Aqua Tower
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At a glance
- Project by: Studio Gang Architects
- Location: Chicago, IL, United States
Preview image
© Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing
Project images
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Terrace projections create three-dimensional, wave-like forms. © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
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Aqua Tower © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
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Aqua Tower © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
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Aqua Tower © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
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Inhabited vertical landscape © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
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Aqua Tower © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
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Aqua Tower © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
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Aqua Tower © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
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A community on the building’s façade © Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing View project image |
Architect's statement
Totalling over 1.9 million sf, Aqua Tower is an 82 storey mixed-use high-rise that includes a hotel, apartments, condominiums, parking and offices. Among the building’s notable features is the green roof terrace atop its plinth—which at 80,000 sf is one of Chicago’s largest—and contains an outdoor pool, running track, gardens, fire pits and yoga terrace.
A series of contours defined by outdoor terraces extends away from the face of the tower structure to provide views between neighbouring buildings. The terraces inflect based on criteria such as the view, solar shading and size and type of dwelling.
Early and close collaboration between architect and builder, as well as the use of contemporary digital tools, allowed the variation in the shape of the floor slabs to be achieved without increasing the building’s construction timetable. The result is a high-rise tower particular to its site that allows residents to inhabit the façade of the building and the city at the same time.
Details/Credits
- Client: Magellan Development Group
- Location: Chicago, IL, USA
- Architect: Studio Gang Architects
- Unique characteristics: Designed with undulating outdoor terraces with no two floors alike
- Size: 1.9 million sf
- Cost: $300 Million
- Completion: 2010
- Photographs: Steve Hall/Hedrich Blessing
Related links
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