• Construction start: 2006
• Construction finish: 2010
• Designed by: Loewenberg Architects and Studio/Gang/Architects
• Cost: $475,000,000
• Type: Skyscraper
• Stories: 82
• Maximum Height: 870 feet / 265 meters

• Hotel rooms: 225
• Residences: 718
• Apartments: 474
• Condominiums: 264
• Floor space: 1,900,000 square feet

• September 1, 2006: Groundbreaking.
• October 3, 2008: Crain's Chicago Business reported that Strategic Hotels & Resorts has pulled out of its $84 million deal to buy 15 floors of this building to expand the Fairmont Hotel across Columbus Drive.
• November 16, 2009: This building was connected to the Chicago pedway system.

• Architect: Jeanne Gang
• Architect: Jim Loewenberg
• Design architecture firm: Studio Gang Architects
• Architect of record: Loewenberg & Associates
• Developer: Magellan Development
• Aqua's public relations company touts that this is the tallest building in the United States designed by an architecture firm headed by a woman. It is a claim that is difficult to prove or refute.
• The hotel will have a 20,000-square-foot ballroom.
• This building formerly used the address 225 North Columbus Drive.
• This building's balconies have seven miles of railings.
• This building rests on 31 main rock caissons drilled 112 feet deep and six feet into a layer of dolomite. These are supplemented by 274 smaller bell caissons sunk into clay.
• During construction, crews called the areas where the balconies fade away "burn zones."

• Because of the building's rippling balconies, each floor plate is unique and each concrete pour was different.

• This was the first building in Chicago to have public charging stations for electric cars.

There are 61 comments.

   Fantastic building ! Chicago´s arquitecture at it´s best !

------ brilliant ------ - Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 @ 9:11am  

  This is the best apartment ever! I live on the 17th floor and it is quite a view! This is one of the best new buildings in Chicago! The only thing I wish it has is a blue tint to the windows/balconies

Polly - Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 @ 8:56am  

  To all pundits; Oh please. Thanks to Ms. Gang and Co., the Chicago architectural envelope has been pushed still further up the world scale! Given the design restrictions in a large metro environment, pretty much any high rise is established within a "box" built footprint. Here we have genius applied in as simple a form as a balcony creating one of the most beautiful buildings in the world!

Cal Harris - Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 @ 1:24pm  

  Chicago has the most amazing architecture in the USA. I can't wait to view this spectacular building.

Michael Kohn - Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 @ 5:45pm  

  Champagne impact on a beer budget! Can't wait to see it lit up at night!

Steve - Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 @ 11:33am  

  A gimmick. Unlike others I've no problem with an old-fashioned glass box if that is what is needed. I like the idea of the wave forms but when seeing the structure it comes off more as a gimmick. And worse, it's a gimmick which does nothing to enhance usability (actually taking outdoor space away from many units.) A bit like putting on too much makeup.

Robert - Sunday, October 25th, 2009 @ 4:58pm  

  This seems to be a visual today hit for the "street", but it is a non-integrated building from an architectural viewpoint. A standard box with a pastiche of balconies, no matter how graceful, to dress it up will probably not have any long term staying power as an iconic building nor have any innovative contributions to make. I'll give it 3 stars for effort.

S. W. Doughty - Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 @ 9:23pm  

  Just returned from a visit to Chicago. We stayed across the street from the Aqua building, at The Fairmont. The first thing I noticed when we returned onto N Columbus Dr. was the unique detail of the Aqua building. I questioned our tour guide on the architectural tour about the building. I was surprised to learn it was just recently completed. I also learned it was designed by a woman. I must say of all the buildings that I viewed during my stay in Chicago, this one stood out most to me and will be the most memorable. 5 star!!

Jane - Saturday, September 5th, 2009 @ 8:59pm  

  The Aqua Tower offers a sculptural alternative to the orthogonal apparance of all it's neighbors on the Chicago skyline. It is a very creative solution to the challenge to put up an interesting tower with minor cost implications. Studio Gang has done a great job.

Archie Phillips - Friday, September 4th, 2009 @ 12:24pm  

  rob is right if it's not the tallest skyscraper nobody seems to care about it. i have to admit it looks very odd. i think it will look cooler when it's completed.

