http://www.saintjohnsmilw.org/expansion/news/art/view2.jpg

http://www.saintjohnsmilw.org/expansion/news/art/view1.jpg

Website: St. John's on The Lake (http://www.saintjohnsmilw.org/expansion/about/index.shtml)

88 unit expansion of current senior-living facility. Located on Prospect Ave on a bluff, overlooking Veterans Park and Lake Michigan on the east side.

Expected Completion: Mid-2011

Biz Times: St. John's completed bond sale, will break ground Oct. 15 (http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2009/9/29/saint-johns-completes-bond-sale-for-expansion-will-break-ground-oct-15)

Saint John's on the Lake, a senior apartment complex at 1840 N. Prospect Ave. on Milwaukee's east side, has successfully sold $83 million in tax free municipal bonds for its planned 21-story, 88-unit expansion project, spokesman Rick Romano told BizTimes Milwaukee today.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project will be held on Oct. 15, Romano said, the same day that the financing package will close.
The expansion will be one of the few large commercial real estate projects in southeastern Wisconsin to achieve financing in the past year.
"We think this is a pretty extraordinary accomplishment in a tough economic climate," Romano said. "We're very excited for ourselves, but also for the community. There are going to be 150 to 200 workers on this construction project."
Pewaukee-based VJS Construction Services is the general contractor for the project.
The tax free municipal bonds were made available through the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority.
Saint John's hired Ziegler Wealth Management, a division of B.C. Ziegler and Company, to handle the bond sale.
Saint John's executives decided to sell bonds for the project when they determined that was a better option for them than obtaining financing from a bank. Bank financing for major real estate developments has been extremely difficult to obtain since the U.S. financial market meltdown last year.
So far, about 75 percent of the 88 apartment units in the planned expansion have been reserved.
Construction for the expansion project is expected to be complete in mid-2011.

Is it 21 floors or 20 floors? The article and looking at the rendering say 21, however your title states 20.

The number of floors should put it in the 220' to 240' height range you think?

Why is senior housing tax exempt?!? BAH!! :bash:

Honest: perhaps not for much longer, at least in this case?

See the last article at the bottom of the page: http://www.milwaukeeworld.com/blog/2009_09_20_archive.html

I got the floor count from Emporis, so your guess is as good as mine. :)

I got the floor count from Emporis, so your guess is as good as mine. :)

It's 21. I'll correct it on Emporis soon.

beautiful expansion :) Is it just me or does this building remarkably resemble Park Lafayette? I think it's the same floor count and everything.

beautiful expansion :) Is it just me or does this building remarkably resemble Park Lafayette? I think it's the same floor count and everything.

It's just you I think.

http://www.pappageorgehaymes.com/images/properties/high-rise/ParkLafayette/image-2.jpg

I was the tower crane operator on the South tower of Park Lafayette. I'll be the operator on the tower crane at St John's also. The only similiarities I see in the two towers is the height and the brick exterior.

I've been waiting for well over a year for this project to start. They originally told me that I'd leave Lafayette early to start this one. I'm scheduled to start there Nov 1st on a hydraulic crane and the tower crane is tentatively scheduled for Dec. I'm ecstatic!

I was the tower crane operator on the South tower of Park Lafayette. I'll be the operator on the tower crane at St John's also. The only similiarities I see in the two towers is the height and the brick exterior.

I've been waiting for well over a year for this project to start. They originally told me that I'd leave Lafayette early to start this one. I'm scheduled to start there Nov 1st on a hydraulic crane and the tower crane is tentatively scheduled for Dec. I'm ecstatic!
That has to be an awesome job, well paying too!

That has to be an awesome job, well paying too!

Thanx Paule, it is an awesome job. And it pays pretty well, which will be nice since this last year has been really slow in construction. I love the work, a highrise keeps you super busy, with an occasional slow day. But it's nice being up there where you can see the city go to sleep and come to life.

^^ what kind of training and where do you get it to be a crane operator? I know there is a diesel training school off of US 151 between Sun Prairie and Columbus that offers a lot of different training for different machines. I drive an 18 wheeler and we had 2 weeks of boot camp for that, that was pretty scary I admit but now its a walk in the park.

Hi J, it's a fairly long process that starts with apprenticeship. I actually joined the Operating Engineers Union in FL in 1980 and then moved back North in 1989.

