I'm surprised they are comfortable pouring with substantial rain 12-24 hours expected afterwards. I also have no expertise in this realm. So the concrete just cures really fast?

https://i.imgur.com/l3UJKGO.png

The temperature should allow at least the surface to cure enough to allow the rainwater to not really cause any issues. If they really feel like its gonna be a problem I'd imagine first thing tomorrow morning they will put some tarps/poly sheeting over top. It should be fine though. I mean by now it's been around 5 hours since they finished and you can already walk all over it if you wanted to; therefor rain shouldn't be an issue.

It's crazy that this is taller than the renaissance center in detroit by 3 feet.

Thx for the input. It appears they have tarped it over today.

May 31

Matt poured

Red tower crane just delivered.

^ That's a Manitowoc crawler crane, ie Big Red model MLC300 perhaps. Its setup for this site is one of the tallest crawler cranes I've seen downtown.

Looking at OxBlue, it's not clear to me yet where exactly the tower crane will be set. Anyone?

Yeah, my bad. But the oxblue today seems like for sure the crane is rising through the core. I could be off. Forms are going up.

June 6





June 10



A friend from Wisconsin


Just a wild guess -but could they be using an internal climber on this ?


25 to 1 ratio ?

You're right Harry. We should expect an internal climbing tower crane the core. Duh.

Still no crane parts/installation on site but I'm hoping "Big Red" moves right from here to a barge for WPS. Wishful thinking but would be a money saver, maybe?

June 18

Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

re-routing the water main.
Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

It has risen...

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ix...-no?authuser=1

https://app.oxblue.com/open/clarkcon...erconstruction

What's risen? I have not seen any crane pieces. But this one does seem like it's dragging.

^ The core had risen

Dumb question but I only thought the core sat directly on top of the mat pour, which looks like has not happened here yet. Instead, normally does the core just sit on top of piers that are not tied into the mat?

Matt has been poured - a few weeks ago IIRC.

June 25





Water over the air


More to come ?

What a difficult site to build on, considering all the obstructions. Cheers to the developer to taking on the challenge. The foundation scope could not have been cheap! :cheers:

small footprint for a 700+ no?

https://app.oxblue.com/open/clarkcon...erconstruction

The overall site is massive so I think the core looks small in comparison?

^^I'm just glad that they maintained the remaining majority of the lot as a park:
https://images.skyscrapercenter.com/...8339016505.jpg

I really like the lobby design too:
https://images.skyscrapercenter.com/...8339012988.jpg

July 6

Following the shuttle bus from Gr333n
Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Thanks Harry - tbh, I'm surprised this one is rising as slowly as it is. I feel like the BoA tower along the river was a more complicated site, but shot up super quickly..maybe I'm missing something?

I agree. It is what it is but, yea, snails pace. At this rate, during this pandemic, any progress is good progress I suppose.

July 20







One big and beefy core


Relocating the water main that used to cut across the site.

Sit. Staaayyyy. Good boy.

Could we go 10 floors on the core without a crane? Webcam. They do have the floorplates up to the floor below sidewalk.

Aug 6

Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Our friend from Wisconsin.
Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Odd on the other projects with an internal climbing crane the crane was assembled near - or at - the beginning - wonder why they are waiting.
Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Aug 10

One impressive crane
Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO Tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

I suppose it's too late in the developing & building process to say "I'd like to see this another 10-15 stories taller" would it?

Crane parts being dropped off on the south end via webcam.

Its not impossible or even unusual to see another floor or two added to an office building during construction but the foundation and core would have to be reengineered in a cost prohibitive way to accommodate 10+ additional floors

Union Station Tower, Aka BMO Tower, Begins Ascent As Permits Seek To Increase Floor Count

https://chicagoyimby.com/wp-content/...8/IMG_0036.jpg

================
ChicagoYimby/Jack Crawford

Hey... That's pretty Cool! More Floors!!

Is this outdated? He mentions a 46 story tower when we've most recently heard 50. I think there was also a slight extension a while back (like 3 extra feet or something).

Hope it's true though.

I wonder how much feet that would add based on how tall the floors are

From an entitlement standpoint, the building was originally approved at 50 stories (715 ft). It then went back to the city in April to increase the height to 51 stories (~729 ft).

So it sounds like this is a case of a permit being issued for the lower portion of the building, and then the developer seeking a full permit to cover the remainder? :shrug:

Edit: Unless maybe they are looking to go shorter? In this climate, who knows....

^^Oh well, Wishful Thinking!

Which lower portion, you mean near a setback? I don't think going shorter would make sense in the long run, despite the current climate. I'd guess the article is just working with outdate information.

^^Well they won't be packing employees next to each other.... Spacing employees further apart! The flip side of that is....Employees will work from home!

These were taken today. They were prepping the climbing tower crane's base. Install imminent.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...aa02ed41_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...2a66a60f_b.jpg

Construction cam has been adjusted to a better angle. Looks like some additional crane parts arriving

https://app.oxblue.com/open/clarkcon...erconstruction

Aug 20

Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr






I think the gray piece is part of the climbing crane. The boom (freshly painted black) can be seen waiting on the ground in several shots.


Pretty sure this is structural stuff being assembled ( w side of the site )
Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

Chicago | BMO tower by Harry Carmichael, on Flickr

BMO parcel can be seen below (red crane).

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...60d0d406_h.jpg
8-17-20 pm (43) by BartShore, on Flickr

Post Office roof looks awesome

Re: construction schedule, I am hearing that while they will continue with the core and shell, the actual BMO buildout will not begin until Q2 of 2021, due to the reactions to the virus.

Even without Covid, that still seems like a relatively normal schedule for such a large building; it's almost September and it's barely above street level.

I agree, but I was told purchase orders were even suspended. So while there is indeed a delay, it won’t affect what we ssp nerds see.

Based on the permit information, I don't think we have seen a TG-2300 in Chicago before. I know there was a TG-1900 at River Point and it looks like Wolfe Point South is getting a TG-1900 too.

From the one of the webcams looks like several steel truss' arrived on site