Chicago skyline now has 33 active tower cranes

When Fourth of July weekend hits, it means that it’s officially summertime in Chicago. And summer is also the season when developers and construction crews are working as quickly as possible to erect major tower projects around the city. The rate of high-rise construction has increased over the last several years, and as of April, Chicago had over 50 such projects underway.

Last November, Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that Chicago had witnessed a post-recession record number of active tower cranes with 29 such cranes operating during the time of the announcement. The pace has continued well into 2017, and as of today, Chicago has 33 active tower cranes at various construction sites around the city.

Blogger Daniel Schell of Building Up Chicago has been keeping tabs on tower crane activity over the last several months and has cataloged where they have been erected and where they have been eventually removed. For much of May and June, Schell counted 32 active cranes. However, as of Monday, the number increased by one. The city’s most recent tower crane, which will be tasked with helping to build 1326 South Michigan, has become the 33rd active construction crane in Chicago.

While the bulk of the city’s active construction cranes are focused around the downtown area, the South Side neighborhood of Hyde Park has also benefitted from the city’s high-rise construction boom. It’s also worth noting that the quality of designs heading to Hyde Park is just as grand as the height of the buildings. For instance, Studio Gang has been busy working on projects for the neighborhood over the last several years, some of which include a completed dormitory complex for the University of Chicago, a 15-story mixed use development on Harper Avenue, and an upcoming 26-story residential tower dubbed Solstice on the Park.

The South Loop is also a major beneficiary of the tower boom, as skyscrapers designed by Helmut Jahn, Rafael Viñoly, SCB, HPA, and Perkins + Will are all on the way.

• 1326 South Michigan erects Chicago’s 33rd tower crane [Building Up Chicago]
• Chicago witnessing more residential tower construction than any other US city [Curbed Chicago]
• Chicago witnesses post-recession record of construction permits, operating tower cranes [Curbed Chicago]
• Chicago's 52 high-rises under construction, mapped [Curbed Chicago]