I started out as an apprentice oiler on cranes and learned from older journeymen. After that it's just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. I know some guys who worked with companies and got a shot at a tower crane without a lot of experience because the company liked their potential. Other guys just never get in the right place to get their first shot at being in the seat.

Our trade is very diverse with building construction, sewer and water, highway work, pipeline work, excavation and site work, etc. So it usually takes a lot of hard work and a bit of luck to end up with a tower crane. Two years ago, there was a shortage of trained tower crane operators. Right now there's a surplus, so I was very lucky to have worked with VJS in the past and they requested me back.

If anyone is ever interested in joining the Operating Engineers our apprenticeship is in Coloma, WI and covers the State of WI. But honestly, right now is not a good time to join because of the economy. Hopefully that will change soon.

BTW, the official groundbreaking was yesterday, Thurs, Oct 15th. I hope to be out there on a rough terrain crane around Nov 1st and the tower crane should go up in Dec.

Thats pretty neat! I'd love to see pictures of this building rise from your point of view. Would you be willing to take pictures of this as you go along?

Thats pretty neat! I'd love to see pictures of this building rise from your point of view. Would you be willing to take pictures of this as you go along?


Sure, I'll take pictures. I usually do. I have some from Park Lafayette. If anyone would like a copy send me a PM and I'll email them to you.

BTW, they have broke ground. I think the rain has slowed the dirtwork a bit. As soon as they get enough done, I'll be out there on a rough terrain crane to pour the foundation and the tower crane is scheduled to go up in Dec but it may be Jan if the rain slowed them too much.

Sure, I'll take pictures. I usually do. I have some from Park Lafayette. If anyone would like a copy send me a PM and I'll email them to you.
I'll do that but I'll wait until you get way up there in height. :)

Welcome to the forums cargue. Pretty sweet we have a guy on the inside.

Welcome to the forums cargue. Pretty sweet we have a guy on the inside.

Thanx EastSider, I got the call today (Fri 11/6) that I start there Monday on a 90 ton rough terrain crane. The tower crane should be up within 4-6 weeks. I'm jacked!

The number of floors should put it in the 220' to 240' height range you think?
Does anybody know what the height is supposed to be?

Does anybody know what the height is supposed to be?

I asked the Field Supt today and he said it will be right at 250'.

Ah, great, thanks cargue!

The job's coming along, we're pouring a 6' deep base for the elevator cores etc. tomorrow (Wed, Dec 2). It'll be a 1200 yard pour. I worked an 8 story with this company 3 years ago. This field Supt is probably the best that I've worked with in 29 years of construction. The building will go well.

Thanks for the update. Pretty sweet we have someone giving us the scoop.

You're welcome, EastSider. I found this site by accident while googling for info on Milwaukee construction and I like it! Right now, the job is all foundation, columns and walls. My tower crane will go up sometime in January and then I'll post some pics of the crane erection and the site.

You're welcome, EastSider. I found this site by accident while googling for info on Milwaukee construction and I like it! Right now, the job is all foundation, columns and walls. My tower crane will go up sometime in January and then I'll post some pics of the crane erection and the site.

Everything looks good. I live right across the street and see the progress being made each day.... Keep warm though, it's going to be cold these next few days!

Everything looks good. I live right across the street and see the progress being made each day.... Keep warm though, it's going to be cold these next few days!

Thanx Mike. They actually knocked off Wed and Thurs. Wed for snow and today because of the wind chills. I'm lucky to have a good heater in my crane but I wouldn't want to be one of the tradesmen stuck outside in this weather.

hey carque, are these Manitowoc Cranes?

hey carque, are these Manitowoc Cranes?

Hi J, no not Manitowoc. We're currently using two Grove rough terrain cranes. A 75 ton and a 90 ton. Sometime in January they'll put up the tower crane, a 550 Liebherr: http://www.morrow.com/PDF/LIEBHERR%20Tower%20Cranes/550%20HC%2020.pdf
Then they'll ship one of the RT's out and use the other for most of the winter.

