CHICAGO | CNA Center (151 N. Franklin) | 568 FT | 36 FLOORS
 

Given that we're a planned 3-4 months away from caissons here, and I think this tower is deserving, I thought it was time for its own thread.


As I'm just beginning to see some new renderings with a bit of a different design (have seen at least one other - night time rendering - as well, within the last week), I think it's possible (no inside knowledge here to confirm this) we may just be looking at a little VE-inspired redesign here: link below. The original did have curved glass I believe, which as I understand is pretty expensive. That said, if this is indeed the new design, I like it (obviously need to see more, and more detailed renderings) on its own merits.....


http://www.tjbc.com/current-projects/151-north-franklin



https://farm1.staticflickr.com/690/2...38072cfa_z.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5777/...57294599_z.jpg





old rendering:

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...89709251_o.jpg

^ Damn, I preferred the curved glass

Is this project really worthy of its own thread?

^ Obviously my vote is yes.

It's arguably more important than a whole host of others that have recently had their own threads - Loews, 545 N. McClurg, Optima II, etc.
For those schoolchildren that think everything is about height, 151 may come out to about 570' or so in that respect, so that is I believe at the very least not disqualifying on its own.

Aug 2013








Aug 2014


Feb 2015


I guess a few more months won't kill us ......

For a second I confused this with 130 North Franklin and thought it had replaced it and was about to cry. :haha:

Another good filler building though I suppose.

^ I actually remember this pic from last year because.....ahem.....um.....

Sam, I could be wrong, but I think it may be the angle of the sunlight shown in the rendering, and NOT a design modification - I think the curved corner glass is still part of the overall design; but it is admittedly difficult to tell from such a small rendering :shrug:

^ It's possible.......although it really looks like a sharp 90 degree angle to me........saw a nighttime version of this new one as well and looks to be the same.....

At any rate, have a feeling we won't need to wait too long for an answer....

Parking Lot Closed
 

As Skyguy reported in the highrise thread, the small lot on this site beside the closed Walgreens has now closed forever. My guess is that, depending on permits of course, we'll see demo by August and closing on construction loan and beginning of caisson work possibly before the end of September.......

What, the hot dude in the blue suit?

Not a major update, but I did find it interesting that (and this is to be taken with somewhere between one grain of, and a heaping of salt) CoStar, in the last couple weeks or so, apparently has moved up the start date of this one to September. They've also corrected the size info to in the vicinity of 830,000 sq ft, which corresponds to the 36 floor design, and still is citing 568' for the total height.

At any rate, watch those demo permits.....as it won't be long at all now before one is issued for the Walgreens.....

Freeborn and Peters Drops Out as One Anchor
 

As reported yesterday in Crain's, Freeborn and Peters has backed-out as one of the anchors. Somewhat strange in that one would figure once a large tenant has made up their mind that this is the type of modern and efficient space and building they want to move into for the long-term, they would do a complete 180 and opt to stay in much, much different type of space at 311 Wacker (neither modern nor efficient)..........I'd be shocked if anything less than a significant outright rent reduction (in the context of a solidly increasing overall market rent) would have been enough to convince Freeborn to stay there.....(unless of course there's something up at Freeborn as a firm that wasn't indicated in article or generally known at least outside of legal industry circles)

At any rate, most important with respect to 151 Franklin, Buck stressed at least in the article yesterday that they are moving forward (with what I think looks like no more than potentially up to a few months of delay in schedule) with the tower and Hinshaw as anchor tenant, due to file for demolition permits today, and with construction commencing either late this year or very early next, for completion by year-end 2017.....

I walked past this morning on the way to work and there was some kind of action at this site -- I think they might have been putting up more secure barriers.

I work on the 35th floor of a building overlooking this site, so I should be able to get good photos when it does get started.

^ welcome to the forum!

thanks for the update!

and we eagerly anticipate those aerial construction shots!

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/o...pst3vjjzsz.jpg

Stuff is definitely going on. They appear to be putting up a 7 foot fence on the Randolph side.

^ That's what I like to see! Welcome, thanks for the contribution, and look forward to many, many more over the next couple years.....actually, not to press our collective luck here, but does your company's office space have a view to the south as well? A little project right across the street on that side that you might just so happen to have a great vantage point of as well! ;) (but that's more like an end-'16 to end-'18-type endeavor......)

Yeah, all four directions. A friend of mine has a great view to the South. I'll take a photo of 150 N. Riverside and Riverpoint to the West when I get a chance.

James, I believe Sam was referring to 130 N Franklin, a lovely project which should start next year. Also, longer term, the General Growth Building to the southwest along the river will probably be redeveloped. Your office is going to have a nice view of a lot of construction sites.

New Renderings
 

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite...inkcode=31672#



32 Floors

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/690/2...38072cfa_z.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5777/...57294599_z.jpg

September 28, 2015



^ Putting up a construction fence

Yeah, I'm super-excited -- and I'll make sure I share the photos. I should also have a good view of the stuff on Lake between Franklin and Wells.

In case we need any more evidence of movement, here is 151 from above around 5:00 pm today. They've brought in a couple of construction dumpsters and done some other work.

http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/o...sgfjugasl.jpeg

VE'd ? what happened to those distinctive rounded corners?

I'd rather this one not happen. Waste of space and somewhat of an architectural disappointment.

I agree ^

^^^ Me too! Not much to look at!

