Height: 1,047 ft
Floor count: 89
Location: North Clark and West Wacker
Construction end: 2009
Architect: Teng and Associates
Development firm: Teng and Associates

Website (http://www.waterviewtower.com/)

This is a thread for Waterview Tower in Chicago. The name is the result from every residence having views of either the Chicago River or Lake Michigan, if not both, hence Waterview. It will be 89 stories and 319m/1,047ft and will be the new home to Shangri-La Hotel and Resorts. I believe the curtain wall for the tower will be blue crystalline glass and stainless steel. Upon completion, it will be the fifth tallest in Chicago. Thomas Hoepf is the architect and Teng and Associates is the developer. This project has been a long time coming and is my current favorite supertall in Chicago under construction/approved. It has been in the preliminary stages of construction as of January 05, 2006.

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8518/waterviewtower054ln.jpg
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/3265/emporiswaterview4yr.jpg
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/7094/wtrview5xo.png
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3563/3941833hc.jpg
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4473/waterviewtower4kv.png
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7909/waterviewtower035oy.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9687/waterviewtower048bl.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4893/waterviewtower065wx.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7153/waterviewtower078er.jpg
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/3629/waterviewnightviewlowerres3cg.jpg
http://img159.imageshack.us/img159/9696/ba1bk4.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/329/ba2nx4.jpg
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/1849/ba3lv8.jpg
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/4990/ba4ww9.jpg
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/3350/ba5es9.jpg

This thing is gorgeous! Easy 10/10

:dance:

gee, yet another one to add to 300m+ diagrams. atleast this is in chicago not dubai.lol
nice design. love the sleek lines and overall shape.
thanks

beautiful, nice skyscraper!
great addition to the Chicago skyline :)

This will be one world class skyscraper!

This isn't actually "officially" UC, you know?

yeah, yeah I know its not "officially". I know Chicagoans dont believe nothing is under construction until cassions are drilled but thats why I put preliminary stages of construction. I mean its the most progress we've seen on this thing. Plus with the ceremonial groundbreaking happening in a couple weeks, its safe to say it is.

Plus I wanted my first thread to be on Waterview. And I wanted to start one on it before you did. Bite me. :)

Waterview Tower, Chicago
319 m/ 1047 feet
89 floors
Construction end in 2009

Teng & Associates
http://www.waterviewtower.com

Also included in this building is the first annnounced Shangri-La Hotel in the USA.
200 room hotel floors 12-27
Wintergarden Lounge and Sunset Promenade restaurants
CHI Spa

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7192/2997828zq.jpg
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/7094/wtrview5xo.png
http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/3563/3941833hc.jpg
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4473/waterviewtower4kv.png
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7909/waterviewtower035oy.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9687/waterviewtower048bl.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/8518/waterviewtower054ln.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/4893/waterviewtower065wx.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7153/waterviewtower078er.jpg
http://img354.imageshack.us/img354/3629/waterviewnightviewlowerres3cg.jpg

The new Chicago "Six":
http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/1678/chicagotalls6wu.png

Location:
http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/6678/map4zb.gif

Might want to change the title too:

1,047’ official/1,035’ roof -89 floors

I love the night rendering and I wanted to post it but couldnt find it. Thanks.

Edit: I put those numbers because they were nice round numbers.

Edit2: When did the roof height change?

The roof height has always hoovered around there I believe. I think for accuracy's sake a mod should change the title, not to mention consistency. You beat me to the punch, as I was hoping to make this topic but waiting for the official word :)

Also, it's a bit surprising that not as many people know of this tower considering how old it really is.

ive added in Waterview tower in 300m+ diagram (next to nina tower)
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/8290/worldstallestupdateddec15ox.jpg

That's really gorgeous design. I love it. Chicago is awesome.

I think the Waterview tower will become the star of the chicago skyline. This tower IMO deserves as much attention (if not more) then the Trump Tower. The Waterview's got the height without all the ego you'll find in the Trump Tower

I don't like design, but I like its form. Looks very tall.

That made my day! It looks so modern. I like box shaped buildings!

Love it :)

Incredible tower! This is world class slenderness, the best of HK and USA combined! :)

Can a mod please change the title to reflect accuracy?



View from lower Wacker Drive - 2006-1-7
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/427167.jpg

Machinery removing steel and wooden barriers, as well as excavating the site - 2006-1-7
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/427169.jpg

Steel and wooden barriers fronting lower Wacker Drive that need to be removed - 2006-1-7
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/427170.jpg

Impressive Tower!!! :master:

Very, very nice! Suits Chicago much better than that Calavatra-thing. Congrats!!! :cheers:

I love the looks of this tower.

This is going to be one quite impressive tower, without a doubt.

Go Chi-town!! :okay:

a gorgeous design
i love it really much

this recreational deck on the 29th floor wastes a lot of space as the tower is half as thick as below, but actually its slenderness is what makes this tower so special

congrats to a perfect addition to an incredible skyline scenery :okay:

Another update

I couldn't help myself, I swung past the site this morning. I was quite supprised to see a crane cab on site. I spoke with the superintendant for a few minutes and he told me that they would begin driving steel sheeting tomorrow.