The first crane I ever ran was a Manitowoc and I love the old ones. The newer models are still nice machines but they're making all of the newer cranes idiot-proof and they aren't as much fun to run. Maybe I'm just getting old :nuts:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4219761667_917a0d2aca.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/davereid/4219761667/)

Finally a picture! lol thanks! I suppose there isnt much to take pictures of yet. :)

Hi Twoaday, I'm currently running the crane on the left. They set the base for my tower crane yesterday and poured the concrete around it today. We're scheduled to erect the tower crane next Thurs (the 7th). I'll post pics of the erection, and from the cab when it's up.

New Interior Shots:

Art Gallery
http://www.saintjohnsmilw.org/expansion/news/art/art2.jpg

Bistro
http://www.saintjohnsmilw.org/expansion/news/art/bistro2.jpg

Press Release:
Chicago, IL (December 3, 2009) The Chicago office of international design and
architecture firm Perkins Eastman joined Saint John’s On the Lake to celebrate the
groundbreaking of a new independent living building for seniors in Milwaukee, WI.
The new 21-story, 88-unit tower designed by Perkins Eastman will energize
Milwaukee’s Prospect Avenue at the street level and offer an exciting new option in
high-rise senior living. The $46M project is expected to be complete and ready for
occupancy by mid 2011.
More than 75% of the 88 new residences have been reserved, despite a challenging
economic climate—a testament to the project’s design and many market-responsive
features. The building will offer a hospitality branded street-side café, art gallery, spa
and wellness center, classroom and community performance space—all with easy
access for future and existing residents, along with access for the community to create
an intergenerational environment. Another primary focus of the project is enhancing
staff and resident quality of life through sustainable building design, with LEED-NC
Certification or equivalence as a goal.
“During a period of tight financial markets and a national housing slump, the owner
of Saint John’s formed a multi-disciplinary team and was able to deliver an inspiring,
thoughtful, and pragmatic plan to create an innovative, healthier, greener urban
residence for aging adults in Milwaukee,” said Jerry Walleck, AIA, managing principal
of Perkins Eastman’s Chicago office. “We were honored to be a part of the process.”
“Perkins Eastman worked closely with our team to achieve our vision,” said Kathie
Eilers, President of Saint John’s On The Lake. “They truly have the ability to translate
an idea for a lifestyle into physical spaces that really excite the market.”

Hi All, We assembled the tower crane today (Wed 1-13-10) we'll reeve the hoist block and trolley lines tomorrow. The crane won't go into service until Friday after they've backfilled more around the base.

Here is a link to some pics, I hope it works: http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/

Hi All, We assembled the tower crane today (Wed 1-13-10) we'll reeve the hoist block and trolley lines tomorrow. The crane won't go into service until Friday after they've backfilled more around the base.

Here is a link to some pics, I hope it works: http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/

Thanks for the photos!! I saw the beginnings of it last week Thursday from my building... How much did that snow fall affect you guys? Do you just brush off the equipment and continue on?

Thanks for the photos!! I saw the beginnings of it last week Thursday from my building... How much did that snow fall affect you guys? Do you just brush off the equipment and continue on?

It slows things down a little, but they keep the carpenters and ironworkers going while the laborers clean things up. As the job goes on, you'll notice red blankets on the deck before a snow. They're made for snow on construction sites. They have belts sewn in with loops at the four corners so I can pick the blanket up with the crane, snow and all, take it off to the side, set it down and pick it back up by one side and dump the snow. It saves them a lot of time shoveling.

You're more of a man than me cargue. I don't know if I'd be able to work in a little compartment like that while basically sitting on a pole 250' up in the air.

Here is a link to some pics, I hope it works: http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/

Such an amazing view. I've been a member of this site for quite a while now and never have I seen or read such a perspective. Thank you. Any chance you'll have the opportunity to photograph the skyline from your cab?

It's pretty interesting that they will have a cafe that is open to the public as well on the prospect side. Not only does that make me happy b/c that will help build on pedestrian and other activity in the area, but I'm in the eldercare industry and find it fascinating that an Independant living (well continuum of care community, since they also have assisted living and a nursing home) community would have a place where residents can interact and be in the presence of other age ranges right in their own building.

That is also especially neat for the public because the dining experiences in many of these communities can be on par with many fine restaraunts!

You're more of a man than me cargue. I don't know if I'd be able to work in a little compartment like that while basically sitting on a pole 250' up in the air.

