Work began Wednesday to take the tower crane down from the 400 Lake Shore North Tower at the mouth of the Chicago River in Streeterville. Morrow Equipment, who have been on site for each crane jump as well as the full assembly, got started early Wednesday morning, removing some of the counterweights before removing the first section of Liebherr 420 EC-H 16 and lowering it to the ground.
Looking from The Loop at Wells Street at 3:15pm. the crane had dipped beneath the top of the 72-story residential tower. It is expected to take over a week to finish taking the crane down, and that’s if the wind doesn’t hinder the task.
Sun and moon in their eyes as a crew takes down the tower crane. Photo by Daniel Schell
400 Lake Shore’s tower crane has been on the job at 462 East North Water Street since May 2024. General contractor L.R. Contracting and concrete contractor Goebel Forming poured the 72nd floor back in February, with topping out celebrated in mid-April, but they continued to utilize the crane to complete glass installation through the top of the crown. Had Chicago’s windy weather not intervened, that work would have been completed during the first week of June.
Related Midwest’s 635-unit apartment building is expected to open early in 2027, with pre-leasing anticipated this summer. Work on creating DuSable Park just across Lake Shore Drive is also part of this phase of construction, but work has yet to begin there. And some time in the next one to two years, we all hope to see construction begin on the 465-unit South Tower. The towers are designed by the Chicago Office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill with David Childs; Stantec is the architect of record.
I was in the right place at the right time Wednesday morning to watch that first section come down, but not because of luck or coincidence. I was there because Scott up in the tower crane let me know that they were getting started today. As I told you a few months ago, this is Scott’s final gig before he rides off into the sunset, and into retirement. It’s been a pleasure watching you and the crew do what you do, Scott. I trust you’ll thoroughly enjoy retirement, even though you’ll probably miss that view 900 feet above Chicago.
This is what I saw Wednesday:
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Morrow Equipment on site. Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
Photo by Daniel Schell
From Wacker and Wells at about 3:15pm. The crane was below the top of the tower at this point in the day. Photo by Daniel Schell
From the north shore of Ogden Slip, looking at the “back” of the tower. Photo by Daniel Schell
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Wow! Fantastic photos! Thank you!
Great photos, Daniel. And enjoy retirement Scott! This building is an awesome addition to the skyline, looking forward to the 2nd tower.
Great pics! But, the building itself looked better in the renderings. Has an 80’s office look to it.
Amazing work Daniel! Thanks for documenting all of this.
I was nervous how this would look irl but it’s turning out pretty great!
Happy retirement, Scott! I am sure it’s well deserved.