The 82-story Aqua Tower opened in January 2010 and is one of few high-rises in the world that creates a community on its faade. Aqua is a mixed-use residential skyscraper in the Lakeshore East development in downtown Chicago
Designed by a team led by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects, the building is the tallest in the world to have a woman as lead architect. The building was awarded 2009 Skyscraper of the Year by Emporis.
Borrowing from the characteristics of topography, Aqua was imagined as a vertical landscape made up of hills, valleys, and pools.
The undulating appearance is achieved by slight variations in the shape of each cantilevered floor plate over the height of the tower.
These dimensional variations create outdoor spaces for residents and additional functional and environmental benefits.
Vista from the "hills" on the building's exterior reveal Chicago's landmarks from specific and unexpected orientations.
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.
Aqua has even won an award from the animal-rights group PETA. Because of the way the balconies are designed, PETA says there are fewer bird-strikes than there would be ordinarily in a building of that size.