A crane cab on site - 2006-1-9
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/427505.jpg

As you can see, they have already broken through to lower Wacker Drive. Most of the construction vehicles will traverse the site VIA lower Wacker.

View of the site as workers assemble a crane - 2006-1-9
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/427508.jpg

Using a sledgehammer to connect sections of a crane boom - 2006-1-9
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/427513.jpg

We were also told that there will be a special concrete pump used for the tower. They will need if the the same reasons that one is being used for Trump Tower, extreme height and difficulty in pumping conctere to that altitude.

It was also mentioned that the goal was for caisson work to begin by the end of January. But that work could possibly not begin until about mid-February.

Wow! Its rather surprising to see work progress so quickly. Just last week there was nothing there.

Wa O aW !

I love the top part

It's good to see that this project is finally u/c after hearing about it just being a rendering.

GLAD TO SEE THIS BUILDING UNDER WAY,IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

It really is. :eek2:

Waterview has been a looong time coming. It's a damn fine building.

New update from BVictor



View of the site from the 10th floor of the Transportation Buildings' parking garage - 2006-1-21
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/430509.jpg

A vibro-hammer pounding steel sheeting into the ground - 2006-1-21
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/430511.jpg

View to the southwest across the site - 2006-1-21
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/430507.jpg

Digging around the steel sheeting in the southeast corner - 2006-1-21
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/430503.jpg

A bobcat placing gravel along the outside of the steel sheeting - 2006-1-21
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/01/430517.jpg

Great to see this finally underway. This and Trump together make fine additions to the skyline. Am looking fwd to my return trip to the Windy City in May.

Update from yesterday

Quick update from 1/28/06.

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9526/waterview015cc.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8827/waterview027vm.jpg

Hooray for chicago!

very elegant..:applause:

My gosh! How underrated is this tower????? It is world class. Nobody talks talks about it. It is sexy and thin. It WILL be the star of the Chicago skyline.

BVictor on hand of course

Okay, yesterdays groundbreaking was quite the spectical to behold, at least for me. I able to speak with the developer Ivan Dvorak and the architect Thomas Hoepf.

Alderman Burton Natarus was there and made a cool speach about the stunning and beautiful architecture of the tower. He was promoting Chicago like it's Gods greatest gift. (And lets face it, it is). He also mentioned the face that Manderin Oriental was coming to town:)

Ivan Dvorak, president of Waterview LLC, mentioned the 250 permanent jobs once the building is complete. He said that negotiations began with Shangri-La began back in October of 2004. I was able to speak with him personally later and he said that the building has been in the works for about 4 years. The site has always been seen as an "unobstructed view cooridor", because of the river.
-There will be a high end restaurant on the ground floor, "possibly" something new to the U.S.
-There will be limited retail space

Teng Principal Design Architect Thomas Hoepf said that the glass will give the building visual texture. Chicago's new energy code was a major driving factor for the building glass and granite curtain wall. He also said because a lot of the design and structural work was done "in house", it nade the process much easier.

FEBRUARY 2006 CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
-The percentage of sold condominium units is in the Mid 60's
-About 11% of the hotel units have been sold so far

Here are some photos from yesterdays ceremony...

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B6%3Cnu0mrj

The gentlemen in the blue tie is the architect (Tom Hoepf)
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B74nu0mrj

Silver shovels used by Teng officials at Waterview Towers' cerimonial groundbreaking - 2006-1-31
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B75nu0mrj

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433151.jpg

Alderman Natarus with the mike.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B78nu0mrj

Shangri-La official
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B7%3Cnu0mrj

City, Shangri-La and Teng officials including architect Thomas Hoepf(on the left), at the cerimonial groundbreaking for Waterview Tower - 2006-1-31
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433154.jpg

http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B86nu0mrj

Engraving on the spade of the shovel.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp336%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B8%3Bnu0mrj

View across the site to the northeast corner - 2006-1-31
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433160.jpg

One of the project managers.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp338%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B94nu0mrj

View of the site from the 35th floor of the LaSalle-Wacker Building - 2006-1-31
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433168.jpg

2 of the 3 people in the sales center who have been quite helpful to me over the past 2 years.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp337%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B%3A732%3Anu0mrj

The architect (blue tie) standing next to the model of the building he designed.
http://images.snapfish.com/345%3B%3A7656%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D32334%3A7%3B8%3A%3B98nu0mrj

View to the southeast across the construction site - 2006-1-31
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/02/433172.jpg


This concludes the lesson for today.:):):)

Very slim. Looks like it could snap easily! Will it withstand high winds?

Very slim. Looks like it could snap easily! Will it withstand high winds?
I think so.Chicago is known as the Windy City so this building must have strong foundations.

I thought that the groundbreaking ceremony already occurred.

10 out of 10

Very slim. Looks like it could snap easily! Will it withstand high winds?

No, I'm sure it's being built so it can collapse within a year or two...

