Instant classic. :tup:

Thanks for the excellent shots hawkeye!

Update from Magellan released 6/5/09:

"...CVS Pharmacy opened on the Southwest corner of Aqua on Sunday, May 31st and is doing great business so far. The south Upper Columbus public garage entrance is now open at Aqua. Construction progress continues to be on-schedule. The amenity deck is now fully landscaped and furnished with lounge chairs and table seating throughout. In addition, the cabanas and gazebos have been fully installed. The pools are filled with water and ready to go. Deck inspection for occupancy is scheduled to occur this week..."

nice that the store is open but did you notice the music in the backround? It seems like somebody at Magellan was watching my videos:D :cheers:

June 3, 2009


June 4, 2009

GREAT, GREAT tower. But a little to small to make any real presence in Chicago, from far away it just looks like a rectangle with lines. Close up it looks much much better, and you could actually see the wave.

Emptiness deepens at local hotels

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-b...rticleId=32050

Emptiness deepens at local hotels
By: Thomas A. Corfman June 08, 2009

The downturn in the local hotel market is accelerating, confirming fears of a nose dive worse than in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

As the market worsens, negotiations have abruptly stalled between boutique hotel firm Kimpton Group Holding LLC and developer Magellan Development Group LLC for a hotel in the 82-story Aqua tower at 225 N. Columbus Drive, sources say, a little more than a week after an executive with San Francisco-based Kimpton said the two sides were "close"(Crain's, May 25).

At the bend in the river
 

June 1




June 5

Thanks for the photo updates Solar and harry, terrific as always!

Is Chicago's Art Institute showing signs of 'star-chitecture'?

"...It is telling that the most exciting building currently nearing completion on the Chicago skyline is the first skyscraper by Jeanne Gang, and the largest project yet awarded to an American firm headed by a woman. Called Acqua, it’s a skyscraper-as-waterfall, with curving balconies undulating in and out to evoke rocky outcrops, and areas of reflective glass to suggest cascading torrents. Sometimes, genuine innovation needs new blood..."

http://entertainment.timesonline.co....cle6313086.ece

Hmmmm, it's Aqua:D

:previous:

Yeah, I debated correcting it before copying and pasting it into my post, decided to keep it as published.

I realized most of my pics were BCBS and Aqua. I will just post them in both I guess.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3588/...2896a268_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/...e70db68b_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/...e6f17e37_b.jpg



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/...705ba39d_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3379/...3b3abca5_b.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3336/...7314eb1e_b.jpg

Do they have any plans for the roof?

Thanks simcity for the excellent pics!

Update released from Magellan 6/10/09:

"...Framing is now completed through condominium floor 73 with drywall installed through the 63rd floor this week. Additional pool and deck furniture has arrived this week. Aqua is still awaiting pool inspection fromt the City of Chicago which is scheduled for this week..."

Thanks for all the compliments throughout the various threads I posted in...it's why I take the time to post pics when I visit!!

Aqua is coming along quite nicely. While not as amazing from far away, its' shear height alone makes it something special from no matter what distance.

I disagree, I mean sure from a distance the undulating balconies are not as noticeable, but it is still a nice tower from a distance.

Does anyone know when/if they scrapped the top? I like it better ending with a wavy slab personally, but was just curious. Sorry if this has already been discussed.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5073/aquatop.jpg

^I like the "wavier" ending we got too, provided the build-out pictured above would also have the chintzy, plopped-on mechanical penthouse that ended up getting built. However, it appears that the reason that there is more glass above the last balcony in the model above is because the mechanical penthouse is glassed-in, which I would prefer (possibly still in the plan, but I'm doubtful).

ROFL I saw this comment and I actually went back to look for it. That's so funny. It makes something I see like one or twice a week or so seem exciting for once. :haha: Thanks for the oddly enthralling vid!

6.13

that building looks completely mid-century and already kind of dated to me.

I had such higher hopes.

6/13 "Bump" effect:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/...15e62f73_o.jpg

Re jc5680: that shot really showcases how terribly awkward that little mechanical penthouse really looks. I'm afraid we're stuck with that setup for the final building form. Maybe they can slice a little bit off of it here and there to make it at appear as a passable attempt at aesthetic continuity a la those cheesy planters fronting Columbus.

