Aqua (skyscraper)

Aqua
Aqua (skyscraper) is located in Chicago metropolitan area
Aqua (skyscraper)
Location within Chicago metropolitan area
Aqua (skyscraper) is located in Illinois
Aqua (skyscraper)
Aqua (skyscraper) (Illinois)
Aqua (skyscraper) is located in the United States
Aqua (skyscraper)
Aqua (skyscraper) (the United States)
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeHotel
Residential
Retail
Office
Architectural styleContemporary architecture
LocationChicago, Illinois
Address225 N. Columbus Drive
Coordinates41°53′11″N 87°37′12″W / 41.8865°N 87.6201°W / 41.8865; -87.6201
Construction started2007
Completed2009
CostUS$300 million
OwnerAqua Realty Holdings LLC
Height261.8 m (859 ft)
Technical details
Floor count82
5 below ground
Floor area1,990,635 sq ft (184,936.0 m2)
Lifts/elevators24
Design and construction
Architect(s)Design: Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects; Architect of Record: James Loewenberg of Loewenberg & Assoc.
DeveloperMagellan Development Group
Structural engineerMagnusson Klemencic Associates
Main contractorJames McHugh Construction Co
Other information
Number of units747: Apartments
334: Hotel
Website
www.rentaqua.com
References
[1][2][3][4]

Aqua is an 82-story mixed-use skyscraper in Lakeshore East, downtown Chicago, Illinois.[5] Designed by a team led by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects, with James Loewenberg of Loewenberg & Associates as the Architect of Record, it includes five levels of parking below ground. The building's eighty-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 covers approximately 16,000 sq ft (1,500 m2).[6]

Aqua was awarded the Emporis Skyscraper Award as 2009 skyscraper of the year,[7] and was shortlisted in 2010 for the biennial International Highrise Award.[8] In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, Aqua was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places[9] by the American Institute of Architects Illinois component (AIA Illinois) and was recognized by USA Today Travel magazine as one of AIA Illinois' selections for Illinois 25 Must See Places. It has been compared to 8 Spruce Street in New York City.[10]

When it was completed, the skyscraper was the world's tallest building designed by a woman. It was surpassed in 2020 by the nearby St. Regis, also located in Chicago and designed by Studio Gang Architects.

  1. ^ "Aqua". CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
  2. ^ "Emporis building ID 190323". Emporis. Archived from the original on 2015-03-22.
  3. ^ "Aqua". SkyscraperPage.
  4. ^ Aqua at Structurae
  5. ^ Diesenhouse, Susan (28 February 2007). "Work to begin on Aqua tower". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
  6. ^ "Aqua Tower Tour". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. 17 December 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2014-12-18.
  7. ^ Lutz, BJ (24 September 2010). "Aqua Named 2009 Skyscraper of the Year". NBC Chicago News. Retrieved 2013-02-10.
  8. ^ "The Met High-rise apartment building wins International Highrise Award 2010" (PDF) (Press release). German Architecture Museum. 2010-11-14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2014-12-18. Commendation certificates were awarded to the 262-meter high-rise apartment building Aqua Tower (Chicago) by Studio Flores (Chicago)...
  9. ^ Waldinger, Mike (January 30, 2018). "The proud history of architecture in Illinois". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  10. ^ "25 Must See Buildings in Illinois". USA Today. August 9, 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2018.