Chicago’s loftiest tower crane has reached its full height. The long saga of 400 Lake Shore’s sixth and final tower crane jump has finally come to a safe conclusion. The last segments were lifted to the top of the tower and put in place Sunday February 1st, completing a task that began three weeks ago.
Courtesy of @CWettersten on X, taken Sunday night after the jump was completed.
Five fresh Liebherr sections were delivered to the site on January 10 and offloaded. But high winds (winds are considered unsafe when they get to 20 mph or stronger) kept the crew from summiting the crane, so they called it an early day. Sunday morning they were back at it, setting the final tie-in at the 66th floor. Once that was done, they were able to lift one section of the crane into place, with the last four segments scheduled for the weekend of the 17th.
The new kids, Saturday, January 10. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Saturday the 17th started sunny and cold. Windy too. The jumping crew was on site by 7:00 am to get started, knowing the wind was expected to pick up. And that it did. Everything was in place, and the first section was in the air, but you don’t play with wind. That section of the crane was set back down, and plans were scrapped yet again, with the hope of returning Sunday. However, Sunday was equally uncooperative, and no work could be performed.
Sunny Saturday morning, January 17. Photo by Daniel Schell
Four sections remained from the previous weekend’s work. Photo by Daniel Schell
One section in from January 12. None were added on this day, the 17th. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The final tie-in at the 66th floor, installed on the 11th. Photo by Daniel Schell
You may have noticed that it got really cold in Chicago. A tentative plan for Tuesday the 27th didn’t come to fruition. But ultimately, a window opened up on the first of this month. They were going to try it Saturday, but once again, wind. Sunday’s sunshine and 12mph winds gave them the opportunity they’d been looking for, and the last four segments of the crane were added without incident. Congrats to contractors LR Contracting, BOWA Construction, and Goebel Forming, and the Morrow crane crew.
This week’s schedule includes pouring concrete for the 70th floor of the 72-story, 635-unit apartment tower, which developer Related Midwest hopes to open to residents early next year. Though there are only a couple floors left to pour, the tower crane is expected to continue to do the heavy lifting into May before it’s taken down.
Big shoutout to Scott up in that tower crane for the these photos. This is his final gig; he’s retiring when the crane comes down from this site.
From Scott up in the tower crane. This was the one section lifted on the 17th, but then sent back down to earth.
Sunrise, January 17, 2026, from Scott up in the tower crane.
From Scott up in the crane
From Scott up in the crane
Photo by Daniel Schell
It works! Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The new rises above the old in Streeterville. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Dirty-window Brown Line view. Photo by Daniel Schell
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Thank you Scott . Incredible photos
Thank you Scott! Another skyline icon is almost complete.
Excellent photos Scott!! Total respect for your work.
And thanks to Daniel Schell for being out in the cold and getting some great overall perspective shots. I’m excited about seeing this building go up and its impact on our skyline.
Wow what a way to end a career with 400 LSD – Thank you Scott!
So cool! Should be topped out by mid March I would think.
Time to begin pressing Related on the second tower .
Let’s make it a supertall.
Great shots! Tower is looking to be an outstanding addition to the skyline.
Now, let’s make phase two taller, as per the initial design proposal.
the cries of a hundred thousand loop nimbys just erupted at that thought.
If you build it they will come, taller bigger we are tired of being the second city sky is the limit