Naw, not at all. The first time that I went up in one of these things I was shaking like a leaf. My older brother ran them and I would go up to see him and get experience. Being that high isn't a natural thing so it takes some getting used to. It would be like your great grandfather getting in a car at 80mph.

I really love the work. There are so many positives to it that I can't relay them all. And after you've sat in the seat for a little while and climb all over them, you lose the fear.

Mark thanx for the compliment. I took a pic of the sun coming up over Lake MI this morning. It was like the big red rubber ball. I left my camera in the crane and I won't start actually running it until Friday. But I'll get more pics of the job and the skyline and post them early next week.

Is your crane one of the "climbing" models? Or, is the height of it right now going to be the height of the building?

Is your crane one of the "climbing" models? Or, is the height of it right now going to be the height of the building?

Yes, it's a top climber. It's at 200 ft right now and somewhere around June, we'll tie into the building and add about 120-140 ft. I've been told how many sections, but I don't remember.

Hi Everyone,
I posted some new pics to Photobucket. Pics of the guys reeving my hoist cable, sunrise over Lake MI, the first section of deck, me pouring concrete (look closely and you'll see the two guys on the wall pouring concrete) a pic of Park Lafayette which I was on last year, and a dark pic of Milwaukee at night. I just figured out tonight how to get on to my nightime setting for my camera so I'll get better pics at night. BTW, I had a helluva view of the big fire this morning but was too busy swinging to get pics.

http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/?start=all

Hi Everyone,
I posted some new pics to Photobucket. Pics of the guys reeving my hoist cable, sunrise over Lake MI, the first section of deck, me pouring concrete (look closely and you'll see the two guys on the wall pouring concrete) a pic of Park Lafayette which I was on last year, and a dark pic of Milwaukee at night. I just figured out tonight how to get on to my nightime setting for my camera so I'll get better pics at night. BTW, I had a helluva view of the big fire this morning but was too busy swinging to get pics.

http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/?start=all

What an incredibly sad event to personally witness from such a unique perspective. I've had friends in Columbia, South Carolina, Missoula, Montana, Minneapolis, Minnesota, San Luis Obispo, California, Green Bay, Wisconsin and Seattle, Washington all call / text me to express their sadness with regard to this tragic loss. Pizza Man is *was* quintessential East Side Milwaukee and its destruction is nothing less than calamitous. Such a baneful event is almost vindictive in its aftermath.

Awesome picks cargue. Keep 'em coming.

Just out of curiousity, any idea when this thing will start rising above ground?

Just out of curiousity, any idea when this thing will start rising above ground?

Sounds like sometime around June, when they start adding height to the crane...

Yes, it's a top climber. It's at 200 ft right now and somewhere around June, we'll tie into the building and add about 120-140 ft. I've been told how many sections, but I don't remember.

But I'm guessing likely sooner than that, so there's something to tie in to.

Just out of curiousity, any idea when this thing will start rising above ground?

It won't be long now. The slow part is all the excavating, forming and pouring the outer walls, and then stoning the bottom to grade. I would guess that within 4-6 weeks we'll have the first two floors done. Then the tower is less square footage and all the forms, etc are typical so they plan to pour a floor per week.

By June when I jack we should be up about 12-14 floors.

And it was a sad sight to see the Pizza Man place go up in flames. They still have the area shut off from traffic. I think they want to finish the fire investigation and then knock the walls down so they don't fall into the street.

We made the first deck pour today. We poured app. 1/3 of the first deck. They'll finish that one, pour the 2nd floor and then it will shrink in for the tower. Here are pics of the pour and two firemen who came up on my crane today just to check out what they would need to do in case of an emergency on the job.
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/110_2022.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/110_2025.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/110_2023.jpg

^great photos! Thanks for posting.

Great photos, great updates! Thanks Carque! I hope you work on all the high rise projects from here on out! :-)

Sweet photos, this is great to have an inside view and explanation. Thanks!

The St. John's On The Lake project is featured in the January 2010 issue of Building Design & Construction.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11895047@N03/4306292559/

Makes me dizzy just looking at those photos!! You've got guts lol :nuts:

Such an awesome perspective to have you on the forum!!

Great photos, great updates! Thanks Carque! I hope you work on all the high rise projects from here on out! :-)

Thanx, me too! LOL!

