COVER STORY
By Joe Nasvik
Management on the jobsite includes (left to right) Kevin McGrath—Assistant Concrete Superintendent, Rachael Dolecki—Concrete Safety Manager, Pete Vondra—Carpenter General Foreman, Max Levin—Concrete Project Manager, and Kevin Morley—Concrete Superintendent. Photo Credit: Joe Nasvik
Building the
VISTA TOWER
Placing and finishing one floor every day.
T
he Vista Tower construction includes a low-rise structure and three towers and is located alongside the Chicago River in the heart of downtown Chicago only a couple blocks away from Lake Michigan. The tallest tower will be 100 stories at 1,190 feet above ground, putting it in the Super-tall Category— defined by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat as any building whose height exceeds 984 feet. When finished it will be
Chicago’s third tallest building, behind Willis Tower at 1,450 feet and the Trump Tower at 1,388 feet. The construction is all structural concrete and represents the latest in engineering and construction technology. The vision to build Vista Towers began with discussions between Magellan Development and Jeannie Gang at Studio Gang Architecture. Then Ron Klemencic, the CEO of Magnusson Klemenscic Associates (MKA) based in Seattle, Washington was brought in to help make their concept structurally and economically viable. Klemencic involved McHugh Construction and others to bring together the latest
research and technology and up-todate construction practices. These lead companies have worked well together in the past. They include: • The Developer and owner: Magellan Development Group, Chicago, Ill. • Design: Gang Studios, Chicago • Architect of Record, bKL, Chicago • Structural Engineering: Magnusson Klemencic Associates, Seattle/Chicago • General Contractor: James McHugh Construction Company, Chicago
24 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2018 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete
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