Wave, the Sky will Wave Back.

Imagine flying down Columbus Dr. through Millennium Park. Landing on the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and resting your wings. Now look North and notice numerous amounts of large undulated waves risen above the surrounding skyscrapers. This is the distance in which a bird can notice the gray etches on the exterior windows of Jeanne Gang’s Aqua skyscraper. Located at 225 N. Columbus Dr. in downtown Chicago, this building stands 870 feet (approximately 144 men tall) amongst buildings like the Aon Center that stands 1,136 feet tall. The title Aqua isn’t necessarily determined from the over all form of the building. It is actually given the name due to it’s location in the Lake Shore East area with other buildings being named with oceanic themes as well such as The Tides, The Shoreham and The Regatta. It consists of nearly 1,790 rooms that can be occupied by residents. It was specifically built with a hotel portion, which would have made it the first of its kind in downtown Chicago but due to America’s state of financial setbacks it contains condominiums, apartments and residential units only. Aqua is 82 stories of its own unique city.

Jeanne Gang is the leader of Studio Gang Architects that has designed and completed many different projects. Aqua is the tallest building in the United States that was created by an architecture firm that is lead by a female. The group tends to pay specific attention to their environment. With “Aqua” they created a “Bird-proof” skyscraper. Aqua was given PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Proggy award. With it’s use of highly noticeable, wavy exterior and etched glass, it creates a safer environment for both the residents and the birds. It helps prevents the birds from colliding into windows. That cuts down on the possibility of broken glass or panes of glass loosening to fall from several stories. It could get a recognizable phrase like “Keeping the birds up in the air and out of our hair.” To keep things on the “Green” side, it was also the first building in Chicago to have public charging stations for the oil saving electric cars.

With its location, Aqua creates an environment with plenty to do. Located just a couple blocks South is Chicago’s Millennium Park that exhibits sculptures, a pavilion and in the midst of November, an ice-skating rink that attracts many of the locals. To the North East, a bus ride away, the residents have access to Navy Pier. Home to a variety of restaurants, a large ferris wheel and Chicago’s Shakespeare Theatre. A block over and to the North, just over the Chicago River is The Magnificent Mile, a strand of various stores that run down Michigan Ave. East of Aqua lies the rest of downtown Chicago, with numerous vendors, different schools, and plenty of entertainment for the residents of this towering wave. It sits in a “sweet spot” for convenience to the cities most exciting attractions. The neighborhood it is in is all around a safe environment. With 24 hour security from Aqua and the security of other surrounding buildings, the possibility of burglary is minimal.

Aqua’s height may not be in comparison to some of its surrounding buildings, but with its unique exterior, it pops out to anyone walking down the street. The balconies are specifically designed for each level to be able to see down a level below them. Although in doing so it manages to shorten some of certain resident’s balconies, not only by a couple inches, but a couple feet. Sitting on top of the building is perhaps Chicago largest green roof consisting of a terrace with gardens and gazebos for those that enjoy the “zen” of high society living. It has pools and hot tubs for those willing to relax 870 feet above ground level. It also has a track for the residents that are not willing enough to walk down possibly 82 flights of stairs. Lastly it has a fire pit for those cold Chicago evenings as you look over the endless waters of Lake Michigan. It really rewards the people that occupy these homes with the convenience of everything in return with a hefty sum of monthly rent or mortgage.

All in all, this unique giant is only the beginning of the future living. It takes several different styles of homes and creates its own community. It is a safe environment for us and the creatures that cross its path and manages to find other ways to stay “green.” If you are ever taking a trip down Columbus drive and notice the ripples in the air, flip a coin its way and make a wish, because perhaps someday, you could be living in the bountiful wave in the sky called Aqua.