the same lateral forces upon the retaining wall that the raker beams are now producing and then the beams will be cut.

Yes the floor will replace th rakers - same as at 300 N LaSalle and Waterview, and unlike the top-down method being used at 37 block and (soon) at the Chicago Spire.

The rebar is in place, just need to get those pesky beams out and finish the job.

Dec 20 - lunch time ( now )

SamInTheLoop · #**4983** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by honte

I think the Fairbanks turned out ok, considering it was a "save" of another plan altogether, by a different architect. It definitely looks better than the hotel it was supposed to be.

Does anyone know the story behind why the base of the building has had two different facades? The only thing I can guess is that the present developer had decided to execute the original plan before revising it to what we see today. Even though I like this version better overall, if I recall, I liked the cladding on the base better in the first iteration.

Agree that's it's not that bad - I've always thought some of the criticism aimed at it has been a tad harsh considering the circumstances of the project....I'd venture to say that the solution Centrum/DeStefano came up with was better than average, again, given the limitations....

SamInTheLoop · #**4984** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 6:50 PM**

Has anybody been keeping track of the number of starts for the year? I know at one point there was a very helpful calendar someone had been maintaining.....are we still on track to potentially set a record in 2007, or has the credit crunch kept us a bit short? Could we eke out a couple additional official starts in the next 10 days? Seems that there are some potentials at least, of course they could always easily be pushed into January.....

SamInTheLoop · #**4985** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:01 PM**

Crain's is reporting - http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27544 - that Fifield has just closed on their purchase of this large parcel where they are planning two of their typical West Loop office buildings. The plan is to begin construction of the first, shorter tower (I believe it's roughly 25 stories (first several floors is a large - larger than average for new office buildings, at least - parking garage) summer 2008.

Yes, Fifield still seems to be in the running for landing the new BP tower on the site, but I sincerely hope they lose this one. Frankly, I do not trust Fifield for such a potentially important, very environmentally-advanced, hopefully very aesthetically-advanced tower, and I don't like the 600 block of W. Monroe (in the middle of Fifieldom) for such a high-profile project. I've mentioned it before, and here again - my first choice of location for BP's new downtown Chicago home (of known current office proposals) would be the office tower for the proposed Wolf Point project, and perhaps my second choice would be the proposed Buck tower on the NW corner of Randolph and Wells....

SamInTheLoop · #**4986** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:27 PM**

Crain's is reporting - http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27550 - that La Strada and J. Randolph are closing in preparation for the tower's construction. Acompletion year of 2010 is given....

Great news - it is time to undertake some serious apartment building downtown. From an institutional real estate investor's viewpoint, I think there would be more concerns about coming hotel supply (for one, hotel is the most cyclically-impacted of all major property types) in the next few years than apartment supply. I think the loop and near-loop are in fantastic shape from the demand side of the equation to absorb many thousands of new rental units over the next few years - more so than a lot of market observers think realistic.....an important factor to consider is that the homeownership rate has peaked - I see a fall of 200-300 bps being a very real possibility over the coming several years - this translates into enourmous demand unlocking for apartment units, including higher-priced luxury rental living....

2PRUROCKS! · #**4987** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Has anybody been keeping track of the number of starts for the year? I know at one point there was a very helpful calendar someone had been maintaining.....are we still on track to potentially set a record in 2007, or has the credit crunch kept us a bit short? Could we eke out a couple additional official starts in the next 10 days? Seems that there are some potentials at least, of course they could always easily be pushed into January.....

Dan in Chicago was keeping the start/finish date calendar. I am not sure if he still is (but knowing his diligence I would imagine he has kept up with it). From looking at the first page of this thread it looks like we have 27 construction starts in 2007. This has to be near the record and it certainly was the best year so far considering the quality and height of the projects (Spire, Aqua, Legacy, etc.)

2PRUROCKS! · #**4988** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 7:55 PM**

Oops! I recounted the first page there are actually 30!!! starts in '07. This must be the record for as long as we can accurately trace back! Dan K. can you confirm?

aaron38 · #**4989** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 8:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by harryc

Thanks for the picture. Yeah that makes a LOT more sense, that they would mask out those holes and then pull the raker beam out. It looked initially like they were going to pour the entire slab, and leave a chunk of raker beam forever embedded.

2PRUROCKS! · #**4990** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 8:01 PM**

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=2517404&postcount=26

Here is a link to the boom calendar. It looks like 2007 is not up to date. Up to this year 2000 and 2006 led the way in this boom with 25 starts in each of those years. So 2007 is the new leader by far with 30 by my count! Someone may want to double check my count.

Eventually...Chicago · #**4991** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 8:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Crain's is reporting - http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27550 - that La Strada and J. Randolph are closing in preparation for the tower's construction. Acompletion year of 2010 is given....

If this doesn't demonstrate the incredible pull of millenium park, i don't know what does.

trvlr70 · #**4992** Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 8:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamInTheLoop

Crain's is reporting - http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=27550 - that La Strada and J. Randolph are closing in preparation for the tower's construction. Acompletion year of 2010 is given....

Great news - it is time to undertake some serious apartment building downtown. From an institutional real estate investor's viewpoint, I think there would be more concerns about coming hotel supply (for one, hotel is the most cyclically-impacted of all major property types) in the next few years than apartment supply. I think the loop and near-loop are in fantastic shape from the demand side of the equation to absorb many thousands of new rental units over the next few years - more so than a lot of market observers think realistic.....an important factor to consider is that the homeownership rate has peaked - I see a fall of 200-300 bps being a very real possibility over the coming several years - this translates into enourmous demand unlocking for apartment units, including higher-priced luxury rental living....

I'm thrilled about this project. It will be nice to have another splash of modernity at that corner.

But I'll bet that La Strada won't be coming back.

Ch.G, Ch.G · #**4993** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 12:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

I'm thrilled about this project. It will be nice to have another splash of modernity at that corner.

Yeah, especially given the mess that's there now...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolarWind

It's totally cool if so, but am I the only one who actually thinks this looks really good so far?

sblument · #**4994** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 1:12 AM**

I live right next to that tower, think it is quite good looking. Maybe some art deco hints in there?

sblument · #**4995** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 1:14 AM**

Hey SolarWind, great shots of the Fulton River District!

simcityaustin · #**4996** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 1:34 AM**

Can you please not repost all the pictures if you have nothing to add. A simple, "thanks, nice pictures" will suffice.

VivaLFuego · #**4997** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 2:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sblument

Hey SolarWind, great shots of the Fulton River District!

Most on the board think this project is awfully ugly....but I tend to like it too, actually. I can't really explain why. Though I'd definitely prefer the towers left unpainted, or painted a color other than beige.

Regardless, I'm over that way often and I am stoked about the complete transformation of a former barren wasteland of parking into a neighborhood with a few thousand residents and a supermarket.

harryc · #**4998** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 2:18 AM**

from afar June til today http://picasaweb.google.com/harry.r.carmichael/111WIllinoisFromABA

the urban politician · #**4999** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 2:41 AM**

^ Ahh, modernism right next to a century old gem. That's the look we're going for...

Harry C, don't EVER put down that camera, by the way. I beg you

harryc · #**5000** Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 3:25 AM**

Core taking shape

Not sure what to make of the carpeted sheet pile, must be only the top couple of feet - will this help in cutting off the sheet piles later ?

Getting ready for more

Detail of the self raising form
Sitting on these grey pieces ?

With the forms apart