CHICAGO | Aqua | 858 FT / 262 M | 87 FLOORS - Page 243

george · #**4841** Posted **May 4, 2009, 7:29 PM**

docsmody · #**4842** Posted **May 5, 2009, 4:56 PM**

Does anybody know for sure if this CVS is going to be 24 hours?

If not, and it has hours similar to the one at Lake & Michigan, then it'll close early on weekends and wont help keep the area awake in the evenings. The Lake/Michigan store closes at 4 on weekends!

Zerton · #**4843** Posted **May 5, 2009, 7:31 PM**

One thing that irritates me and some people I know is how the concrete balconies 'dip' into the glass facade. It created those awkward dark patches.

docsmody · #**4844** Posted **May 5, 2009, 8:06 PM**

Has anybody heard how some engineering firms think this building will have major concrete problems in a few years? And because the concrete slabs run throughout the plane of the entire building, cracks from the exposed sections will start affecting the internal concrete. Just wondering if anyone has any further insight on this.

Steely Dan · #**4845** Posted **May 5, 2009, 8:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by docsmody

Has anybody heard how some engineering firms think this building will have major concrete problems in a few years?

no. either name the engineering firm(s) in question or stop spreading unsubstantiated rumors.

i live in marina city. it has a similar set-up of the concrete floors slabs forming the slabs for the balconies. marina city is 4 and half decades old. neither my balcony nor the floor slab in my unit have such problems as you described.

sentinel · #**4846** Posted **May 5, 2009, 8:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by docsmody

Has anybody heard how some engineering firms think this building will have major concrete problems in a few years? And because the concrete slabs run throughout the plane of the entire building, cracks from the exposed sections will start affecting the internal concrete. Just wondering if anyone has any further insight on this.

No it won't - I don't know what you've heard or from whom, but unless it was from the Structural engineer, I think those claims are somewhat dubious. The internal concrete shear walls, that run all the way up the building, almost like a spine, are 3-4+ feet thick in some areas, fully reinforced with steel plating and rebar at weakened locations and any header conditions if there's a penetration thru the shear wall, PLUS all concrete floors are full reinforced with rebar as well.

docsmody · #**4847** Posted **May 5, 2009, 8:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

no. either name the engineering firm(s) in question or stop spreading unsubstantiated rumors.

Whoa dude, chill out. I wasn't spreading rumors...merely asking for any insight if anyone had any to offer. It was in an article in the Skyline publication (local Chicago Journal newspaper). I don't remember the details, but thats why I posed the question.

Steely Dan · #**4848** Posted **May 5, 2009, 8:43 PM**

^ but without providing the name(s) of the engineering firm(s) in question, you are unwittingly starting/spreading an unsubstantiated (at this point) rumor. we need to know the name(s), or your inquiry is pointless. if the article in the journal you're referencing really did say "some engineering firms think that Aqua will experience serious concrete problems in the future", then that is incredibly shoddy and irresponsible journalism, and it is best ignored. however, if the article said something along the lines of "Joe Sixpack, a structural engineer with Post & Beam Engineering, Inc., said that he believes that Aqua will experience serious concrete problems in the future due to X, Y, and Z" then we would have something to go on, something concrete to respond to.

you say that you don't remember the details, but the details are VITALLY important to know if there is any validity to what you have reported.

shaberko · #**4849** Posted **May 5, 2009, 9:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

then we would have something to go on, something concrete to respond to.

No pun intended.

jjk1103 · #**4850** Posted **May 6, 2009, 1:12 AM**

....alright girls ...let's just enjoy the building before it collapses !!

jcchii · #**4851** Posted **May 6, 2009, 2:16 AM**

iceberg?

we can get around that

docsmody · #**4852** Posted **May 6, 2009, 3:48 AM**

as long as it doesn't collapse on my building....

Busy Bee · #**4853** Posted **May 6, 2009, 4:10 AM**

Found this sketch on IIT's website. I think it was part of a print and drawing auction a while back. Wouldn't mind hanging this on my wall. Signed by Jeanne too. Cool stuff.

bnk · #**4854** Posted **May 6, 2009, 4:57 AM**

Hey ya that is cool.

The best part of it is that

Quote:

Signed by Jeanne too. Cool stuff.

good stuff man.

wrab · #**4855** Posted **May 6, 2009, 2:16 PM**

^ Love the pencil sketch.

EarlyBuyer · #**4856** Posted **May 6, 2009, 11:20 PM**

I thought this article would be of interest as Strategic Hotels and the Fairmont were once a big component this project:

Chicago trophy hotel on the block

"The Chicago-based real estate investment trust (REIT) has hired Eastdil Secured to sell the Fairmont, a 687-room hotel at 200 N. Columbus Drive that Strategic bought in 2005 for $158 million, or $230,000 a room, according to people familiar with the situation. The company, which has spent tens of millions of dollars fixing up the Fairmont, is seeking a transaction that would value the property at about $275,000 a room, or about $189 million, a lofty price amid a financial crisis and recession and that have depressed hotel values. One person familiar with the Fairmont estimated it was worth only about $140 million. Strategic is under growing pressure to clean up its highly leveraged balance sheet, so it needs to do something to raise cash, even if it’s a bad time to sell."

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=33946

EarlyBuyer · #**4857** Posted **May 6, 2009, 11:31 PM**

Aqua Building Tops Off

"...There is no repetition whatsoever in the ripples that make up the balconies, which range from zero to 12 feet deep, said Alexander. As a result, McHugh had to invent a way to custom-build all the forms to pour the concrete for the balconies, with every one unique and the shape of each edge custom-built, while still adhering to an aggressive schedule that called for pouring a floor every four days. McHugh Concrete Superintendent Paul Treacy's solution for easily laid and reusable forming edges, using light-gauge steel and brackets, was so successful Treacy was named one of Engineering News-Record's Top 25 Newsmakers of 2008.

Treacy's system proved so successful that McHugh beat its own estimates, pouring a floor every three days rather than the proposed four days.

"Innovation comes from experience, and we're proud of our field teams' skill at creative thinking and problem-solving," Alexander said. "It sets McHugh's concrete services apart..."

http://www.concreteconstruction.net/industry-news.asp?sectionID=718&articleID=948371

EarlyBuyer · #**4858** Posted **May 6, 2009, 11:34 PM**

Update from Magellan released 5/5/09:

"...Windows have been installed up to 78, framing is up to floor 70 excluding floors 57 & 58. The ceiling and walls have been painted up to apartment floor 52..."

ChicagoChicago · #**4859** Posted **May 6, 2009, 11:39 PM**

How does the city allow those god damn "Rent now, call #" signs? They are everywhere and just scream trash.

the urban politician · #**4860** Posted **May 7, 2009, 12:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChicagoChicago

How does the city allow those god damn "Rent now, call #" signs? They are everywhere and just scream trash.

^ Why would the city not allow tax-paying, revenue-generating property owners to advertise their apartment units downtown?