CHICAGO | Aqua | 858 FT / 262 M | 87 FLOORS

[Tom Servo]

man, that is too cool. i kinda wish this building were on the river. how cooler would that be?

[Buckman821]

amazing. at the very least they are considering something bold.

[woodrow]

I am betting that the color washes are for the benefit of the IOC guests, who are staying at the Fairmont. The colors seem Olympic-ish. Maybe they can be integrated into the finished product!!

[wrab]

Wow - the lighting is a nice surprise. The tower is gonna have some great skyline presence at night.

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by woodrow

Maybe they can be integrated into the finished product!!

I highly doubt that. Its being illuminated by floodlights, right? I mean, considering these are condos I doubt the future residents would appreciate those things shining in their living rooms at 1AM once this thing is finished. But it does look cool.

[headcase]

Originally Posted by woodrow

I am betting that the color washes are for the benefit of the IOC guests, who are staying at the Fairmont. The colors seem Olympic-ish. Maybe they can be integrated into the finished product!!

My thoughts exactly.

SSDD

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

I highly doubt that. Its being illuminated by floodlights, right? I mean, considering these are condos I doubt the future residents would appreciate those things shining in their living rooms at 1AM once this thing is finished. But it does look cool.

Ahh, but the fact that the balconies stick out so far would shield the windows from the light, so it would be entirely possible!

[Indescribable]

Those balconeys are tiny.

[bnk]

Originally Posted by Indescribable

Those balconeys are tiny.

I do not think they are all small. Some are larger than others. Aqua is a large building. Perhaps someone that knows can give us some specs on some of the balconies?


http://www.treehugger.com/aqua-balcony2.jpg


http://www.ctbuh.org/Portals/0/StudyTour/AquaTower/Large%20Images/BalconiesSwissotel.jpg

Many highrises have none at all. For me I would just love to get one large enough to grill outside on and fit a chair or two.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by bnk

Many highrises have none at all. For me I would just love to get one large enough to grill outside on and fit a chair or two.

They allow grilling on balconies in Chicago? I wouldn't want smoke from below coming into my unit.

[denizen467]

Originally Posted by viewguysf

They allow grilling on balconies in Chicago? I wouldn't want smoke from below coming into my unit.

Any? Shouldn't you just move to Montana if so?
With the breezes at those elevations, it would be dissipated most of the time. Or you might even close your balcony door for a few minutes.

[ChiPsy]

Originally Posted by viewguysf

They allow grilling on balconies in Chicago? I wouldn't want smoke from below coming into my unit.

Almost never a problem, although occasionally I get a noxious whiff of flamestarter fluid for a few minutes. Otherwise the smoke that wafts into any individual, neighboring unit from anyone else's balcony is usually negligible.

Having looked very closely at some Aqua units (and still sitting on the sidelines), btw, they are huge.

[Tom In Chicago]

Most of the residential high-rise buildings that I've been in only allow electric grills on balconies. . . That's how it is at Outer Drive East. . . I don't know how prevelent that actually may be, however. . .

Steely. . . how is it at Marina City?

Also I'm pretty sure the lights on Aqua are temporary. . . the effect is a less impressive afterthought. . .

. . .

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

Steely. . . how is it at Marina City?

any and all grills are allowed on marina city balconies- charcoal, gas, or electric. i started out with a charcoal weber, but i switched to a propane grill because the occasional high winds would sometimes kick up an obnoxious amount of ash when i opened the lid. i also got tired of lugging bags of charcoal up to my unit and the disposal of the spent ashes was annoying too. i clearly prefer the flavor of real wood/charcoal grilling, but i've found that gas is a million times more practical in high rise balcony situations.


as for the issue of smoke from neighboring balconies wafting into my unit, that's never been a problem for me, and i more or less live with my balcony door open all the time during the summer months.

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ Getting rid of the ashes is the easiest part! Just dump them off the balcony!

[lawfin]

Originally Posted by viewguysf

They allow grilling on balconies in Chicago? I wouldn't want smoke from below coming into my unit.

Oh boy.....and I don't want to live near snivling little cry babies who do not understand social space...

.....then don't live in a place that has outdoor balconies or allows bbq outside

[EarlyBuyer]

Update from Magellan released today:

"...The curb appeal of Aqua’s streetscape from Columbus Dr. has dramatically increased this week. Wavy planters including trees and plants were installed, windows were cleaned, and CVS has been busy working in their Southwest corner space to prepare for a mid-May opening. McHugh Construction has informed us that they are in the process of de-mobilizing the tower crane. Metal studs have been installed through floor 69. Drywall is up to floor 63 and windows are in up to floor 72..."

[harryc]

[george]

^ Good one, Harry. ^

[Jaroslaw]

Good one, I'd love to see more of how Aqua looks from N Mich.