The name 'Aqua' was assigned to the building by Magellan Development Group LLC. The building was designed by the lead architect of Studio Gang Architects, Jeanne Gang. The 334-room hotel opened on November 1, 2011. Ĭarlson announced May 12, 2010, that it agreed to spend $125 million to open the first Radisson Blu hotel in the United States ( Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel) on 18 vacant floors of the highrise.

Strategic Hotels & Resorts had agreed to acquire the first 15 floors of hotel space upon completion of the building, but terminated its $84 million contract for the space in August 2008, citing significant changes in the economic environment. Aqua is the first downtown building to combine condos, apartments and a hotel. The building contains 55,000 sq ft (5,100 m 2) of retail and office space, in addition to 215 hotel rooms (floors 1-18), 476 rental residential units (floors 19-52), and 263 condominium units & penthouses (floors 53-81). The tower is a late project for the repurposing of the site from industrial to commercial and residential use. Gang cites the striated limestone outcroppings that are a common topographic feature of the Great Lakes region as inspiration for these slabs. The result is a building composed of irregularly shaped concrete floor slabs which lend the facade an undulating, sculptural quality. To capture views of nearby landmarks for Aqua's residents, Gang stretched its balconies outward by as much as 12 ft (3.7 m). The location where the tower was built was a former rail yard that is adjacent to the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The Aqua Tower is located at 225 North Columbus Drive, and is surrounded by high-rises. Loewenberg & Associates are the architects of record, led by James Loewenberg. The project was the largest ever awarded to an American firm headed by a woman. Regis, also located in Chicago and designed by Studio Gang Architects.Īqua was designed by Studio Gang Architects, led by firm principal and founder, Jeanne Gang, and it was the firm's first skyscraper project. It was surpassed in 2020 by the nearby St. When it was completed, the skyscraper was the world's tallest building designed by a woman. It has been compared to 8 Spruce Street in New York City. In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, Aqua was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places 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. Īqua was awarded the Emporis Skyscraper Award as 2009 skyscraper of the year, and was shortlisted in 2010 for the biennial International Highrise Award. Each floor covers approximately 16,000 sq ft (1,500 m 2).

The building's eighty-story, 140,000 sq ft (13,000 m 2) base is topped by a 82,550 sq ft (7,669 m 2) terrace with gardens, gazebos, pools, hot tubs, a walking/running track and a fire pit. 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. Aqua (skyscraper) (the United States) Show map of the United StatesĤ1★3′11″N 87☃7′12″W / 41.8865°N 87.6201°W / 41.8865 -87.6201ĭesign: Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects Architect of Record: James Loewenberg of Loewenberg & Assoc.Īqua is an 82- story mixed-use skyscraper in Lakeshore East, downtown Chicago, Illinois.

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