^ I agree 100% with every word of this above post

^ You might be a bit dissappointed if you try...

well, i wasn't really trying to brow-beat my feelings on this proposal into the rest of you (alright, i was trying a little ;) ), but i'm just so excited for this project. if you honestly don't like it, that's cool, people are free to like and dislike whatever they want. i guess i went on my ramblings here in this thread because people were putting themselves into a so-called "hater" group and i feel there is so MUCH more to this project than what is currently meeting the eye with these tiny, preliminary cardboard model pics.

I just meant the design was the same. I saw an actual rendering of what the building will look like. I think that it's a sweet design. The cluster of highrises in that 3 block radius is almost unimaginable. 1-1,000+: 1-900+: 2-800+; then there's the second tower for LSE on Columbus which will be roughly the same height as Aqua, and the possible future expansion of BCBS with 340 OtP going up now... Whew.....

What would be the address for this? Im now having a hard time picturing where it would be.

And BVic, are both towers going next to each other from what you know? Its just so dense over there that I have no idea where these lots are. Thank you.

Aqua will be situated next to the fire station on columbus and the second tower will be closer to the bcbs plaza.

LOL. I still have no clue. Whats an address fairly close so I can look at an arieal on Google Earth?

Edit:Nevermind I found it. A building that tall should have significant presence and could be seen from the river, right? Because nothing else that tall in LakeshoreEast should be close to Aqua, right? It would be so nice to see it on an architecture river tour. Damn, 2010 cant come fast enough.

The second tower that will stand side by side with Aqua is to be developed by Fifield Realty Co (if I am right on this one). Who is an architect?

2006 is starting off as a marvelous time for us and hopefully remains eternally. I can't believe that 800' is now norm to us. Legacy. Inter-Continental. Mandarin-Oriental. 830 S Mich. 3rd tower taller than OMP. 29-32 S. LaSalle. Aqua and another tower.

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8062/site044bp.jpg
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8407/site028nl.jpg
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/5577/site013lc.jpg

I know, that's going to be quite a sight! A bunch of giant buildings in a 3 block radius.

As far as the design, I am really digging it, except for the color (assuming that is the color).

Architecturally speaking, this building is very refreshing and it'll give the skyline a nice and interesting look in that part of town.

Adam, nice find on the LSE models. You really gotta love 340 OTP.

Is it based on the main entrance on Upper Columbus Drive or at the LSE park?

I am still loving Aqua. It is so one-of-a-kind.

i was expecting exactly what Gang was talking about in her interviews. Something completely unique, new and depending on your angle you're viewing it from, it would take on a completely different form. Something that would be incredibly hard to accomplish in contemporary high-rise design, but something I thought she'd be able to pull out

While I'll judge this at a later date when better renderings are out, there's just no way of telling that this thing is the best thing the city has proposed in decades. I am excited about it as I've been a Gang fan since before the theatre she built out in Rockford.

^ I think Fordham Spire still holds that title in my mind, although this building is certainly #2, with number 3 being far, far, far below both of them

that's true at this point, but i'm just looking into the future a bit and i can say that of all the proposed skyscrapers during my 30 year life span in this town, nothing has excited me as much as what i am seeing so far in this proposal, with the possible exception of fordham spire. my prognostications may not pan out, however.

Amazing. I don't know how anyone can say this. Like I said, I like it. But it's more novel than anything. This is the type of tower that tourists at navy pier will point to, and gawk at. But I assure you, this wont be in the running for the pritzker prize. I guess everyone's entitled to their opinion.

I would say wait, and see what Kamin says about it. But he never likes anything anymore. So I guess that wouldn't be a good measure of its true architectural merit.

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/8407/site028nl.jpg

Sorry for getting off the topic for just a moment, but doesn't the BCBS building look taller in that scale model? Like if they already added the extra floors...

^Not exactly a scale model... the BCBS would be taller than 340 on the Park if it were extended all the way up. They just made it too big.

Thanks Dan!

I fixed the height and colored it blue-green, my guess of its color. Enjoy it and the new animation.
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7776/nn11.th.jpg

Animated flyaround of downtown (16MB .avi)