CHICAGO | General Developments

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Whoa, great find, spyguy. From the Google Maps satellite imagery, it looks like Rock Valley College owns lots of idle land. This project is going to replace one of several large surface lots. (Granted, there's still surface parking to the west of the new structure in their plan, but it looks like it will be well landscaped.)

[aic4ever]

Originally Posted by jdcpamba

Here is a link from the Chicago Building Commission regarding construction of the Jones College Prep High School:

http://www.pbcchicago.com/content/ab...il.asp?pID=307

Looks like IHC will be bidding the project as well, as I've gotten some correspondence from them on it. According to their RFP, the trades that are already contracted are Below Grade Demolition, Caissons, Earth Retention, Water Tunnel Fill and Excavation.

Can't speak to how far along any of it is, but contractually it looks like it's shaping up about how I expected.

[Via Chicago]

Apparently the (year old) native landscaping at Trump is being torn out

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune....mourning-.html

[Nowhereman1280]

Yuck, gravel. There is nothing worse than landscaping that uses gravel... I don't know who thinks gravel beds are a good idea, but they look like shit...

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Yuck, gravel. There is nothing worse than landscaping that uses gravel... I don't know who thinks gravel beds are a good idea, but they look like shit...

I just cant understand why they would want to uproot everything. They spend the time/money/effort to put in something nice and that people seem to enjoy/is highly reviewed and then....one year later completely replace it?

[StormFire]

Funky 6-story garage at Devon and Rockwell:

http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2...on-devon-1.php

[harryc]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Yuck, gravel. There is nothing worse than landscaping that uses gravel... I don't know who thinks gravel beds are a good idea, but they look like shit...

Nope bushes and plants are back - don't see any horse tails (yet)

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ So are they just fixing something under the plantings or are they re landscaping?

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

^^^ So are they just fixing something under the plantings or are they re landscaping?

Kamin's initial post seems short on details, but it sounds like they hired an entirely new landscape architect (originally was Peter Schaudt, new design is by Daniel Weinbach)

[Kippis]

I used to love walking through that plaza. It was an absolute gem along the river, a real contrast to Trump Tower and the cityscape around it. I hope these morons know what they're doing, but unfortunately, in the end it's their money I suppose...

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by Kippis

I used to love walking through that plaza. It was an absolute gem along the river, a real contrast to Trump Tower and the cityscape around it. I hope these morons know what they're doing, but unfortunately, in the end it's their money I suppose...

Yeah, truly a lone gem in the cityscape around it.


photo by Hayward

[Kippis]

Originally Posted by Ch.G, Ch.G

Yeah, truly a lone gem in the cityscape around it.

Well yeah, there is a subtle difference between landscape and hardscape, you know. In terms of the landscaping and the plantings they chose, it was pretty unique.

Also, I never said it was a "lone" gem.

[BWChicago]

Kamin posted a followup

[sentinel]

Ground broken yesterday for the new $95 million dollar Argonne Energy Sciences building in Darien:






All images taken from the project website:
http://www.anl.gov/esb/
Press release:
http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/News...3_Sec-Chu.html

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

Originally Posted by Kippis

Well yeah, there is a subtle difference between landscape and hardscape, you know. In terms of the landscaping and the plantings they chose, it was pretty unique.

Also, I never said it was a "lone" gem.

Not to quibble, but you didn't write "landscape," you wrote "cityscape" which has a much broader definition. And by calling it a "gem" in contrast to "Trump Tower and the cityscape around it," the implication was that neither Trump Tower nor the cityscape around it are gems. If that's not what you meant maybe you should have worded your post a little differently. Exaggerated prose leads to a lot of problems around here.

[Kippis]

Originally Posted by Ch.G, Ch.G

If that's not what you meant maybe you should have worded your post a little differently. Exaggerated prose leads to a lot of problems around here.

Haha, you know my English professor said the same thing to me years ago. You're right though, I think I got a little carried away with my wording. It happens to me more often than I'd like.

Speaking of landscapes, what exactly are they planning for the Argonne building? Is that supposed to be some kind of prairie grass or something?

[J_M_Tungsten]

Tonight

Fourth presbyterian


NW's new parking structure


Children's memorial in it's new surroundings


And last, but certainly not least, Chick-fil-a!

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by sentinel

Ground broken yesterday for the new $95 million dollar Argonne Energy Sciences building in Darien

Argonne's really been killing it with respect to architecture lately.

Theory/Computing Sciences Building

[tintinex]

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

Tonight

Fourth presbyterian

I heard the Architects of this project are fighting so this project doesn't get VE'd. There is pressure to cut corners

[Rizzo]

Originally Posted by J_M_Tungsten

Tonight
And last, but certainly not least, Chick-fil-a!

I'm looking forward to this. And speaking of more retail developments, I've noticed some reshuffling going on between downtown malls. I go to the Northbridge food court every week and noticed the Legos store is gone. I'm assuming they ran out of space and with the mall portion fully leased they couldn't expand. They are down at Water Tower place now (which has a couple vacancies). 75% of the 3rd floor at NB is U/C right now with new stores moving in.