Those are some fancy looking shovels

To me, IMHO, this is the best looking and most exciting project going on in Chicago. :D I LOVE this tower! Very Jealous! :)

BVictor has given the good news that Waterview is now officially under construction.

Great sleek design!

luuuvvin da design..go chicago!

BVictor has given the good news that Waterview is now officially under construction.

:dance:

Great news!

Very, very nice! Suits Chicago much better than that Calavatra-thing. Congrats!!! :cheers:Well, whatever one thinks, if Calatrava's proposed Fordham surges ahead, it will be the first turning torso scraper in the U.S.. It will also be not only the tallest scraper in Chi-Town but also in The U.S. of A., @ 115-levels above ground & @ 610m/2,000ft to its structural height ie its spire/antenna.

BTW Waterivew Tower nowhere in sight:

http://images.suntimes.com/popups/spire/images/spire2_700.jpg

http://images.suntimes.com/popups/spire/images/spire4_700.jpg

http://images.suntimes.com/popups/spire/images/spire5_700.jpg

Here's the photo from today by BVictor btw:

http://images.snapfish.com/346387992%7Ffp335%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D3233548387%3A%3B%3Anu0mrj

Only 1 pic?, seems like Pilling has gone quite far already..:okay:

We need some of that Chicago spirit in New York - Ground Zero.

They are afraid to rebuild the Twin Towers.

Their excuse is: No one want to work that high.

Answer: Bring Chicago fever to New York.

I love it!

BTW, the Waterview will be CHicago's 5th tallest building...

I dont like it at all. It seems so slender.. :sly:
Reminds me a few hotel bali in benidorm :wink2:

You've probably only seen it from one angle. That angle makes it appear very thin (32' to be exact). For good measure:
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/554/6324waterview_tower.jpg
http://www.teng.com/teng2k3/images/111%20all%20new.jpg
http://www.teng.com/teng2k3/images/111.jpg
My favorite angle:
http://images.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2004-05/12599190.jpg

We need some of that Chicago spirit in New York - Ground Zero.

They are afraid to rebuild the Twin Towers.

Their excuse is: No one want to work that high.

Answer: Bring Chicago fever to New York.

I love it!

No just afraid to work on the ground zero site, some where else i would work.

No, I'm sure it's being built so it can collapse within a year or two...

:lol: Stupid questions do deserve stupid answers.

I heard someone else complain about this kind of thing a couple months ago in regards to FS. "They don't call Chicago the windy city for nothing. Are they sure it won't fall?"

Please... let the engineers worry about that...

It looks like there is a small building built on the roof of the Waterview, behind the extended facade. What is this structure? It looks cool.

Building: Gran Hotel Bali
Location: Benidorm, Spain
Floors: 52
Finished: 2002
Architect: Antonio Escario

http://b2b.ratestogo.com/common/ImageGallery/HotelImage.aspx?imgid=20231

Similar roof top and materials? :happy:

I'm pretty certain this'll be my favorite Chicago building upon completion. Very pretty.
It's like two or three buildings in one, because the different angles make it look so different! But they all look good.

In-friggin-credible. I love it.

Photos from yesterday by BVictor:

http://images.snapfish.com/3465356%3C8%7Ffp33%3B%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D323357%3C29%3B5%3A7nu0mrj
http://images.snapfish.com/3465356%3C8%7Ffp339%3Enu%3D3238%3E868%3E492%3EWSNRCG%3D323357%3C29%3B5%3A4nu0mrj

I suppose watching the progress with Trump should have gotten me used to the scale of this sort of project, but those caissons are just massive. ... really big.

Chicago will have a greatly improved skyline in a few years.. Wow.

very nice design! but's too flat..

Small update from Chicago3rd



Construction update 03-31-06

WaterView Lot
http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/62333714-M.jpg

There's also a collection of photos that are semi-updated:
http://www.teng.com/waterview/flash_...indextest.html

Chicago will have a greatly improved skyline in a few years.. Wow.

NYC gotta look out for Chicago's new skyline. This stuff is really impressive, and all the designs are world class. NYC can't wait too long with the freedom tower;)

wow thats huge!!

nice stuff going on in chicago... if only la were so tall... good designs just vertically challenged

OMG!!!! There are many 300++ towers about to rise in Chicago,wow!! That's jealous.

Shots from 4/14/06

Attaching the crane to raise drilling equipment out of a caisson hole - 2006-4-14
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/450593.jpg

Raising drilling equipment out of a caisson hole - 2006-4-14
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/450595.jpg

Precussion hammer dripping pulverized bedrock - 2006-4-14
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/450600.jpg

Pulverized bedrock falling out of the precussion hammer - 2006-4-14
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/450602.jpg

Workers removing crushed bedrock with shovels - 2006-4-14
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/450606.jpg

View to the northeast across the site - 2006-4-14
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/450608.jpg

This is an awesome tower:D:D

That percussion hammer looks cool. :)

Does anyone else notice the History Channel logo on the blue crane?