Hi Everyone,

They finished pouring the 2nd deck of parking today. The 3rd is 1/3 finished and I set some column steel on that piece for the actual tower today.

I would have pictures but some fool climbed the 300' to my cab and stole my binoculars and camera two days ago! So now the cab is locked at the hatch. They can climb the 200' but it will be for naught.

I've had other people come up after hours and check out my cab before. One even left evidence of sex and a beer can at Park Lafayette, but in 30 yrs no one has ever stolen or damaged anything before now.

I'll get a new camera soon and post pics.

Wow. Somebody climbed up into your crane? Dear lord, you'd think that would be a pretty safe place to leave somethings..

Wow. Somebody climbed up into your crane? Dear lord, you'd think that would be a pretty safe place to leave somethings..

Yeah and there's a fence with a locked gate. But it's a college area so I should have known better. In Madison they usually build a plywood barrier around them to keep the college kids from climbing them at night.

...
I've had other people come up after hours and check out my cab before. One even left evidence of sex and a beer can at Park Lafayette
....


That's freakin' brilliant! I never would have thought that was even remotely common for people to do that, but now that you say that, it sounds like it would be quite the thrill.

*ponders the logistics of climbing a crane with a camera :lol:

That's freakin' brilliant! I never would have thought that was even remotely common for people to do that, but now that you say that, it sounds like it would be quite the thrill.

*ponders the logistics of climbing a crane with a camera :lol:

Haha, I am now planning my next date with the GF... it will be someplace with a nice view of the lake and skyline. ;)
:nuts:

If only I had a head for that kind of heights. :(

St. John on the Lake will be the 17th tallest building in Milwaukee slightly edging out Regency House, built back in 1969, in height by only one foot.

Any new photos on the progress?

Any new photos on the progress?

Sorry, I dont have any pictures, but I drove past the site today and it was making sure progress. Id say its about 30 feet above ground, with a 20 foot floor and a ten foot one above that. Its going to be a little bigger than i thought in terms of width and depth too. Hopefully now that the foundation is done it will grow even faster.

I snapped a picture with my phone a few days ago of the progress on St. Johns. It's really starting to get some height on it.

Too bad we haven't heard from Cargue! Was really looking forward to his pictures. (well, hopefully he got a new camera and it's safe!)

Too bad we haven't heard from Cargue! Was really looking forward to his pictures. (well, hopefully he got a new camera and it's safe!)
Well there yah go, once you get your camera stolen that pretty much puts an end to pics.

Yeah... just like MilwaukeeMark... :-/

My car almost go stolen @ Prospect & Kane last night. That would've put an end to my job. Lol

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4033/4540715179_9c73c5e540_o.jpg

Took this with my phone on April 21st... It's already added several levels since then. I'll try and grab another pic tonight. Sorry for the quality, my point and shoot got some beer poured on it...:nuts:

Another phone picture.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4580695090_8b8cf5490c_o.jpg

Thanks for the update Mike. Btw, that's a very clear picture for a phone!

Thanks for the update Mike. Btw, that's a very clear picture for a phone!

It's a $30 Samsung touchscreen... Who say's you need an Iphone.. Except mine doesn't have a flash or zoom so you're pretty much SOL if it's a little dark out...

Also snapped a shot of the building with the phone. This is progress as of Friday (5-14) afternoon.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/2010-05-14132809.jpg

Also snapped a shot of the building with the phone. This is progress as of Friday (5-14) afternoon.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/2010-05-14132809.jpg

It's pretty crazy how fast they can build these buildings. It looks like they're building about a floor a week! Can't wait until it TO's! :cheers1:

Floor a week sounds about right. Looks like the facade is going up. (?) This was in today's fog:





http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/1-1.jpg





Which also made for at least one neato shot when the sun started going down. (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=57364987#post57364987)

Floor a week sounds about right. Looks like the facade is going up.

So is it about 10 stories tall now?

I took a look at the tower from the lakefront and its around the 16th or 17th floor. Also some exterior facade is now up on the lakefront side up to the 8th or 9th floor. I think they are probably going to top off the building by this fall.

I took a look at the tower from the lakefront and its around the 16th or 17th floor. Also some exterior facade is now up on the lakefront side up to the 8th or 9th floor. I think they are probably going to top off the building by this fall.

Cool. Thank you.

