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

[Brian.]

Originally Posted by aaron38

Well yeah, I've seen that done with 5-9 story suburban condo buildings, where massive precast slabs are brought in, and maybe 10% hangs over the edge to form a balcony.
But in those buildings, the precast slabs form the entire floor area, whereas Aqua has the floor poured in place so that the floor meshes with the rebar in the columns to form the single structural unit.

How would precast slabs tie into the columns? Would that work for an 80 story building?

It generally works the same. Think of precast as stay in place formwork. You typically still have a topping pour of about 4" thick which would tie into the columns as you mentioned.

[Castillonis]

Have you ever seen someone pour concrete for a sidewalk that has curves?
They use a piece of wood that is flexible and stake it at various points to get the desired curve. Then they pour the concrete.

Think of it as drawing a circle inside of a rectangle.

So,
1. Assemble rectangular forms for the floor plate
2. Place a flexible material to define the curve within the rectangular form
3. Tie the rebar
4. pour / pump the concrete onto the form.

[EarlyBuyer]

Thanks andydie for your work on another great update!

[andydie]

Originally Posted by EarlyBuyer

Thanks andydie for your work on an other great update!

thanx EarlyBuyer, its always nice to hear that from you Hope you didnt mind the german music, hehe.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by Castillonis

Have you ever seen someone pour concrete for a sidewalk that has curves?
They use a piece of wood that is flexible and stake it at various points to get the desired curve. Then they pour the concrete.

Think of it as drawing a circle inside of a rectangle.

So,
1. Assemble rectangular forms for the floor plate
2. Place a flexible material to define the curve within the rectangular form
3. Tie the rebar
4. pour / pump the concrete onto the form.

Yes, that is what is happening here, I don't think Aaron and Precaster are talking about what is actually happening, but how one could use Precast to cantilever in a situation such as this.

[EarlyBuyer]

3/3/08
Crain's Chicago Business

"Powerhouse New York developer Related Cos. is in advanced negotiations to acquire a stake in Chicago residential high-rise developer Magellan Development Group LLC, which would take over Related's faltering Chicago office.

Talks to combine two of the Chicago area's largest developers come at a critical time for Related Midwest LLC. The luxury condominium developer is struggling with a slow sales start at its two newest projects and has been without a president..."

The full article:

http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/mag/article.pl?articleId=29353

[Dr. Taco]

hey, aqua, how you doin man?

[ethereal_reality]

This would be your view from AQUA ; if it had been built in the 1960s.
You can see elevated Randolph Street and the Prudential Building on the right.

[ethereal_reality]

^^^I didn't realize the photo was so big. SORRY!

[cbotnyse]

wow what a view and wow has it has changed. you should make your own thread of other photos you may have that dont relate to a particular building.

There is a section titled "found city photos"...I think they would be the best place. Just click on the new thread button in the upper left.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/forumdisplay.php?f=23

[left of center]

If you guys look down to the corner of Michigan and Randolph in that pic, you can see old Central Station, right in front of that old hospital building on Indiana which still stands today. Central Station is unfortunatly long gone.

[F1 Tommy]

Wow,that is an amazing shot.Taking out and covering the tracks has really
made alot possible.By looking at this picture it tells you that any parcel
of land can be developed dowtown no matter what it is now.Aqua will have a great veiw.

[i_am_hydrogen]

3/6/08:

[EarlyBuyer]

Great picture i_am_hydrogen!

The shot exemplifies the optical illusion of “glass curvature”

[honte]

^ You are absolutely right. I wondered what was going on with all those different sizes of glass. Perhaps this wasn't what they were after, but the different sizes certainly contribute to that effect.

If that was the reason, I have to say it was rather ingenious.

[SkokieSwift]

This building will be beautiful. Finally, an LSE building that lives up to its water-themed name!

Anyone know why they skipped a floor while installing the glass?

[harryc]

[aaron38]

Originally Posted by honte

^ You are absolutely right. I wondered what was going on with all those different sizes of glass. Perhaps this wasn't what they were after, but the different sizes certainly contribute to that effect.

Yes, and the shadows as well. When you look at it head on as in Hydrogen's shot, the curve of the balcony isn't very apparent, but the balconies cast large shadows on the glass, and that makes the glass look as if it's receeding back into the building.
In a bright summer sun, the effect may be quite striking.

[Alliance]

Also, as the building gets taller, the perspective will mandate that the balconies become more apparent. Eventually it'll look mostly concrete. Thats when this one will really swing for the fences.

[Steely Dan]

this project is so freaking ridiculously awesome. hydrogen, your pic showing the curved glass illusion is outstanding, that's an aspect of this design that i hadn't really fully wrapped my head around until you posted that pic. pure, raw, 100% unadulterated genius!