^^^ I like the penthouse how it is, I personally don't like buildings that have an excessive screen or parapet wall on top that does nothing practical except shield the views of mechanical equipment. I think the honest display of mechanical junk isn't really that displeasing, I mean look at all the crap that is piled up on top of Sears and Hancock, looks wonderful to me!

Great shots jc5680 and wrabbit!

6.14

Photo Set #1 of 2
 

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer 6/14/09


http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/2614/dsc0552a.jpg


http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/7117/dsc0555u.jpg


http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/157/dsc0558u.jpg


http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/1132/dsc0563.jpg


http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/5370/dsc0564m.jpg


http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/999/dsc0566z.jpg


http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/7005/dsc0568u.jpg


http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/9085/dsc0570m.jpg


http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/6563/dsc0572i.jpg


http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/2118/dsc0574t.jpg

Photo Set #2 of 2
 

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer 6/14/09


http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/3509/dsc0576.jpg


http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9509/dsc0577e.jpg


http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5572/dsc0581y.jpg


http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/7181/dsc0583a.jpg


http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/7914/dsc0585y.jpg


http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3571/dsc0587w.jpg


http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5083/dsc0592r.jpg

Jaw drops.

i couldn't be happier with the railings. mechanical penthouse? come on, who cares. such a non-issue

Another spectacular Chicago building. This shot is a particular favorite of mine, because the balconies getting their furniture gives the building a real life. I can't wait for more residents to move in. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT IN PERSON IN TWO WEEKS!!!! :banana: :banana: :banana:

Great pics all around, agree with the comments about seeing Aqua when it's occupied.

This pic stands out to me--a real vista is developing here as one walks south and sees the growing South Loop skyline in the distance. Wow, that's quite a scene..

http://www.j-carlson.com/ancilary/aqua614f.jpg

love it from afar. from those extreme closeups it looks quaintly mid century se floridian, ie., the rickety balconies and the home depot bbq grills. not bad things, but i didnt expect that.

ps -- how many bottom floors in this one are parking?

Wowzers,EB.

Habitation!

None of the bottom floors are parking. This building has "underground" parking in the sense that its below the main entrance. I put that in quotes because the parking is actually above ground (park level) but below the 3 level streets where the entrance to this building is.


I just thought of some things:

A. What happens when junk (paper, plastic bags, leaves, whatever) gets on the wave-fins between the balcony railings? Do the window washers sweep the dirt off of them as they go?

B. How do the window washers to the cleaning? Are they going to use ropes and get off the where they can't reach the windows from their rope? What kind of ingenious system has Gang devised?

C. Does anyone think that those same open spaces between the railings are going to be prime nesting sites for pigeons and other birds? It seems like those balcony spaces would be excellent spaces and will quickly be home to the shit hawks (god forbid that the seagulls set up shop).

I really wish the waves were blue instead of white.

railings
 

I've got a question: Why do some of the balcony railings have an additional extension (approx. 4") on top, and others do not? I assume the minimum height meets ADA (42") so why the additional 4 or 6"? Was it an 'upgrade' for the fear-of-heights crowd?

I wondered the same thing (about the railings)

:previous: indeed awesome shots jc and early :tup: Its nice to see Aqua being filled with inhabitants and turned to life.

StatenIslander237...you lucky butt, I can't visit Chi-town till August. AHHRGGH, can't wait!!!
How wants to get wasted with me on Rush street again this summer!!!!!!

Thanks for the compliments guys. The human element is a welcome addition with the balconies now being occupied.



The balconies with the extra high railings are those serving designated accessible (ADA) units. The reason for the higher railing is to compensate for the height added by the Trex (or similar product) planking installed on top of the concrete balcony floor; which raises the floor to the same height as the sliding glass door threshold. A removable and storeable ramp is located on the inside of the condo (the other side of the threshhold). With these all in place, wheelchair access to the balconies is made possible.

are those barbecue grills I see?

I think the railings give this building an almost glossy look from these steeper angles.

White is more reflective, and it helps the waves in the floorpates to stand out at night.

The rails do help alot.

^ Ironic, since earlier on everybody was concerned that the railings would actually ruin the building

I guess I should have known that....what is really remarkable is that I have designed quite a few multi-family urban towers and have never dealt with this issue, nor have any other projects I am aware of..... well, more power to them....

^ I wonder if the special railings are only on hotel floors. At least they would presumably not be on any of the condo floors (until later this year, if and when an owner needed to install them).