Once again I snapped a picture of the progress from Royall Pl during one of my shifts. The pic quality isn't great, but my phone doesn't do night shots too well. Nevertheless, you can count the floors so this should give you some idea.

This is about 10pm last night (july 8th)

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/2010-07-08205848.jpg

this tower provides a great filler when going east on brady street.

The tower is really getting tall now! Wish I had a working camera right now to show you. Anyone have a chance to get down there?

The tower is really getting tall now! Wish I had a working camera right now to show you. Anyone have a chance to get down there?

Un?less someone beats me to it I'll upload a pic this afternoon

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/2010-07-23185333.jpg

Gloomy day but you get the point. Wanted a shot from Brady Street but the festival was going on and I did not want to park the car a ways a way and walk. That would be the best in-fill shot looking east from Brady. I think there are 3-4 more floors to add and it will be topped off. Now if we could get the Transerra project built this view would look even more amazing.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC03108.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC03109.jpg

Hi Guys and Gals,
Sorry I've been AWOL. Life's been really nuts with working O.T. and I have a startup new country band so my life has been hectic.
The job is going really well. No injuries that I'm aware of and we've been pouring a floor per week. Two weeks ago we poured Mon and Fri since the rain messed up our schedule and they wanted to get back on track. We normally pour Thursdays.
If you look at the recent pics you'll notice that the top two floors look different. They're tables: forms that are premade that we fly into place all around the outside then fill the middle with Peri skydeck forms which are a european forming system with props and pans. I use a large fork that looks similiar to a tuning fork to move the tables. I swing in and pick up the table. Then they raise the legs and I slide it out and bring it up top. Then they drop the legs back down and I set it in place.
We normally fly a few tables around mid-afternoon on Thurs and the rest mid-morning on Friday. I'll try to get a few pics.
I set precast on Saturdays which makes a nice slow day. We normally set 8-9 pieces and I have a nice break and hold it while they weld it in place. The smaller precast panels weigh about 9000# and the larger ones are 22000#.
We'll pour the 21st floor on Thursday, then the roof the following Thurs. (weather providing). After that they'll put a structural steel machinery room on top and I'll spend some time swinging all the forms and materials to the ground. Then they'll have to sort and stack them, band them up and ship them out. I'll also have roofers coming in for a few days and after that I'll be setting precast during the week. I expect the crane to finish around November. BTW. we've jacked my crane and I now have 320' of tower with 20' of it below ground level so I'm 300' above the ground. I have 208' of workin jib and the crane will lift 44000# in close and 18000# at the tip.

Driving east on Brady.....You can see the top floor difference as Carque explains in his post. Sorry for the gray pics but it was overcast and I was driving into the morning sun.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC03114.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC03112.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC03113.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC03116.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a232/boatnurd/DSC03119.jpg

^^ COOL!

thanks for the lowdown...or....highup, whichever works, Carque!

thanks for the pics boatnurd!

Hi Again,
We poured the 21st floor deck, walls and colums today. Only concrete left is the roof next week. I posted some pics of the flying form tables, the fork we use to move them etc. They're on photobucket at this URL:
http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/

So why would they do the top two floors differently then the rest? Is there a benefit to the precast sections? If so, why not do the whole thing that way?

So why would they do the top two floors differently then the rest? Is there a benefit to the precast sections? If so, why not do the whole thing that way?

The top two floors aren't really done differently, it's just that the top two floors still have the form tables in them. They fly the 2nd highest floors tables up to the top and then put post shores in the spot they came out of to support the deck until it's fully cured. So the tables on the top 2 floors keep leap-frogging each other and get replaced by post shores. You will normally see tables on the top 2 floors and post shores 3 or 4 floors down until the concrete has cured for a few weeks and then they pull the post shores out and let the interior work begin on that floor.

This pic shows a table being flown into place. You will notice that the interior pan decking is already in place. (That only takes a couple of hours to install) The two guys by the table are helping to guide it into place and it will set right up against the interior decking that's already in place. Then it all gets tied together with strips of plywood, the rebar, electrical and plumbing go on top and then they pour it.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/0812101527-00.jpg

Also, none of the deck is precast, it's all poured into place. The advantage of the tables is that 1) It's quicker and 2) it allows them to leave a cantilevered section around the outside edge so the workers have a way of walking around the wet concrete. You'll see in that photo that the concrete deck doesn't come out on the edge as far as the tables do.

