Chicago Architecture Info
Aqua
Address
225 North Columbus Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Construction progress as of October, 2008
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Construction progress as of October, 2008
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Construction progress as of October, 2008
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Construction progress as of October, 2008
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Construction progress as of October, 2008
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Construction progress as of October, 2008
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Construction progress as of October, 2008
Photograph © Wayne Lorentz/Artefaqs Corporation
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Construction progress as of September, 2007
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Construction progress as of September, 2006
Click here to purchase prints or download images of Aqua
Basic Information
Designed by Loewenberg Architects and Studio/Gang/Architects
Cost $475,000,000
Type Skyscraper
Floors: 82
Neighborhood: The Loop
More Information
  • Hotel rooms: 334
  • Residences: 718
  • Apartments: 474
  • Condominiums: 264
  • Floor space: 1,900,000 square feet
  • Architect: Jeanne Gang
  • Architect: Jim Loewenberg
  • Design architecture firm: Studio Gang Architects
  • Architect of record: Loewenberg & Associates
  • Developer: Magellan Development
  • It is often said that this is the tallest building designed by a woman. This is incorrect. However, it is the tallest building in the United States designed by a woman.
  • The hotel has a 20,000 square-foot ballroom.
  • This building formerly used the address 430 East Waterside Drive.
  • This building's balconies have a total of 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."
  • This was one of the filming locations for the 2011 movie Transformers 3.
  • Because of the building's rippling balconies, each floor plate is unique and each level's concrete pour was different.
  • 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.
  • 2009: Plans to develop the hotel portion of this building were put on hold when the developer's hotel partner backed off its expansion plans.
  • November 16, 2009: This building was connected to the Chicago pedway system.
  • May 14, 2010: Carlson Hotels Worldwide bought the hotel portion of this building and announced plans to spend $125 million developing it into the first Raddison Blu in America.
  • September, 2010: This building was named #22 on Chicago Magazine's list of the Top 40 Buildings in Chicago.
  • November, 2010: Construction began on the hotel portion of this project.
  • December, 2011: A Radisson Blu opened in this building's hotel space.