[Saber925]

This item was posted on the Lakeshore East Forum and explains the current activity...

September 8, 2006

Dear Lakeshore East Resident:

Please be informed that the Chicago Fire Department may be conducting drills on the building on the west side of Lakeshore East, the former location of the Lakeshore Grill. The drills may occur over the next week prior to the demolition of the building. The area has been fenced off to prepare the site for these activities.

If you have any questions, please call me at 312-642-8869, Ext. 367.

Sincerely,

Belva M. Coakley

Belva Coakley
Community Relations Director

[Tom In Chicago]

^So they're going to burn down the old grill. . . cool. . .

[dvidler]

I walked by this morning and there is a crew knocking down exisiting trees, etc. Have not touched the building yet but its forth coming

[Chi_Coruscant]

^the excavaton on the sidewalk near electric sub-stration has begun.

BTW, there is a construction activity of a structure besides Tides u/c. Any idea?

[BVictor1]

I'm guessing that this might be more than enough activities to bump the status of this baby to site prep :)

[VivaLFuego]

This one is moving incredibly fast.

[honte]

BTW, there is a construction activity of a structure besides Tides u/c. Any idea?

Where is it?

[Chi_Coruscant]

^between Aqua site and Tides u/c.

[honte]

Hmmm.... The Aqua plan shows some small access roads back there, level with the upper drives, doesn't it?

[the urban politician]

I'm guessing that this might be more than enough activities to bump the status of this baby to site prep :)

^ wow, we're about to have 2 800+ footers under site prep. This kicks too much ass for me to even handle right now (and it's about to get even better)

[Steely Dan]

^ wow, we're about to have 2 800+ footers under site prep. This kicks too much ass for me to even handle right now (and it's about to get even better)

if you think you can handle some more ass-kicking, check out page 1 of the rundown ;)

[Nowhereman1280]

^So they're going to burn down the old grill. . . cool. . .


Yeah I'd call that cool. I don't think you can get much cooler than having a big fire then building a huge building on top of it...

[Tom In Chicago]

I saw the site prep this morning. . . just now had time to get online. . .

[SolarWind]

September 14, 2006

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5529/p1010142ij2.jpg

[Mr Roboto]

^I have to say it, you are the man!

Yep it looks like they are going to tear down that grill pretty soon. Its crazy how you got to the scene so fast, to give everyone a chance to picture what was being talked about all day. This forum is great

[Rocket1]

Is SolarWind's photo taken looking East? Or is it looking North?

[Steely Dan]

Is SolarWind's photo taken looking East? Or is it looking North?

looking east, from upper columbus.

[hoosier]

Is SolarWind's photo taken looking East? Or is it looking North?

I believe it is looking east toward the lake. 340 would be on the righthand-side of the picture.

[Rocket1]

I believe it is looking east toward the lake. 340 would be on the righthand-side of the picture.
Don't think we can see 340, though. It's just out of picture to the right, I believe.

[Steely Dan]

^ yes, 340 is out of the picture, off on the right.

[pip]

All right, it took a while and I actually like this building now. At first I was only happy about the height and not liking the design. But it has definetly grown on me. I now say hurry up and build it, it looks great! It still to me, though ,has a while to pass Trump, Waterview, and others in design. Who knows, as time goes on I like it more and more.

[trvlr70]

By the way, that restaurant was disgusting and absolutely no loss to the neighborhood.

[Tom In Chicago]

^Funny. . . I know plenty of people that went there. . . not me of course 'cause I got class ;)

Anyhow it looks as though they're getting that building ready for whatever demolition/practice thing this morning. . . perhaps they'll burn it down this weekend. . . if that is - in fact - what they intend to do with it. . .

[CHIllini]

Hey all...long time forum follower, excited to join the conversation!

Anyhow, I work in a building adjacent to the site (and Mandarin Oriental) , and just saw out the window a backhoe ripping up the parking lot of the old clubhouse...

Huge fan of this building!

[Tom In Chicago]

^Thanks for the update. . . we've got more eyes on this project than any other that I can think of :)

[trvlr70]

Any of this enough to be considered site preparation?

[BVictor1]

Any of this enough to be considered site preparation?

The building status was upgraded to site prep yesterday.

[sentinel]

Hey all...long time forum follower, excited to join the conversation!