:cheers:

^Yep, it was actually discussed over at skyscraperpage.com. Here's the low down:
The History Channel did a series called "Super Tools" a few weeks back discussing, amongst other things, skyscraper construction equipment. One of the pieces of equipment profiled was a caisson drilling rig at the Trump site. The show was filmed over the summer when, presumably, the rig pictured now at the Waterview site was working at the Trump site. The History Channel probably gave them the logo as a souvenier.
One of the workers (Crazy Dave) painted that on the crane when it was working at the Trump site last year.

This is an awesome tower:D:D

Not only that ...this is an awesome city

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/450593.jpg
Umm...look at the size of that hook!!!

^^

:lol: that's like the biggest hook I've ever seen!!!

Workers there look tough and strong, really hard-working. :applause:

I wish they were making a documentary on such a beautiful tower. That would be fantastic. BTW is there anywhere in this forum to post videos of construction and engineering?

A few shots from April 19th

View to the northwest - 2006-4-19
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/452234.jpg

View from the 35th floor of the LaSalle-Wacker Building - 2006-4-19
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/452235.jpg

View to the southeast - 2006-4-19
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/452236.jpg

This is one of the best looking towers in years. I'm really fond of the classic design. Gives it some kind of instant heritage. Perfect balance between old and new. Height is pretty impressive too.

I actually like this building more than the Trump Tower because it looks so beautiful and classy. Comparing to the trump Tower, the Waterview Tower not only appears taller and slender, but the 4 sides also look different which makes the tower much more interesting.

This building looks fantastic !!

^^^^I can't agree with you more. This is awesome project.

loves it!

This tower is 100% pure quality, Trump Tower is too much oversized, it's defenitly an American;)

This tower is 100% pure quality, Trump Tower is too much oversized, it's defenitly an American;)
I agree with you. :)

THis is one of my favoutite towers, awsome stuff.

P.

A few shots from April 27, 2006

A rebar cage being lowered into a caisson hole - 2006-4-26
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/453891.jpg

Lowering a massive rebar cage into a caisson hole - 2006-4-26
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/453923.jpg

Overview of the site from the 10th floor of the Transportation Building - 2006-4-26
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/453911.jpg

A worker standing on one for the caisson drill bits - 2006-4-26
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/04/453925.jpg

About how many will there be?

Great update thanks for the pics! :)

stunning construction work updates, thanks.

About how many will there be?

Not really sure. They had to change the positioning of some of the caissons around and increase the number.

Here are some shots that I took of the site on Monday 5/8/06

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/05/456965.jpg

Workers assembling rebar cages
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/05/456971.jpg

Teeth on the bottom of the permanent caisson liner
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/05/456973.jpg

very close-up updates, thanks

:D, just fooling around:

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g32/zipzip727/1e68cafa.jpg

Any updates on this tower?

^^

last one is just 3 days old... :bash:

But you are from chicago, so make some yourself! :cheers:

I'll be out tomorrow taking shots. I'll take some update photos.

Thank you in advance

last one is just 3 days old... it is actually 10 days old :yes:

I really like the design of this tower it has some nice details to it. The fact that it is skinny in one direction makes it "look" a lot taller.

I Like it because he has no Spire. Then the height is genuinly.

A few shots from tuesday the 23rd

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/05/460139.jpg

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/05/460124.jpg

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/05/460135.jpg


And newer from May 26:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/Pandemonious/DSCF1830.jpg
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/Pandemonious/DSCF1831.jpg

The site looks really small for such a tall tower :)

this thing is marvilous! office apt or mix use?

i wish they could build somthing like this in la, too bad for the tremors.

good for you chicago!

<not everyone in the la forums wants to start bitch fest>

does anyone know if Pandemonious works in the IBM building, if so he has a clear view of both trump and waterview construction :runaway:

I think he lives in Marina City.

Love it. Seems like Chicago likes only boxy skyscrapers !

Nothing wrong with that.

wow! I love it. Thats what skyscrapers should look like

Small updated from Today


Waterview Tower
http://wilthe3rd.smugmug.com/photos/78149608-L.jpg

View to the southeast across the site - 2006-6-27
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/06/469371.jpg

View to the northeast across the site - 2006-6-27
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/06/469372.jpg

Removing pieces of rock and clay from a caisson hole
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/06/469374.jpg

A caisson rock can in the verticle position - 2006-6-27
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/06/469375.jpg

is it going to be a steel structure or a concrete structure?

View to the northeast across the site - 2006-6-27
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/06/469372.jpg

Love the look of this tower, and I did not think it would be so close to Marina City! God I love Chicago....

Is its pilling or foundation underway now??

The location is great and the tower is stunning:eek:

is it going to be a steel structure or a concrete structure?
Reinforced concrete, like Trump nearby.

Is its pilling or foundation underway now??
Still drilling caissons.

Love it. Seems like Chicago likes only boxy skyscrapers !

Nothing wrong with that.

I agree that there's nothing wrong with a well done box. However, this one doesn't really strike me as being boxy at all.

when is the date that the foundation work is going to be done by? they are takeing alot of time!!

I love this tower! I did not know about the 29th floor setback with a garden, which is really cool. I think more skyscrapers could use this.