There is a good deal of precast panels that get placed as outside skin. For whatever reason, there is no precast on the south side, it's mainly on the West and North sides of the building. I have been setting that on Saturdays and will for the next 2 or 3 weeks. Once the concrete crew is finished with the crane I will set that during the week for 6 or 7 days then the precast will be finished.
We still have to pour the roof (22nd deck) and then a structural steel penthouse will go on top. I'll have to hoist the roofers material, the HVAC supplies and get all the tables, etc. down. So I expect the crane to come down around November.

I'll attach more pics. The first pic shows the deck. You'll see the gaps between the tables that they fill in with plywood as well as the gaps between the tables and pan decking. It also shows one of the sheer wall forms. The red iron is the form system for the wall. There are 3 concrete sheer walls and an elevator core on each deck and they all have a hydraulic jacking system to save crane time.
The 2nd pic is one of the precast concrete panels that I set on the outside as skin or siding.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/0812101541-00-1.jpg
http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p203/cargue/St%20Johns/0814101149-00.jpg

Ah, I get it now! Thanks!

We pour the roof tomorrow! (Friday 8/20/10) The elevator core will need one more lift and there will be a structural steel penthouse/machinery room on the top deck.

i was kayaking up in milwaukee yesterday and this tower has a big impact on the east side skyline when seen from out on the lake. i didn't have my camera with me, so no pics unfortunately, but it did appear bigger than i was expecting it to be.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/197f8019.jpg


Taken about five minutes ago

We finished setting the precast yesterday and today we started setting the structural steel for the penthouse/machinery room.

Any updates for those of us who are out of town? Have they sealed the building? Just working on interiors?

Any updates for those of us who are out of town? Have they sealed the building? Just working on interiors?

I'll get a picture soon. The exterior is nearly finished. Only the top of the building is incomplete. I drive past the site many, many times per week and the lower floors are often lit-up, presumably with interior work. I was driving back to riverwst from bayview over the Hoan on Friday night and this building adds some excellent-looking, dense infill on the gold coast.

Zzzzing



http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/2011-02-07_14-52-14_406.jpg

Nice, thanks D-Res!

Thanks for posting the pic, I'm not in the area anymore. That blank wall is disappointing, does it look better from different views?

I'll find an opportunity to shoot from other angles. It's not as disappointing as the blank, silver wall of the University Club tower. I thought from the original renderings that the exterior facade and the 'crown' were to be white, yet the 'crown' and the curved part that extends down the rear (west) face of the building remain an ugly silver color. I'll try and get a picture of that as well in the near future.

Here are two new views from the lakefront of the new St. John's on the Lake South Tower on Flickr.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5530849748_6fd591535d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/31383495@N04/5530849748/)
St. John on the Lake South Tower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/31383495@N04/5530849748/) by Milwaukee My Home Town (http://www.flickr.com/people/31383495@N04/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5530844486_c450879e97_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/31383495@N04/5530844486/)
St. John on the Lake South Tower (http://www.flickr.com/photos/31383495@N04/5530844486/) by Milwaukee My Home Town (http://www.flickr.com/people/31383495@N04/), on Flickr

That looks great! Can you get a longer view, please?

Why South Tower? There's only going to be one.

Thanks!

Why South Tower? There's only going to be one.


south tower because St. Johns is originally in the older mid-rise in the next lot to the north of this one.

Looks Good. Yes -- it would be nice to see a shot from further out to see how this blends in with all of the other lakefront condo buildings.

Looks Good. Yes -- it would be nice to see a shot from further out to see how this blends in with all of the other lakefront condo buildings.

It looks great. I don't know why I didn't grab a shot while I was out there, but I was twice on the bridge from Mason St curving down to Lincoln Memorial, and it added some nice depth!

here's two shots of St John's street-frontage. Quality's not so great as I was driving. (don't hate ajknee ;) )

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/2011-03-18_14-49-56_146.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/2011-03-18_14-49-42_981.jpg

I like the base. A lot different than anything else on Prospect.

since the boards are a little slower than usual.. today, via cell phone in a parked car.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f214/dresphotos/1307312315886.jpg

:)

According to the site's website, the tower is now open. exciting!