Anyhow, I work in a building adjacent to the site (and Mandarin Oriental) , and just saw out the window a backhoe ripping up the parking lot of the old clubhouse...

Huge fan of this building!

Welcome to the forum CHIllini!

[hi123]

i love this building! glad to see site prep:D

[honte]

The building status was upgraded to site prep yesterday.

Wow, that is great news. Congratulations, everyone!

And congrats to Studio Gang - not only an amazing achievement for female architects, but for the whole firm. I can't imagine the thrill of having one's first executed high-rise being 83 stories, and such a contribution to such a great city.

[the urban politician]

^ You bring up a great point. I asked this a long time ago, but I don't think I got a response. Without drifting too far off topic, can anyone name a highrise in Chicago that had a female architect?

[honte]

The Equitable Building by SOM had a female architect. It's been a topic of great debate, because publicly Bruce Graham took credit for it, but it's generally accepted that she did most of the design (under his oversight). I forget her name though! (I have it written down somewhere, which I can dig up if it becomes important.)

I would guess that this happened more often than we know. Probably there was a lot of female involvement, but due to unfortunate circumstances in this country, the men were the public face. I am sure that there were no firms being led by women that designed any high-rises.

[sentinel]

The Equitable Building by SOM had a female architect. It's been a topic of great debate, because publicly Bruce Graham took credit for it, but it's generally accepted that she did most of the design (under his oversight). I forget her name though! (I have it written down somewhere, which I can dig up if it becomes important.)

I would guess that this happened more often than we know. Probably there was a lot of female involvement, but due to unfortunate circumstances in this country, the men were the public face. I am sure that there were no firms being led by women that designed any high-rises.

Are you thinking of Margaret McCurry? She is Stanley Tigerman's partner and also used to work at SOM, I believe during the time of the design of the Equitable.

[honte]

^ That's possible, but I don't recall it being her. I guess I'll have to go try to look it up now and report back later.

[jjk1103]

............well, now that Legacy and Aqua are in "site prep"....would anyone like to speculate which of the 800+ footers in "proposed" will be next to see some actual activity?

[Kngkyle]

............well, now that Legacy and Aqua are in "site prep"....would anyone like to speculate which of the 800+ footers in "proposed" will be next to see some actual activity?

I put my money on Mandarin

[jjk1103]

I put my money on Mandarin

.........yes, I was thinking the same thing.

[Chi_Coruscant]

I am happy to report that the restaurant is halfway to be completely begone. :cheers:

[kalmia]

Maybe they need some of the equipment from the 300 N LaSalle site to get started.

[Alliance]

The building status was upgraded to site prep yesterday.

W00T!

[Tom In Chicago]

I am happy to report that the restaurant is halfway to be completely begone.

That was fast. . . looks like it could be totally demolished by tomorrow. . .

[SolarWind]

I am happy to report that the restaurant is halfway to be completely begone. :cheers:

Yes, that's right. About a third of the restaurant was knocked down by noontime. The asphalt parking lot in front was ripped up and gone too. They're making quick work of it.

[brian_b]

So it's not being burned down by CFD? LAME.

[jjk1103]

...is Aqua going to take up that whole north/south site up to the Blue Cross building ?

[BVictor1]

...is Aqua going to take up that whole north/south site up to the Blue Cross building ?

No, there will eventually be 2 towers within that space.

[Reaperducer]

By the way, that restaurant was disgusting and absolutely no loss to the neighborhood.
No kidding. I used to think it was the homeless guys from Lower Wacker and Lower Columbus who were always peeing in the public elevator there. It turns out it was drunken Lake Shore Grill customers. They may work in the neighboring buildings, but they have no respect for the neighborhood.

[Tom In Chicago]

^They also live in the neighboring buildings. . . and I take offense to anyone who thinks that public urination is a crime!!! That's what the out-doors (and semi-indoors) are for!!!

[Reaperducer]

^They also live in the neighboring buildings. . . and I take offense to anyone who thinks that public urination is a crime!!! That's what the out-doors (and semi-indoors) are for!!!
If more of them lived in the neighboring buildings, it would help. But too may of them don't. There was a semi-weekly parade of drunkards from Illinois Center to Lakeshore Grill and then to the Randolph Metra station.

