Three concrete cores and two levels’ worth of steel mark progress on the residential development at 227 West Chicago Avenue in River North. Corrugated metal has been added to begin the third floor atop most of the ironwork as the structure heads toward its ultimate 10-story finish. There was also some sub-grade activity near the southeast edge of the parcel when we visited the site last week.
The steel superstructure is one of the deciding factors in this project not utilizing a tower crane. Had this been concrete construction at this height, one my have been required. Instead, there’s a Tadano ATF130G-5 all-terrain rig from GF Crane on site to do the heavy lifting.
Rendering of 227 West Chicago by Jonathan Splitt Architects
The cores at left are the elevator (far left) and a stairway next to it, with a stairway at the center of the image. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The three cores, seen from the inbound platform of the Chicago L stop. Photo by Daniel Schell
Two levels of ironwork from the outbound side of the L platform. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Noah Properties got permits to install caissons and build the full structure in September of last year. Designed by Jonathan Splitt Architects, the building will include 56 rental apartments with street-level retail space and a 22-car garage. Site prep began in October, with caisson work getting underway in November. Foundation work started early in January of this year, with construction going vertical on the two stairway cores and the elevator shaft before winter was over.
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking north from the alley. Photo by Daniel Schell
From the alley. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Located on the southeast corner of Chicago Avenue and North Franklin Street and nestled beneath the Chicago Brown/Purple Line elevated platform, the site saw its previous single-story commercial building demolished in 2020 in anticipation of a nine-story office building, but that plan fizzled out. Noah Properties bought the empty lot, then unveiled their plans for it last spring.
Rendering of 227 West Chicago by Jonathan Splitt Architects
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Looking south across Chicago Avenue. Photo by Daniel Schell
The second floor. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
The third floor. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
An estimated completion date has not been announced, but we would expect to see the first tenants move into available units in 2027.
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I always wonder how the decisions are made in Chicago whether to build with reinforced concrete or a steel skeleton. If I had made a guess on this building, for example, I would have said reinforced concrete. No large spaces needed that steel columns usually provide. Also, residential almost always seems to be concrete. Maybe it has to do with the price of steel at the point of a job starting?
I know this is not the project announcement post but it’s simply ridiculous to have a 22 garage in an apartment building you can touch from the adjacent El platform