Davin - Sunday, August 9th, 2009 @ 7:28am  

  I think it blends quite nicely with the vision of Daniel Burnham for Chicago and is so unique and original as one looks around the world in search of examples of a mixture of urban and natural beauty and functuality. On every photo taken , it looks different and so imaginative. It reminds personally even to the Alpine natural magic with snow covered mountains next to the lakes in harmony with constantly changing weather and clouds.Congratulations to Jeanne Gang.

Omer Aker - Saturday, July 25th, 2009 @ 11:46pm  

  A beautiful addition to a beautiful city. The architecture capital and this adds to the collection. Not in the historic category with Reliance, Monadnok, and Sears (to Chicagoan's perhaps it will always be Sears)but an intriguing part of the awesome skyline of Chicago.

Jim Kwas - Sunday, July 19th, 2009 @ 6:21pm  

  We took the river tour of Chicago the other day. This is a unique structure which is very pleasing to the eye, another feather in the cap of Chicago! A true work of art, congrats!

tom moynihan - Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 @ 8:26pm  

  Balconies blue??I think that with the white is perfect....

Saul - Tuesday, April 21st, 2009 @ 7:33pm  

  I think the balconies should be painted Blue to go with the whole Aqua theam. The white makes it look unfinished. Other than that it looks great!I hope Jean Gang reads these comments and puts the final touch on this building.

Love the Building - Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 @ 2:10pm  

  The wavy platforms should be painted blue, mosaic-ed or should be mirrored.... It would look a whole lot better.

Ike - Sunday, January 18th, 2009 @ 6:21pm  

  I think the design is awesome. Its not the usual rectangle that everyone goes for. I love that it will be a part of the Chicago skyline.

Eric Kripas - Thursday, January 15th, 2009 @ 3:42pm  

  sorry i have to agree - it is the most conventional structure behind some flashy balconies. i like the idea of pushing the envelope but you can see how it already looks dated. and it's just too damn big.

calvin - Monday, January 5th, 2009 @ 11:49pm  

  With todays tools in the architectural field it is sad to see them being used without any thought as to the performance of the building. It is a nice thought to create something that is a little different for the chicago skyline, but as different as it may seem, this building is not different in the least of the word. Behind the ornamental balconies is a perfectly squared box with no ideas newer than its very square neighbors. This is a perfect example of the butchering of modern technology in order to quickly put up an initially interesting facade with a copy and paste core.

physiovergence - Tuesday, October 28th, 2008 @ 2:16pm  

  Just returned from Chicago and saw the building. Looks very beautiful from the outside. Hope the inside will be as nice, but a very creative concept.

Jane Letson - Sunday, September 21st, 2008 @ 1:23pm  

  It looks fantastic. Veryunique in style and I canvisualize now the wave ofthe water from afar. Verycreative.

judy manipon - Monday, September 8th, 2008 @ 2:05pm  

  This building is amazing, I come to Chicago every other week for work and am amazed how differently it looks each time. I can't wait to see the finished product. Its looks perfect in Chicago!

Beth Maged - Thursday, July 31st, 2008 @ 4:29pm  

  I'm moving there next year... Sooooo amazing and gorgeous, I CANT WAIT :)

Tara - Thursday, June 19th, 2008 @ 12:11pm  

  Some one said "...it doesn't seem Chicago. It screams Dubai". Most of the buildings in Dubai are designed and built by Chicago architecture firms. I think the building is amazing to look at. I love the variety of buildings Chicago has to offer. Chicago has more variety of buildings than any other city in the world.

John B - Wednesday, March 26th, 2008 @ 2:45pm  

  More beauty for Chicago.

Patricia Rogers - Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 @ 12:44pm  

  This structure will continue to cement Chicago's place as an innovator of architectural implementation, whether it be in the categories of supertall, green building initiatives, or overall uniqueness.

Chris - Thursday, January 31st, 2008 @ 9:00pm  

  Beautiful! Since I live across the street from it and get to watch it go up.

Jerry Hummer - Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 @ 3:22pm  

  It looks like a continuation of LakeMichigan rising into the sky!