You could tell the new ones -- they'd pass out drunk in the piles of other human debris on Lower South Water trying to find the back entrance to the station over by Michigan Avenue.

[BVictor1]

There is now also a soil testing truck on site. Hopefully potholing of the site will begin as soon as demolition of the existing structure is complete.

[kalmia]

There is now also a soil testing truck on site. Hopefully potholing of the site will begin as soon as demolition of the existing structure is complete.



I guess they already have a fairly good idea of how far down bedrock is. I have wondered if there is a map that shows the Chicago area and the varying depths of bedrock. In some areas it is at the surface.

They are checking for pollution now, right?

[museumparktom]

Today's Demo Update

Looking due east from Upper Columbus
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2110.jpg

Looking back Southwest from Wacker
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2112.jpg

What will happen with the fire station? This thing is huge. Will it be under the access ramp that I saw in the rendering?
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2111.jpg

[trvlr70]

I believe the recreational deck for Aqua with the pools, picnic area, firepit, etc.. will be built on top of it. I don't believe we'll even see it anymore.

[SolarWind]

September 19, 2006

http://img157.imageshack.us/img157/5489/p9190165fv2.jpg

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/8518/grillcj1.jpg

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/6233/p9190166no7.jpg

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/4038/p9190162lb3.jpg

[hoosier]

^Dang Solarwind, you take the nicest pictures! You have better Chicago content than Emporis!

Do you happen to know the name of the building under construction just to the northeast of the demolition site? It is just one floor up right now.

[denizen467]

Today's Demo Update

...

What will happen with the fire station? This thing is huge. Will it be under the access ramp that I saw in the rendering?
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2111.jpg

That thing ain't the fire station; I think somebody said it was an electrical substation.
Is that right, folks? And if so, are they just building the low-rise portion on top of it, with no need for new caissons in the space it occupies?

[SolarWind]

^Dang Solarwind, you take the nicest pictures! You have better Chicago content than Emporis!

Do you happen to know the name of the building under construction just to the northeast of the demolition site? It is just one floor up right now.
Thanks hoosier. My photos may be more current, but the quality on Emporis is superior. BVictor1 and others have some fantastic construction photos posted on the website. If you haven’t been there in awhile, check them out.

By the way, the building under construction in the background is The Tides. I have a couple of shots I'll post in the CHICAGO: boom rundown thread.

[Atlas]

I don't like how this building looks:(

[Saber925]

That thing ain't the fire station; I think somebody said it was an electrical substation.
Is that right, folks? And if so, are they just building the low-rise portion on top of it, with no need for new caissons in the space it occupies?

That's right, it's a ComEd substation. The parking garage for Aqua will surround it on three sides.

And I'm guessing that the two levels of retail space and the outdoor deck will be built over the substation.

[Steely Dan]

solarwind, thank you again for your fine update pics in this, and all the other :cool: CHICAGO: threads.

i am so friggin pumped that this thing is about to get built. i'm gonna have to pinch myself. chicago is finally going to build another superstar skyscraper after decades of failed attempts. is this real?

[Latoso]

That thing ain't the fire station; I think somebody said it was an electrical substation.
Is that right, folks? And if so, are they just building the low-rise portion on top of it, with no need for new caissons in the space it occupies?

Correct, the fire station is on Upper Columbus Drive and Upper South Water Street.

[hi123]

anything new at the site? :)

[kalmia]

Correct, the fire station is on Upper Columbus Drive and Upper South Water Street.

Behind the photographer in this picture.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l221/Mansmith_2006/DSCN2111.jpg

[Pandemonious]

The grill and its debris were completely gone when I walked by this morning. Just a rectangular depression left there now. Didn't have my camera.

[Nowhereman1280]

Yes its been like that since last night, I was down there at about 9:00pm and all I could see was the rectangle and a small heap of rubble, maybe one dump trucks worth. I wonder when we'll start seeing more action i.e. see them start diggin.

[Tom In Chicago]

^Hmm. . . almost an hour with no update. . . man I need to get a webcam mounted out my window. . . anyone savvy enough to help me out?