^ ^^ ^^^ I find the negativity on this one particularly perplexing......


Also, it's still 36 stories, 820-830k sq ft, the 32 story, 710k sq ft version stats have always been floating around, but Buck will build just about up to what they're allowed to in the PD here - it wouldn't make sense to undershoot here at this particular juncture in this cycle....

I'd picked up on those renderings which seem to 'cut out' the rounded corners a few months ago (see first post in thread).....can't say if it's VD'd version or not, as these are quite low resolution....probably wise - as sentinal alluded to - not to draw sharp conclusions just from these. I'm sure this will turn out to be a very nice, elegant box though, even if the curved glass corners were in fact nixed. Ronan is a tremendous talent, and I expect this to be a very solid contribution to this boom - and potentially a nicely understated highlight

Boring!!!!!

tough crowd, tough crowd indeed.......

I think we should expect more at this point. I know nothing about architecture formally, and i'm pretty sure i could design this.

It's too bad that they appear to have gotten rid of the rounded corners, but I'd still much rather see this go up than keep that piece of shit Walgreens around.

This will also help add some enclosure to this area, as well as enclosing that plaza that Buck created just to the west of it when he built the tower on Wacker (and demo'd those historic buildings).

I'm hoping 130 N Franklin gets in this cycle, that will definitely transform this little intersection.

Yes, better than the walgreens, but I'd rather this be a park and then have 130 get built this cycle.

^ they're both going to get built, we've got a good 3-4 years to run......(despite all the bedwetting that's out there in the markets right now)...

I don't know that those renderings show the rounded corners being removed. I just zoomed in on it on a 46" screen and it is impossible to tell what the corners look like. Given the fact that this building is advertising 10' clear ceilings and is more of a boutiquey project, I just can't see them VE the only architecturally significant feature of the design. Also, rolled rounded glass like that is expensive, but it's not that expensive, especially when compared to the total budget for a 600' office tower.

Lol, bed wetting is a great term for it. The stock market is so fucking stupid. "Oh, more stimulus? Let's panic."

You must be right next to me in 155 N Wacker.

I'm at 191 N Wacker on the 26th floor. I'll get a few pics from a different angle.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...ps7ur79uva.jpg

I realized I should also get great pics of the building that's going to go up on Lake Street between Randolph and Wells

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f3...psifaekws3.jpg

I've already got enough to look at with 150 Riverside directly out our west windows and River Point right next it, and then Wolf Point across from that.

I'm so glad they gutted all our floors two years ago and put in 360 degrees of open views on all three of our floors. The views are amazing of all this construction....but after that we'll be all penned in here on the 26th floor :(

Aye. I have faith in Ronan as well. This has the potential to be an unassuming and sophisticated container. Its street-level presence should be great, too.

Demo permits were issued yesterday for the Walgreens

They changed the floorplates to try and win a very large company that is moving. So the overall SF should be similar although that is not confirmed. I can't say the Tenants name at this point but I assume it will be public soon (The company is already located central business district now so its not a suburban move or out of state move). From what I was told the Tenant is debating between this and 130 N Franklin.

^ Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... and so it begins!

http://www.animatedimages.org/data/m...image-0022.gifhttp://www.animatedimages.org/data/m...image-0061.gif
http://www.animatedimages.org/data/m...image-0024.gifhttp://www.animatedimages.org/data/m...image-0057.gif
http://www.animatedimages.org/data/m...image-0029.gifhttp://www.animatedimages.org/data/m...image-0058.gif
http://www.animatedimages.org/data/m...image-0055.gifhttp://www.animatedimages.org/data/m...image-0036.gif

My office faces your building. I'd thought we get good views of the construction from 155, but I guess from 191 you'll get better views of everything except 130 N. Franklin.

On 151 N. Franklin, I don't think it adds much to the skyline, but if the video is anything to go by it will add a lot at the street level -- I really like the plaza area and the open glassiness of the building. With 130 N. Franklin and the small park at 155 N. Wacker, it should create a nice public space at the intersection of Randolph and Franklin.

The site is crawling with workers this morning, scaffolding/pedestrian passageway going up around the old Walgreens.

SEE YA! You suburban piece of shit!

^ Yeah!! Let's get this party started! There comes a time when you just have to put up, or shut up, and for Buck that time is nigh......time to build........(well, may be jumping ahead by a month or two here, but I digress).......

Nice tip! Have an idea/can divulge approximate # sq ft this unnamed tenant is planning to take?? Frankly, at this point I hope they go for 130, as that will likely cement its launch in a year or so, while I consider 151 to be essentially a done deal at this stage.

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a couple additional significant tenants that are right now looking at and very interested in both 130 and 151......

I have to admit that I'm a little surprised it's taken this long to get our 3rd large office tower of the cycle officially launched, but 3 and 4 are certainly coming. And - I'm sticking to my earlier prediction of a total of 5 or 6 large office towers in total for the overall cycle.......it's a longer cycle......

Removes a blighted building, covers up an ugly side garage, brings a presence to 2 streetscapes, fills a corner lot in north loop with thousands of hungry workers, all modes of transit in walking distance. Even with squared windows the building is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

151 N Franklin 10/09
 

10/15

151 N Franklin

http://i611.photobucket.com/albums/t...psaqgexbno.jpg

October 21, 2015

good to see. this is one of those lots I'm surprised wasn't up-built in 1988