Aqua / Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)

 hotel, apartment, skyscraper, condominiums

221 North Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 565-5258
www.lifeataqua.com/
www.radissonblu.com/aquahotel-chicago

Aqua is an 859 ft (262 m) 82-storey skyscraper that is part of the Lakeshore East development at the Near East Side in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was designed in the Postmodern architectural style by Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang Architects. The architect of record is Lowenburg & Associates.

The building's two-storey 140,000 sq ft (13,000 sq m) base is topped by an 82,550 sq ft (7,669 sq m) terrace with gardens, gazebos, a pool, hot tubs, a walking/running track, and a fire pit. It contains 55,000 sq ft (5,100 sq m) of office and retail space, in addition to 215 hotel rooms on floors 1-18, 476 rental apartments on floors 18-52, and

263 condominium units and penthouses on floors 53-82. The building has 24 elevators and a floor area of 1,990,635 sq ft (184,936 sq m).

To capture views of nearby landmarks for the nearby landmarks for the building's residents, its balconies were stretched outward by as much as 12 ft (3.7 m). The result is a building composed of irregularly-shaped concrete floor slabs which lend the facade in an undulating, sculptural quality.Jeanne gang cites that the situated limestone outcroppings that are a topographic feature of the Great Lakes region as inspiration for the slabs.

The name "Aqua" was assigned to the building by Magellan Development Group, LLC. It fits the nautical theme of the other buildings in Lakeshore East, and is derived from the wave-like forms of the balconies; the tower's proximity to Lake Michigan also influenced the name.

Sustainability was an important factor in Aqua's design. Gang and her team refined the terrace extensions to maximize solar shading, and other sustainable features will include rainwater collection systems and energy-efficient lighting. The green roof on top of the base is the largest in Chicago. The tower, with those features, can achieve LEED Basic certification.

Aqua is the winner of the 2009 Emporis Gold Skyscraper Award.