[kalmia]

21 sep 2006 evening

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/971/aquasite21sep2006atw8.jpg

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/3224/aquasite21sep2006bep7.jpg

The fire dept. above the site
http://img61.imageshack.us/img61/7192/aquasite21sep2006csk6.jpg

[SamInTheLoop]

Found this on BidClerk. We may need to wait until November for
caisson action. I think we'll be able to survive until then though...

www.bidclerk.com/projects/projectDetail.jsp?projectID=202636

[honte]

Cool, thanks.

I didn't realize this building is going to contain 954 units. That is massive.

[Jaroslaw]

"Site work and new construction of a mixed-use tower in Chicago. Working drawings call for an 83-story building that will contain a 215-room hotel on the first 40 floors, 476 apartment units on floors 40 to 52, and 263 condominium units on the remaining top floors."

That's 476 / 13 = 36 apartments per floor! Even the Shoreham has only 17 or so per floor. I assume there is a mistake somewhere in bidclerk's numbers... probably 476 is apts. plus condos together.

[denizen467]

^ Yeah, something's screwy with those figures. I mean, the hotel works out to like 6 rooms per floor ...

[Jaroslaw]

Well, the units numbers check out. "Aqua will combine 263 condominium homes in the top 27 stories with 476 rental residences, 210 hotel rooms..."-official site. It must be that the hotel is only the first 20 stories, not 40.

[denizen467]

^ Must be something like that. Especially since it was supposed to be a five-star hotel ... megahotels of like 40 stories are never five-star hotels.

[dubai 1]

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/971/aquasite21sep2006atw8.jpg

^^ is that the actual building or is that another building??

[Kngkyle]

^^ Thats a different building. This one to be exact:
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5473/411523qy4.jpg

[Saber925]

"Site work and new construction of a mixed-use tower in Chicago. Working drawings call for an 83-story building that will contain a 215-room hotel on the first 40 floors, 476 apartment units on floors 40 to 52, and 263 condominium units on the remaining top floors."

That's 476 / 13 = 36 apartments per floor! Even the Shoreham has only 17 or so per floor. I assume there is a mistake somewhere in bidclerk's numbers... probably 476 is apts. plus condos together.

Looking back at one of the press releases from Magellan states "...luxury rental residences on floors 19 through 52". There will be 14 units per floor, times 34 floors gives you 476 apartments.

Figuring out the configuration for the 263 condos is a little tougher because there are plans for penthouses on the top floors, but no information on layout has been divulged. The condos on floors 53 through 56 will 14 per floor. (Follows the floor plate of the rentals). Floors 58-76 will have 9 units per floor. That gives a total of 208 condos I believe, with the remainder of the units (all Penthouses?) for the top floors.

[kalmia]

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/971/aquasite21sep2006atw8.jpg

^^ is that the actual building or is that another building??


The bottom of the image, where the foundation remains are, is part of the building site. Tides is the one under construction farther out toward Wacker.

[Nowhereman1280]

Anything new on Aqua guys or have they just been sitting on the site? I might be in the area tonight, if so, I will check it out, even though there are so many of you who live/work right there.

[chicubs111]

everytime i look at the regatta I cant just figure out why they coulndt of just wrapped that thing compeltly in glass instead of that damn ugly growth on its side.

[the urban politician]

^ Dinero

[dvidler]

I think we will understand more when that building next to it goes up.

[SimbyHeart]

everytime i look at the regatta I cant just figure out why they coulndt of just wrapped that thing compeltly in glass instead of that damn ugly growth on its side.


I also hate the fact that they made it like that, but regardless of their intentions, the city should force developers for better design.

I mean this is such a prominent location, and yet nobody seemed to care.I see the Regetta as an imcomplete design and poor attempt at a great opportunity wasted.

[the urban politician]

^ It's going to be flanked by highrises on both sides. I don't see the big problem. Even those beautiful prewar, first school Chicago highrises have nice facades but dull, brick sides. Same concept, different materials..

If anything, it's that parking garage base fronting Wacker that's concerning aesthetically. What's going to be done to cover that? I guess we'll have to see.

Back to discussing Aqua..

[neverdone]

that building looks wonderful, but I don't like the thick horizontal band of nothing halfway up. A tenant might get angry if the they condo is one where the deck terminates, and they are left with very little or no deck.

[Steely Dan]

^ i have to imagine that the floor at the level of the horizontal band that you're talking about is a mechanical floor of some sort.