Here are some pictures of the construction site that I took on July 7th. I believe that drilling will be done within the next several weeks, then the excavation will begin.

View to the southeast across the site
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/07/472487.jpg

Taking measurements as concrete is poured down a caisson hole
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/07/472499.jpg

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/07/472506.jpg

Two caisson holes along the eastern edge of the site
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/07/472503.jpg

Is it me, or is this the best looking 'skraper u/c in the US? Love it!!! :)

CAISSON CONSTRUCTION IS NOW COMPLETE

This is what I was told by a friend:

"Thatcher is coming back to drive some sheets and H-beams. Then excavating the core (inner cofferdam) > Mat > outer excavation."


I don't know what the timetable is, but things are moving along.

great updates, thank you

Also from SolarWind today - driving sheet pilings

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6103/p7250098rv5.jpg

thanx for the update..i love this tower

Going really slow, did they take a break or have they been working on it everyday?

A Tower without an Spire, i love it.

Going really slow, did they take a break or have they been working on it everyday?

chicago does not have the benefit of bedrock close to the surface (our entire downtown area sits on former marsh land), which means that for a project of any size, steel piles have to be driven deep into the ground or caissons have to be dug deep and filled with reinforced concrete. as the price of steel is quite high, caisson drilling is the preffered method, especially for the big towers, and to drill out all those holes and get 'em filled with the neccessary rebar and concrete is a process that takes many months. so while it may not look like much has been done on the site, the truth is that the construction crews have been working tirelessly to get those caissons deep into the ground. now that the caisson work has finished up, the site still needs to excavated for it's below grade levels. once they get the dirt out, and construct the basement levels, then we will finally start to see waterview tower rise up out of the ground.

if you remember with trump tower in chicago, it took them nearly a year of in-ground construction work before the tower actually began to rise. this is just the way it goes in chicgao. shitty soil and very deep bedrock means that they have to spend a good deal of time toiling around in the ground before they can start reaching for the sky.

Damn, it's good! :cool:

chicago does not have the benefit of bedrock close to the surface (our entire downtown area sits on former marsh land), which means that for a project of any size, steel piles have to be driven deep into the ground or caissons have to be dug deep and filled with reinforced concrete. as the price of steel is quite high, caisson drilling is the preffered method, especially for the big towers, and to drill out all those holes and get 'em filled with the neccessary rebar and concrete is a process that takes many moths. so while it may not look like much has been done on the site, the truth is that the construction crews have been working tirelessly to get those caissons deep into the ground. now that the caisson work has finished up, the site still needs to excavated for it's below grade levels. once they get the dirt out, and construct the basement levels, then we will finally start to see waterview tower rise up out of the ground.

if you remember with trump tower in chicago, it took them nearly a year of in-ground construction work before the tower actually began to rise. this is just the way it goes in chicgao. shitty soil and very deep bedrock means that they have to spend a good deal of time toiling around in the ground before they can start reaching for the sky.
great explanation! watching towers rise in Chicago can make one crazy

A pic from SolarWind today. The service crane is being dismantled now.
http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/8899/wvtof9.jpg

August 8th, 2006 - More pics from SolarWind. Excavation underway.

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/7480/wvt1jy2.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2308/wvt2vt2.jpg

August 8th, 2006 - More pics from SolarWind. Excavation underway.

http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/7480/wvt1jy2.jpg
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2308/wvt2vt2.jpg
finally.......its about time great updates,but i had a qeastion that hole they have digged is that the core of the building??

finally.......its about time great updates,but i had a qeastion that hole they have digged is that the core of the building??
i believe thats the basement, although i could be wrong.
btw thanks for the update, glad to see this tower is on the move

beautiful tower .

Great Updates, Thank you.

Maybe it's the Hole for the Core.

chicago does not have the benefit of bedrock close to the surface (our entire downtown area sits on former marsh land), which means that for a project of any size, steel piles have to be driven deep into the ground or caissons have to be dug deep and filled with reinforced concrete. as the price of steel is quite high, caisson drilling is the preffered method, especially for the big towers, and to drill out all those holes and get 'em filled with the neccessary rebar and concrete is a process that takes many months. so while it may not look like much has been done on the site, the truth is that the construction crews have been working tirelessly to get those caissons deep into the ground. now that the caisson work has finished up, the site still needs to excavated for it's below grade levels. once they get the dirt out, and construct the basement levels, then we will finally start to see waterview tower rise up out of the ground.

great explanation, thanks for taking the time for that.

gigitty gigitty gigitty :scouserd:


I'm just thinkin about how powerful chi-towns skyline is gonna be when these new supertalls are done. :eek2:

yes me too. i always hope that some new supertalls will come to Chicago in the near Future, maybe 2010.

^^There's two over 1000 under construction. Perhaps Fordham Spire eventually too. Then depending on your definition of supertall, there's plenty of 700-1000 ft buildings as well.

More from today

August 21, 2006

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/1913/p8210146mj3.jpg

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8315/p8210161sw3.jpg

^^
yea, I think what he mean was that Chicago skyline will finally add some new supertalls by 2010!
BTW, spyguy, thanks for updates! :cheers:

Great updates, thank you.

