Completed in 2010, Chicago’s residential tower “Aqua” is a rare gem hidden among the otherwise plain and square high-rises of the city’s skyline. The exterior of the building features a square glass substructure accented by shifting and flowing limestone balconies providing the tower with the unique appearance of waves flowing over its surface. When looking up at the tower from below, the edges appear jagged and natural and the tower takes on an almost off balance quality resembling a limestone cliff. Soaring to 819 feet above street level and comprised of 82 floors, it is clearly no dwarf either and it is the twelfth tallest building in Chicago. Designed by architect Jeanne Gang it is also the tallest building in both Chicago and in the United States to be designed by a woman. The primary use of the tower is residential and it includes both condominiums and rental apartments, but it is also the first building in Chicago that will also incorporate hotel rooms in addition to its residential area.
In honor of her extraordinary design, Gang was awarded the prestigious Emporis Award, described as comparable to the Oscars of architecture, given annually for the skyscraper of the year. According to members of the Emporis team, the building was given the award “for its advances is sustainable design and for the imaginative and fascinating architectural effects it achieves.” The group also added, “As the tower starts to loom overhead, it changes shape; straight lines disappear, and a mass of rounded layers stack up vertiginously like a limestone palisade molded by centuries of flowing water.” According to Gang, the idea to use limestone for the balconies was inspired by the topography of the Great Lakes region and is made to mesh well with nearby Lake Michigan.
Aqua is also recognized as one of the more environmentally friendly buildings in Chicago and is expected to receive a silver award from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Designs organization because it has “set a higher standard for the next generation of large-scale residential and hotel construction.” Included among the building’s eco-friendly features are a green roof, rainwater collection system, and energy efficient lighting. It also has some other uncommon features such as a fire pit and a running track.
Overall with its innovation in architecture and engineering, Aqua is sure to inspire generations of future architects to build a new Chicago skyline that is not only more visually appealing, but also more environmentally friendly. With the creation of this building, a new age of architecture has been born and an architectural revolution has begun. Through the coming years we can expect to see this building inspire a new breed of architecture which will lead the Chicago skyline into a more unique and cleaner future.
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