James Lee - Monday, August 13th, 2007 @ 1:44am  

  I'm intrigued, but I think I have to hold back one star until I see the finished product. The building looks odd but fascinating and I think it could work. It is definitely one of the more original new constructions being built in the city today. Given that it will be placed right next to the Aon Center, I wish there was greater height difference between the two buildings, so that Aqua could stand out more.

David Shmuel - Thursday, July 26th, 2007 @ 8:08am  

  I think it will be a sleek and beautiful building once built. I am no architect, but I think that building has a nice modern feel to it. A kind of change from the heavy modern skyscrappers that tend to dominate like the John Hancock Building which seems to just slump there. Anyway it's my feelings. I like the building. I am glad they are building it.

James Petersen - Thursday, July 19th, 2007 @ 12:37am  

  I think this building is awesome! An innovative twist on the International Style box. It almost reminds me of the Marina Towers built in the 1960's, which is now a Chicago Icon. Great design I love it!

Digital Junkie - Friday, July 13th, 2007 @ 1:38am  

  AWESOME! This will be a building that will be remembered! I can't wait to see this finished. It will look like a mirage or actually have a sense of movement--not just upward but undulating with the wind currents or flow of water from Lake Michigan. Love it!

J C Lennon - Wednesday, June 20th, 2007 @ 7:50am  

  I'll admit that I had to have a double take just looking at the building. At first, it looked like an incomplete mess till I looked at it again and realized that it looked like ripples moving through the walls. Maybe the "double take" is one reason for the design of the building: to get people to notice it more? I love how original the idea of the building is, and I definately can't wait to see it when it's complete. It will definately compliment the Chicago skyline, not to mention the waves of Lake Michigan!

Narin Ratanavade - Tuesday, June 5th, 2007 @ 9:00am  

  Unbelievable concept yet so simple in its own terms..would love to see the real "Aqua" soon

Abhinav Dhaka - Saturday, May 19th, 2007 @ 1:01pm  

  I think that it is hideous

jw - Tuesday, May 1st, 2007 @ 6:06pm  

  also forgot to mention the beauty of this building(AQUA) is that it gives the impression of a huge flag or hung drapes or curtains swaying in the breeze very eye catching!!

Wilbert NYC - Friday, April 20th, 2007 @ 4:29am  

   I am very happy to see a brightly beautiful building towers of new Chicago City of many new towers. So, I am exicting to see for Fordham Spires for go to building to 150 Floors in Begin on May 15, 2007. And Also, We pray for Olympic will re vote our Chicago for winning again of World's vote, Yes, We believe that Chicago are very successfully building more than other world for Best Olympic 2016!! Sincerely, Ronald Houle,Jr.

Ronald Houle Jr. - Saturday, April 14th, 2007 @ 6:13pm  

  love it! I am already sea sick just by looking at it, great design, something different although this design won a previous architectural award of best building of the year awarded to a residential building (or commercial,if i am not mistaking) in Australia, melbourne or queensland well, somewhere down under also this design will be featured on a new skyscraper in New York City it is a project awaiting to be approved (west side 42nd street)condominium

Wilbert NYC - Friday, April 13th, 2007 @ 6:32am  

  Look skyhigh to the future of Chicago. Our amazing city will have yet another beauty added to grace our magnificent skyline.

Bonnie K Brennan Properties- bonnieb - Monday, March 19th, 2007 @ 12:45am  

  I like the height and all, but this structure doesn't seem Chicago. It screams Dubai.

marcus - Tuesday, March 6th, 2007 @ 5:52pm  

  the waves are cool and all, but think that we could have have broke the 900ft mark on this one and i also think that the design could have been somthing more than a rectangle. i give it four stars because the building still makes a unique statment.

Jason Steward - Thursday, December 28th, 2006 @ 4:41am  

  This building is very odd, yet pretty awesome. I like that look of water blowing in the Chicago Wind. (or politics)

kirby cruz - Thursday, December 7th, 2006 @ 8:40pm  

  Would've given this a five-star rating, but one never knows how the undulating exterior will work out. If successful (i.e., it does what the architect(s) want it to do), then *****. If not, perhaps just another very tall building with a very unsightly skin. Would love to see more from Jeanne Gang.