@Chicagoskyline: yes, that was it :)

Another update by SolarWind

September 1, 2006

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/6739/p9010212yj0.jpg

http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/7741/closelx5.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4260/p9010238yv5.jpg

that must be the core^^ thats a big core for a site that small

cool update, it's going forward :). yes megatower the core looks really a bit too big i think.

Always a weird thinking that someting extremely beautiful and tall can be built on such dirt. :)

all towers were built on dirt :). I've never seen an tower which stand on a carpet :D

all towers were built on dirt :). I've never seen an tower which stand on a carpet :D

I have seem lots of them building on sand...dubai?:)

Oh, yea, waterview tower's core seems a bit big for its body, but height is reasonable!

for me sand is also Dirt :)

BVictor got this awesome rendering of the base. It is not yet final, so it's just a possibility.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/4620/p1050071bf1.jpg

I just cant wait for this absolute cutting edge design tower!!

cool render

This tower is absoloutely amazing, its very upto date looks very sleek.

This tower is pure CLASS. It should age beautifully which cant be said for alot of towers going up worldwide.

Damn, that rendering is red hot.

chicago needs more such towers.

I JUST CANT WAIT, until this cool ass tower starts to RISE!!!!!!!!!!!!! does any body know for sure when it"s going to get out of the ground and start to rise????????

:) Buetiful chicago is the best city in the world :) :) :) :) :)

Butiful i post agin because i never saw that pic

:) Buetiful chicago is the best city in the world :) :) :) :) :)

after Dubai, chicago is also my Favourite City on the world.

Pic by BVictor from a couple days ago
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/09/489203.jpg

nice shot, looks that it will rise in the near future

Lastest pic from SSP:
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/92/p9290314ib4.jpg

nice shot, the concrete will come soon.

The pour that occured Saturday

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/10/492633.jpg
Concrete truck staging area on lower wacker drive durring the foundation mat pour - 2006-10-7

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/10/492634.jpg
Looking south into the site from Lower Wacker Drive - 2006-10-7

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/10/492636.jpg
Looking southwest into the site from Lower Wacker Drive - 2006-10-7

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/10/492638.jpg
Two of the hard working guys comming in at the crack of dawn on a saturday morning to help push this baby skyward.

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/10/492632.jpg
A concrete truck leaving the site on Lower Wacker Drive after dumping its load into the concrete pumps - 2006-10-7

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/10/492641.jpg
Looking down into the site on the day of the foundation mat pour. Viewed from the 10th floor adjacent parking garage inside 203 North LaSalle Street - 2006-10-7

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/10/492643.jpg
Workers pouring pumped concrete into the rebar cage for the foundation mat - 2006-10-7

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/10/492647.jpg
Two Ozinga concrete trucks dumping thier loads into the concrete pump, which is then sent to the foundation mat below through a hose attached to the green mechanical boom - 2006-10-7

great, the concrete is coming :okay:

I remember when this was just an open lot a little over a year ago. It's great to see some progress on this skyscraper. Between this and the Trump Tower is going to have a very nice impact on the Chicago skyline. If the Fordham Spire where to be added in to the mix it would have an even greater impact on the skyline... but we'll save that for later.

you're absolutely right Nicholas. we should hope chicago will get a lot new supertalls in the near future.

Even more from yesterday
October 13, 2006

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4402/pa130313zc2.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/8181/pa130368ic8.jpg

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/8373/pa130373jw9.jpg

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/5880/pa130369fi7.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/7112/pa130370hf0.jpg

Hopefully by about time when spring rolls around this project will be out of the ground and a couple of stories taller!

that looks great. maybe end of november it will be out of the ground :)

So any new construction pic's or news ?

20th

October 20, 2006

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/460/pa200061zb8.jpg

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9260/pa200063at0.jpg

Really great design.

I look forward to it rising.

Is this located oposite the Trump Tower?

I can't wait for this one either. between trump, waterview, and 300 N. LaSalle, the east-west branch of the Chicago River will be the most beautiful urban canyon in the world.

and no, waterview is two blocks west of the trump on the south side of the river.

^^ Cheers Dropdead.

Chicago could possibly be my first place to visit in the US

subterrain foundation looks so strong.

nice shot men:lock:

good progress

construction update http://www.teng.com/waterview/flash_full/Construction/indextest.html

Any up date's or news, i had a question about that base. how much sq ft is the building being built on?

Any up date's or news, i had a question about that base. how much sq ft is the building being built on?

