The Aqua Tower - Chicago, Illinois
N 41° 53.190 W 087° 37.210
16T E 448547 N 4637360
Aqua is an 86-story mixed-use residential skyscraper in the Lakeshore East development in downtown Chicago
Waymark Code: WMC3PN
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 07/21/2011
Views: 14
Designed by a team led by Jeanne Gang, the building is the tallest in the world to have a woman as lead architect, at 859 ft (262 m). It includes one level of parking below ground. The building's eight-story, 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m2) base is topped by a 82,550 sq ft (7,669 m2) terrace with gardens, gazebos, pools, hot tubs, a walking/running track and a fire pit. Each floor will cover approximately 16,000 sq ft (1,500 m2). The Aqua was named the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2009 skyscraper of the year and was shortlisted in 2010 for the biannual International Highrise Award.
To capture views of nearby landmarks for Aqua's residents, Gang stretched its balconies outward by as much as 12 feet (3.7 meters). The result is a building composed of irregularly shaped concrete floor slabs which lend the facade an undulating, sculptural qualityGang cites the striated limestone outcroppings that are a common topographic feature of the Great Lakes region as inspiration for these slabs.
The name 'Aqua' was assigned to the building by Magellan Development Group LLC. It fits the nautical theme of the other buildings in the Lakeshore East development, and is derived from the wave-like forms of the balconies; the tower's proximity to nearby Lake Michigan also influenced the name.
Sustainability was an important factor in Aqua's design. Gang and her team refined the terrace extensions to maximize solar shading, and other sustainable features will include rainwater collection systems and energy-efficient lighting. The green roof on top of the tower base will be the largest in Chicago.
Building Name: The Aqua Tower
Structure Height: 819
Number of Stories: 81
Year Built: 2009
Architect/Design Firm: Studio Gang Architects
Style: International Style
Use: Residential Building
Publicly accessible areas:
Lobby
Address:
225 North Columbus Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Building Website: [Web Link]
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) link: [Web Link]
Hours: Not listed
Cost: Not listed
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