Aqua

Chicago has always been at the forefront of modern architecture in The United States.  The Great Chicago Fire in 1871 destroyed most of the buildings downtown leaving this area with a clean slate on which to construct a variety of buildings that utilized new techniques.  Chicago’s downtown structures reflect the creative spirit of architectural ingenuity.  Aqua, Chicago’s latest major downtown addition, has a truly unique aesthetic would only work in Chicago.

Aqua is an 86-story skyscraper designed by Jeanne Gang.  It is currently the tallest structure in the world that was designed by a woman.   Located on the 200 block of North Columbus Drive, the building is part of the on going development in Lakeshore East.  At the moment is being used as a hotel and for condominiums.  Aqua employs a basic flat slab concrete construction, but a few key design tweaks to give this structure a truly one of a kind look.

The variable-edge balconies that protrude from the base slab on each floor are the largest contributor to the aesthetic quality of Aqua.  Each platform follows a slightly different curve, which gives the building a very organic wave-like appearance from a distance.  The balconies create a variety of peaks and troughs that give the building an intense sense of movement.  The reflective glass on the buildings windows help to further capture the sense of moving water.  The sun and sky reflect a brilliant blue color on a nice day that reveals brilliant pools of glass within the troughs of the concrete waves.  This allows the skyscraper to take on a variety of forms depending on the time of day and the angle of viewing.

Aqua is a breath-taking site if you can manage to get a clear view of it from a distance of about 300 yards on a clear and sunny day.  If the viewer has room to move within this space then the building becomes alive.  The great Lawn at Millennium park is the perfect place to see this structure if it is nice out.  It allows the spectator to move in a good distance from left to right.  This gives the viewer the sense of movement by seeing the tower from a variety of angles on the same plane.  The building is also a great site from a bit closer, but the sense of fluidity is compromised.  The bright glass is the real highlight from close up.  The various reflections can be both energizing and calming.  Unfortunately, if you don't have good sunlight the building seems to almost fall asleep.

If it is dark out the glass and balconies look very flat and static.  The lights inside of the building distract further from the surface quality of Aqua.  With nothing to illuminate the nuances of the extended slabs it just looks like any other square tower.  At night this building has almost no presence amongst the modern buildings that it neighbors.  Its rounded edges seem to almost blur its contours.   The fact that this building has such a less appealing personality at night actually makes it seem more alive as a whole.  It may be boring when the sun is down, but that factor makes it even more magical when the sun pours over it at sunrise.

There is no question that this tower is great to look at, but it is possible that form has stepped too far ahead of function in this design.  Some experts fear that the outreaching slabs will suffer greatly under the frigid winds of Chicago’s brutal winter season.  This could potential become extremely costly to maintain, and might lead to some legal issues.  The fact that the slabs are an extended part of the floor could cause the extensions to pull in unwanted cold air making the interior floors cold in the winter.  This could lead to energy efficiency issues.  Only time will reveal the structural integrity and energy efficiency of this project.  The building is brand new, and it is possible that these issues could be resolved before they become a problem. 

Aqua is truly one of a kind.  There is absolutely no other building in this country that comes close to this structure in terms of visual movement.  This structure has an extremely unique attitude that has never been captured before.  It is a beautiful sight for anyone to behold.  Structural flaws may surface over time, but if ingenuity can keep up with this remarkable structure it will likely become a hallmark of the Chicago skyline.