October 24, 2006

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/3036/wvtdph0.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/4381/pa240133jm5.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/9272/pa240135rj6.jpg

As for the sq ft question, I have no idea.

thats small

As for the sq ft question, I have no idea.
thanks for the update. is that the hole core of the building?

thats small

All that you see is the core of the building...
That answers your question too Megatower.

nice towerhttp://wibiti.com/images/hpmain/234/109234.jpg

pretty nice update

@bertiboy

Amazing rendering you have there. It looks elegant and soaring. What a great addition to Chicago. I cant wait to take a trip there in a few years. I usually make it often seeming Im within like 3 hours of the city.

chicago in 30 years ^^

Thats true itll be even better.

shveet tower:)

nice towerhttp://wibiti.com/images/hpmain/234/109234.jpg i love this tower. to bad it can't be the tallest building in the world :lol: but when is the time when it's going to come out of the ground and rise!!!
does anybody have a date or time that thing's that are going to be done by?

i love this tower. to bad it can't be the tallest building in the world :lol: but when is the time when it's going to come out of the ground and rise!!!
does anybody have a date or time that thing's that are going to be done by?

I got this information about a month ago from someone I know at the site.

The core should be up to grade around the end of November. The perimeter should be up to Wacker around June 07.

completion is scheduled for 2009

I got this information about a month ago from someone I know at the site.

The core should be up to grade around the end of November. The perimeter should be up to Wacker around June 07.

completion is scheduled for 2009

omg!!! that long until it actual rises :ohno:

UPDATE!!!!! http://www.teng.com/waterview/flash_full/Construction/indextest.html

Sweet, no longer a big water pot hole couple weeks ago!:banana: :lol:

great site, thank you megatower!

omg!!! that long until it actual rises :ohno:

the site is very compact, and they can only get so much equipment there.

Any up date's or news, i had a question about that base. how much sq ft is the building being built on?

i contacted my source, and this is what I was told:

Overall footprint: ~23,000sf
Core footprint: ~4,100sf

What's funny is that you guys are saying how small the footprint is for this building, well the footprint for the Spire (400 North Lake Shore Drive) is smaller at 14,000 sq feet.

Chicago has the most impressive projects in NA from what i know. Awesome city.

Future view:

Looking up from Wacker Drive
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050621.jpg

View up the southeast corner
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050622.jpg


I was also told that sales were pretty good last month, didn't get an exact figure though.

doe's any body know what kind of tower crane's they are using for the tower's construction??

Sweeet, thanks for the updates.

any updates :)

any updates :)

Here are a few from Novembe 2nd

View of the site from the Transportation Building - 2006-11-2
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/497781.jpg

Workers removing one of the raker beams - 2006-11-2
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/497790.jpg

not long and it's over ground

update????:)

^A whole lot does not change in 5 days, especially at this stage in construction.

right

This one has taken forever to get out of the ground. When did it start...back in february? Anyway there must have been some complications with the driving and foundation work. Look how those crossbars are holding the walls or the core pit out. That is not normal construction, at least I haven't seen anything like it before.

UPDATE'S???

Alright, alright :)

So the tower crane is finally going up. You can see in these pics how small this site really is and how challenging it will be for them to build a 1000-footer next to all these adjacent structures.

Pics by Pandemonious



And another crane shoots up along the Chicago River:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/Pandemonious/cranerisingalongriver.jpg

That truck was delivering a piece as I was shooting:
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/Pandemonious/cranerisingalongriver2.jpg

Alright, alright :)

So the tower crane is finally going up. You can see in these pics how small this site really is and how challenging it will be for them to build a 1000-footer next to all these adjacent structures.

Pics by Pandemonious

Thanks for the update, i appreciate it. finally the tower crane is going up :cheers:

Thanks for all updates!

Man that couldn't be denser. The plots tiny compared to what the height of the bulding will be.

Indeed.

Okay, this is what I learned today,

The height of the building is now!!!!!!!!!


1,056'

I went to the sitr, you know to just take pictures and shit, to watch the installation of the tower crane, and I struck up a conversation with a Teng official yesterday and just did it again today (he knew about Emporis). Anyway, I was asking about the construction schedule, talking about the height; about the impact the building will make on the skyline and how most people don't even realize this yet. I mentioned the 1,047' height, and he kindly corrected me:yes:

I almost pissed myself. I had to ask him again, and he repeated himself with a slight grin and said "you didn't know that huh?, we went up a bit" I started jumping around flailing my arms, and almost smacked a passerby upside the head, which is funny in itself, because I ended up finding out we had a class together several years ago.

For those you you who think that Waterview Tower will catch Trump, I hate to crush your dreams, but it aint gonna happen. This comes from a highly reliable source.

The main structure itself won't be up to Wacker Drive until about May. Remember that they have more excavating to do around the core. They have to go down 4 floors, then they have to builld all that stuff back up.

The transfer floor on this one will be pretty massive also. Floor 28. The mat for the transfer will be bigger than it was for the core. Where as the core mat was 8' thick, the transfer floor will be between 8-10' thick.

I am going to try to confirm this new height from another contact that I have, but I wouldn't post it if I wasn't confident in it's truth.

Whatever else new I find out I will let you guys know.

very small footprint!!

it's a tall tower not a fat ^^

Here are a few shots from late Saturday afternoon.

