200 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL, United States
Studio Gang Architects
Post By:Kitticoon Poopong
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| Photo © Courtesy of Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing |
Totaling over 1.9 million sf,
Aqua Tower is an 82-story mixed-use
high-rise that includes a hotel, apartments, condominiums, parking and offices. Unlike a tower in an open field, new towers in urban environments must negotiate small view corridors between existing buildings. In response to this, the Aqua Tower is designed to capture particular views that would otherwise be unattainable. Among the building’s notable features is the green
roof terrace atop its plinth—which at 80,000 sf is one of
Chicago’s largest—that contains an outdoor pool, running track, gardens, fire pits and yoga terrace.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing |
A series of contours defined by outdoor terraces extends away from the face of the tower structure to provide views between neighboring buildings. These outdoor terraces, cantilevered up to twelve feet, differ in shape from floor to floor. The terraces inflect based on criteria such as the view, solar shading and size and type of dwelling. When viewed together, these unique terraces make the building appear to undulate, presenting a highly sculptural appearance that is rooted in function. Aqua creates a strong identity through its architecture and has become a landmark addition to the Chicago skyline.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing |
Early and close collaboration between architect and builder, as well as the use of contemporary digital tools, allowed the variation in the shape of the floor slabs to be achieved without increasing the building’s construction timetable. The result is a high-rise tower particular to its site that allows residents to inhabit the facade of the building and the city at the same time.
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| Photo © Courtesy of Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing |
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| Photo © Courtesy of Steve Hall, Hedrich Blessing |
“
Aqua Tower was shaped by an organic,
site-specific design process. Rather than starting out with the goal of creating an icon, we let the climate and views shape the building, weaving it into its surroundings and treating the building and its environment as interconnected not separate. Even though it may appear to be formally expressive, it is equal parts data and imagination.” – Jeanne Gang, Design Principal Architect
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| floor plan--drawing Courtesy of Studio Gang Architects |
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| Terrace criteria--drawing Courtesy of Studio Gang Architects |
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| section/south elevation--drawing Courtesy of Studio Gang Architects |
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| east-west section --drawing Courtesy of Studio Gang Architects |
The people
Architect: Studio Gang Architects
Architect of Record: Loewenberg & Associates
Location: 200 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL, United States
Owner: Magellan Developmen
The product
Construction materials, Semi-finished materials: EFCO, PPG, Schaaf, Viracon
Metal and Glass curtain wall tower by EFCO
Glass: Town Houses by PPG
Metal and Glass curtain wall podium by Schaaf
Glass: Tower by Viracon
Facades: TRESPA
Exterior Panels by TRESPA
Walls: Endicott Clay Products
