Amway Grand Plaza Facelift

[mpchicago]

On 8/9/2019 at 9:16 AM, joeDowntown said:

I've noticed workers on the Monroe side (Pantlind building) of the Amway Grand. Passing by today, it looks like they are building a large patio / indoor space(?) on both sides of the main entrance (second floor) that would be accessible from the mezzanine of the old lobby. It looks pretty cool. Anyone have any details? 

Joe  - Answer to your question.  New bar called  IDC   https://www.idontcaregr.com/

https://www.grbj.com/articles/94559-balcony-bar-opens-downtown

[joeDowntown]

1 hour ago, mpchicago said:

Joe  - Answer to your question.  New bar called  IDC   https://www.idontcaregr.com/

https://www.grbj.com/articles/94559-balcony-bar-opens-downtown

I read that! I think it's interesting that they have all year indoor/outdoor seating. I don't know if the passcode concept will last long though.

I'm excited to try it out. It'll have a pretty cool view, especially when they eventually redo the upper floors of the buildings across the street. 

Joe 

[ironyisadeadscene]

53 minutes ago, joeDowntown said:

I read that! I think it's interesting that they have all year indoor/outdoor seating. I don't know if the passcode concept will last long though.

I'm excited to try it out. It'll have a pretty cool view, especially when they eventually redo the upper floors of the buildings across the street. 

Joe 

PM me if you need a code

[mgreven]

We went there a couple weeks ago. It was raining so the outside was closed. The inside was very small and the menu was kind of strange. (Chili dogs?) We kind of just wanted to go for drinks and dessert but no dessert. We actually left and went downstairs. 

[grandrollerz]

It'll have a pretty cool view, especially when they eventually redo the upper floors of the buildings across the street. 
Joe 

what are they doing across the street?

the advertising fiirm across the street on the second floor looks great lit up at night.

Sent from my Acer Chromebook R11 (CB5-132T, C738T) using Tapatalk

[joeDowntown]

13 hours ago, grandrollerz said:

 

 

what are they doing across the street?

the advertising fiirm across the street on the second floor looks great lit up at night.

Sent from my Acer Chromebook R11 (CB5-132T, C738T) using Tapatalk
 

 

They were talking about adding a couple of floors set back off the street. If I’m not mistaken, the bulls head building has air rights. It’s been a while, so details are foggy for me. 

Joe

[HavingAhoot]

On 10/26/2019 at 9:14 PM, joeDowntown said:

They were talking about adding a couple of floors set back off the street. If I’m not mistaken, the bulls head building has air rights. It’s been a while, so details are foggy for me. 

Joe

 New owners for Bullheads building but they do have air rights

[joeDowntown]

7 hours ago, HavingAhoot said:

 New owners for Bullheads building but they do have air rights

Thought that might be the case, I know the owners were looking to get out (retire?). Even if they don’t add floors, I hope at some point the owners bring the full building back to life. 
 

Joe

[ironyisadeadscene]

1 hour ago, joeDowntown said:

Thought that might be the case, I know the owners were looking to get out (retire?). Even if they don’t ad floors, I hope at some point the owners bring the full building back to life. 
 

Joe

Still want to see a 20 story tower in the small Ellis lot on the corner.

[TheLonesomeHobo]

Can I buy a vowel please?

[ironyisadeadscene]

2 hours ago, TheLonesomeHobo said:

Can I buy a vowel please?

Wow. It does look quite a bit taller with the new crown.

 

And the signing is already going up?

[joeDowntown]

Wow, seems crazy that the sign would go up this early. Can’t wait to start seeing the new glass go up. 
 

Joe

[ctpgr34]

So it looks like this area is the clearer glass portion?  It looks taller in the rendering

[jthrasher]

31 minutes ago, ctpgr34 said:

So it looks like this area is the clearer glass portion?  It looks taller in the rendering

It definitely looks taller in the rendering but I think that might be the perspective?  Also the "A" looks to be in the wrong spot? 

[Allison Slater]

Just now, jthrasher said:

It definitely looks taller in the rendering but I think that might be the perspective?  Also the "A" looks to be in the wrong spot? 

That's what I've been thinking. There's no way they can spell Amway with the A in that position and have it be centered, or Amway Grand (the letter seems too big for them all to fit.) Maybe it will just say Grand? The A is in the right position for that.

[organsnyder]

It would have to be the second A of "AMWAY". The kerning between "AY" would be incredibly tight (as it is on the font on my computer), so there could still be room for "GRAND".

Or maybe "GRAND" will be on its own row below this one?

[walker]

Maybe that's the A in Amway and it is perched right now where the space between the two words will be and they are going to slide letters over on a rail one by one  like putting a curtain on a curtain rod.

[MJLO]

I am wondering if that letter is up because they needed to test some things prior to installing the facade. 

[ironyisadeadscene]

2 hours ago, tSlater said:

That's what I've been thinking. There's no way they can spell Amway with the A in that position and have it be centered, or Amway Grand (the letter seems too big for them all to fit.) Maybe it will just say Grand? The A is in the right position for that.

Maybe plaza?

[joeDowntown]

I’d bet it’s a test for size / position on the building (and maybe testing the system used for the signage) as opposed to final positioning. 
 

Joe

[RegalTDP]

I think it'll be this:

[joeDowntown]

I was walking downtown at lunch and noticed a section of glass on the crane. They put the first section of new glass up on the north side of the building. Should be interesting to see how fast they add glass / how they deal with the new glass meeting up with the old sections. 

Joe 

[sparky05]

Exiting lurker mode to share some pics of the new curtain wall at the Grand Plaza.

[MJLO]

Also noticed the other day that the "A" that was placed up there has been removed.  I'm sticking with my assumption that they needed to test something systematic or structural with it.

[joeDowntown]

Looks awesome. It had a much more vertical pattern to it. Hope it makes the build look long and sleek.

so far, the project hs moved at a snails pace. I wonder when they’ll really start moving on the facade (I assume that adding the extra space on the roof and aligning the upper color of glass was foundational and it’ll move quickly at some point). 
 

It’d be interesting to see how they plan to vacate/book rooms as the project works its way down and around the whole tower. It’s got to be quite a logistics issue. 
 

Joe