View of the tower crane installation from Clark Street - 2006-11-11
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499282.jpg

Workers installing the tower crane - 2006-11-11
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499283.jpg

View of the site from the 10th floor of the Transportation Building - 2006-11-11
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499287.jpg

A few more shots from Sunday 11/12

View of the site and the installation of the tower crane from the 35th floor of the LaSalle-Wacker Building - 2006-11-12
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499549.jpg

Installing components to the tower crane as seen from the LaSalle-Wacker Building - 2006-11-12
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499553.jpg

View from the northeast into the core area - 2006-11-12
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499545.jpg

great update

A few more shots from Sunday 11/12

View of the site and the installation of the tower crane from the 35th floor of the LaSalle-Wacker Building - 2006-11-12
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499549.jpg

Installing components to the tower crane as seen from the LaSalle-Wacker Building - 2006-11-12
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499553.jpg

View from the northeast into the core area - 2006-11-12
https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499545.jpg
is it just me or is this site to small to accommodate a building this big

lol looks like its gunna be a really lanky tower

i wonder if there's going to be another tower crane, does any body know if there is going to be another tower crane at the site???

I highly doubt that there will be another tower crane on-site. One tower crane sitting in the central core seems to be a tight squeez; I couldn't imagine two cranes! I do agree that the site is rather small for a large skyscraper compaired to most sites I've seen.

Well, and questions currently about the height of this buildings now have been put to rest as far as I am concerned. Waterview Tower went back before the plan commission for a small increase in the FAR. The height of the building hasn't changed. They are planning to add 2 more hotel rooms per floor. After the meeting I asked about the views from the rooms, because that area faces the Transportation Building and The LaSalle Wacker. The reply was that Shangri;La officials figured if you can have a hotel room facing a blank wall in New York with no problems, why not here too? Or something to that affect. Afterwards, I became the proud owner the the presentation boards:) , which included a floor overview and nice rendering as you can see. They just gave me the boards, and I certainly appreciate that. Fuck, who are you kidding? I'm going to get these bitches framed when I get a chance.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050788.jpg

Yes, that dude from the Union was there to oppose the project. Commissioner Natarus asked him if he realized that the building was already under-cxonstruction and he said yes. It was pretty much a non-issue.

Here's the floor overview for Waterview Tower. Those of you who bought units can now find out how high you are actually living.

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050781.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050782.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050783.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050784.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050785.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l240/BVictor1/P1050786.jpg

I'm also sure that someone is going to comment that the diagram shows 88 floors. Well, if you count the mezzanine level 1M and the roof, then you get 90.

that's a nice pic ^^ there's a total of 4 mechanical floor's, 10 parking floor's, 17 hotel floor's, i have no idea what RA stands for maybe residences area ?, i may have skipped a residence but i got a total of 58 floor's of residence's

retail area possibly? I'm guessing for possibly a cafe or two.

retail area possibly? I'm guessing for possibly a cafe or two.
it could be a retail area, but i just notice something. at that area that's were that setback occurs. so RA can stand for residence area to. because that's only for the people who live in the tower. does anybody know what "28RA" mean ??

Resident Amenities?? My best guess.

It could be where the Resident Assistant lives.

here's a another pic of the tower crane installation http://www.teng.com/waterview/flash_full/Construction/indextest.html

https://extranet.emporis.com/files/transfer/6/2006/11/499287.jpg[/QUOTE]

can someone show me how and were they are going to put the elevator's in this little core. and were the stair's are going to be 2

maybe stairs arround the core?

^^ are you joking :lol:, if you look at floor plan's they aren't around the core.

here's a update http://www.teng.com/waterview/flash_full/Construction/indextest.html

^^ are you joking :lol:, if you look at floor plan's they aren't around the core.

yep, that was only a joke :D. don't know where the stairs are ^^

yep, that was only a joke :D. don't know where the stairs are ^^ lol, it's a good question were the stairs are going to be at ?

yes :)

I think this will be Chicago's most beautiful scraper ever. Does anyone else agree with me?

one of the most beautiful of course, but for me not the best. I like Sears Tower much more

I love this building I couldn't be any happier to have it on Chicago's soil! But, I'll have to agree with ZZ-11 I'm old school ...Sears Tower is number one in my book! Then followed by Trump Tower because it's the first building to excede over 1,000 feet in decades!

I think this will be Chicago's most beautiful scraper ever. Does anyone else agree with me?
i do, i wish they could make this tower the tallest in Chicago :lol:

You know, this building would look great at the WTC site in NYC too. Maybe they can replace WTC4 with this one.

one of the most beautiful of course, but for me not the best. I like Sears Tower much morei do, i wish they could make this tower the tallest in Chicago :lol:I love this building I couldn't be any happier to have it on Chicago's soil! But, I'll have to agree with ZZ-11 I'm old school ...Sears Tower is number one in my book! Then followed by Trump Tower because it's the first building to excede over 1,000 feet in decades!Tallest is not important for me. Waterview Tower is tall enough. Personally I think it's much better looking than the Sears Tower.

You know, this building would look great at the WTC site in NYC too. Maybe they can replace WTC4 with this one.
it would, but it would look 1000 times better in the burj Dubai site, like right across from the burj Dubai. or put it next to the burj lake hotel

no, that's not a building for dubai

no, that's not a building for dubai
what do you mean ????