[Atlas]

This building is ugly and I agree it would look way better totaly covered in glass.:shrug:

[jjk1103]

....out of curiosity...when Aqua is complete will it be the last planned high rise in this complex (River East ?) .... I think everything else is supposed to be low rise town house construction ? ...am I correct ?

[Steely Dan]

^ nope. first off, aqua is part of lake shore east (LSE), not river east, and if the rumors that are trickling out are to be believd, we could see 3 more 80+ story buildings in the complex, along with a couple more 70-some floor towers and still more towers in the lower height ranges. with the slow down in the real estate market coming it's anybody's guess as to what will actually be built, but aqua is FAR from the last highrise planned for LSE.

[jjk1103]

..........I'm reasonably familiar with the general lay of the land over there. I drive by quite frequently ? I know there is a vacant space next to Regatta along LSD............but where else is there room for more high rises ? ... i assume Mandarin is not part of the development ?

[Adam186]

This should explain everything jjk1103:
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7858/lseneigh7jh.jpg

[kalmia]

This should explain everything jjk1103:
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7858/lseneigh7jh.jpg


Good map, but hard to read the text at that size.

What about the base of Aqua? That doesn't seem to be shown.

[kalmia]

This building is UGLY and I agree it would look way better totaly covered in glass.:shrug:


I think it will have an interesting design. Wait to see what the balcony materials are.

[BVictor1]

Good map, but hard to read the text at that size.

What about the base of Aqua? That doesn't seem to be shown.

What are you talking about? The entire base of Aqua is shown. It looks like a giant piece of bread. You 2 sure you're familiar with the development/area?

[Nowhereman1280]

http://img482.imageshack.us/img482/1264/aquasm2zx0.jpg

Bvictor I believe he is referring to the big white thing shown at the base of Aqua in the picture. That is supposed to be parking or some other structure with a park (I'm assuming it will be private), outdoor pool, and other amentities on top. You can't see it as part of the outline because it looks like more park from directly above.

[wrab]

^^^
The park surrounding Aqua on the LSE map is the base - in other words, the park is a green roof on top of the base.

[trvlr70]

What about the base of Aqua? That doesn't seem to be shown.Yeah it is....the base is the large square that Aqua sits in. Aqua is in the upper right corner.

[neverdone]

^ i have to imagine that the floor at the level of the horizontal band that you're talking about is a mechanical floor of some sort.

I hope it is not as obvious in the real building. Or maybe they can make the floor double height and add a fake bacony to it.

[kalmia]

^^^
The park surrounding Aqua on the LSE map is the base - in other words, the park is a green roof on top of the base.


that explains it

[jjk1103]

This should explain everything jjk1103:
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/7858/lseneigh7jh.jpg.....I didn't realize that there was so much space along the river and along LSD ?! ...It doesn't look like much when you drive by the site !

[CGII]

This is going to be the modern Marina City.

[spyguy]

Strategic Hotels & Resorts to Acquire at Completion Hotel Development Space Adjacent to Fairmont Chicago Asset

CHICAGO, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE) today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire at completion new hotel development space comprised of approximately 15 floors of the to-be-built Aqua Building for $82.4 million. The Company will purchase the space from Lakeshore East LLC, an affiliate of Magellan Development Group LLC. The Company will furnish and install hotel finishes upon Magellan's completion of the space.

The Aqua Building is an 82-story mixed use residential building in the 28- acre Lakeshore East development across North Columbus Drive and adjacent to the Company's Fairmont Chicago property. The hotel will consist of approximately 200 luxury suites averaging over 650 square feet each, a 20,000 square foot glazed ballroom with outdoor terrace space overlooking the award winning Lakeshore East Park, prefunction space, boardrooms and other general hotel support facilities. The building and hotel are expected to be completed by the end of 2009. The Company currently anticipates that the new hotel will be operated in conjunction with its existing Fairmont asset, to which it will be physically linked.

Laurence Geller, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, commented, "We are proud to be a major player in the development of the Aqua Building. With its dramatic and innovative design, this property is destined to become a significant Chicago landmark. And with the addition of 200 luxury suites and approximately 30,000 square feet of unique meeting and prefunction space, the Aqua Building hotel development beautifully complements our Fairmont Hotel asset and builds overall portfolio value."