Richard Seid - Friday, September 22nd, 2006 @ 7:09pm  

  the building departs from the usual pure gemetry associated with scy scrapers-thats interesting It has a differnt command of the skyline. But isnt it complicated building to achieve funtionality

gabriel mnthambwe - Thursday, September 21st, 2006 @ 9:46am  

  This building has gotten so much press and praise, but so far it is not deserved. The architect and reviewers claim that it steps away from recent Chicago architecture in that in brings focus back to the exterior, but so what when the interior is so conventional. As soon as I sasw the floor plans I was disappointed.( And who knows if the concrete work will also live up to the concept.)So compared to much of the crap that this city has seen, it is good, but potentially, it could have been so much better and really redefine architecture.

GMJ - Wednesday, September 20th, 2006 @ 7:07am  

  Why does this remind me of a cardboard box left out in the rain? The undulating balconies are conceptually interesting but given this building's scale, ultimately get monotonous. Still, if not exactly beautiful, it is different, and in a city like Chicago that's very important.

walt - Saturday, September 16th, 2006 @ 4:36pm  

  Chicago is claiming to be the world best metro city. explosion of new building with great articultural design are happening here. This will be a new stadard in design once it is completed in 2009. I saw the plan and was in love with it the same day. I cannot wait for its completion. I bought my future home also the same day and I am waiting.

Bashir - Monday, July 31st, 2006 @ 7:21pm  

  Beautiful. Just a pity that everyone seems to buy their architecture by the mega-tonne these days. Who cares how tall it is? Can't we appreciate it for its beauty, rather than the size of the firm's phallus?

Rob - Friday, July 14th, 2006 @ 3:25am  

  Another WOW for Chicago,what a beauty. AQUA "The Princess". We have once again set the standard for innovative design..as "the princess rises to the sky",she is form and function combined with a vision of the future...

bonnieb-Keller Williams River North - Saturday, June 17th, 2006 @ 2:14am  

  This will be the building , when completed, drivers on Lake Shore Drive will crash into eachother! They will get the best view at speeds of 50+ mph... I believe after this project is complete, others will follow as there are some already being built.. but this is the heralding of a great new era of Chicago Architecture. About time! I shoot Architectural Photography for more than 10 years and cannot wait! Thank-you for getting out of the box.

Chris Barrett - Friday, May 12th, 2006 @ 3:51pm  

  Bellissimo! Looking forward to seeing it finished

Dario - Thursday, April 27th, 2006 @ 11:20pm  

  I always like it when architects get away the from straight line effect when designing buildings. I think the design of the Aqua building makes this a building to be looked at, rather then another tall monument that gets lost in the skyline.

Thomas Semesky - Monday, April 10th, 2006 @ 1:01pm  

  Potentially ground-breaking building. Stepping on the shoulders of Marina City! Could be an awesome addition to the riverscape.

Terry - Thursday, April 6th, 2006 @ 11:31pm  

  Beautiful and unique. Chicago needs to solidify her ownership of the architectural crown... buildings like this are certainly sending it in that direction.

Brett Haase - Thursday, March 30th, 2006 @ 8:52pm  

  I like it, just wish it was a bit more colorful.

Noel - Monday, March 13th, 2006 @ 1:17pm  

  throughout the years Studio Gang has made a significant achievements in experimental architecture and design.From the images I see if they are factual information, is a building with dynamic movement against Chicago's static skyline. Hopefully the design, if built will open a gateway for a new type of architecture for the city.

brendt oconnell - Sunday, March 12th, 2006 @ 6:53pm  

  This would be a great addition to Chicago's Skyline and be one of the top 15 tallest in Chicago.

Brent Kampert - Thursday, March 9th, 2006 @ 1:35pm  

  Just saw the image now. I could not decide how to rate it! One thing for sure is that including with planned Fordham building, Chicago is about to have new wave of extraordinary shaped of buildings, which I believe that adds to cities charachter. It is not clear what type of material the outside will have. Also, just another note, at instant, model on the picture reminded me edged version of a Marine tower by Chicago river.

Kerem Arig - Friday, February 24th, 2006 @ 6:36pm