CHICAGO | Aqua | 858 FT / 262 M | 87 FLOORS - Page 14

spyguy · #**261** Posted **Mar 28, 2006, 3:19 PM**

Well one user confirmed what Crain's said a long time ago, and that was that Fairmont (->Strategic Hotels) was the hotel planned for this site.

HK Chicago · #**262** Posted **Mar 29, 2006, 2:58 AM**

^ I'd hate to lose the Aqua south view to BCBS, but I hope a well done tall tower get built between the 2.

spyguy · #**263** Posted **Mar 29, 2006, 3:49 AM**

Yeah, you're right. Many of us probably forgot about the other tall tower that's supposed to be just to the south.

Marvel 33 · #**264** Posted **Mar 29, 2006, 4:26 AM**

This is the picture, courtesy of uberalles in SSC.

BVictor1 · #**265** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 6:15 PM**

I went to the LSE sales center last weekend with Dan, and I snapped a few shots of the temperary model. This will give everyone a better idea of the reasons for the massive base. It also gives you a sense of scale for this building. They had to cut off about a foot of the legs on the main model so that the tower model will fit. Hell, if they decide to build anything bigger than Aqua this bitch will be sitting on the floor, or within a pit

Massive amounts of landscaping and activities on top of the podium. Think Lake Point Tower.

Aqua towers over all the other models.

trvlr70 · #**266** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 6:37 PM**

Lake Point Tower? I'm not crazy about the look of LPT's podium base from street level.

How are they going to intergrate the base to the abuting park? That is the question/dilema for the developers.

Right now, multi-story concrete walls are not very inspiring.

VivaLFuego · #**267** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 7:26 PM**

Would the podium landscaping be public? Is Lake Point Tower's?

Chi_Coruscant · #**268** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 7:44 PM**

^^Will the landscaping area be exclsuively used only by the Aqua residents? If so, that ain't good.

trvlr70 · #**269** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 8:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

Would the podium landscaping be public? Is Lake Point Tower's?

Lake Point Towers has a similar set up and its private, landscaped park is for residents only.

I hope Aqua does not follow suit.

BVictor1 · #**270** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 8:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivaLFuego

Would the podium landscaping be public? Is Lake Point Tower's?

No it isn't. For residents only.

Steely Dan · #**271** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 8:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi_Coruscant

^^Will the landscaping area be exclsuively used only by the Aqua residents? If so, that ain't good.

i'd be shocked if the podium gardens were public.

trvlr70 · #**272** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 8:36 PM**

Looks like another fortress podium....ick!

BVictor1 · #**273** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trvlr70

Lake Point Towers has a similar set up and its private, landscaped park is for residents only.

I hope Aqua does not follow suit.

why? what's wrong if it is private? there's a beautiful 6 acre landscape park 100' away for the public to enjoy. it's nice that the residents have a landscaped greenspace to themselves. do you want the public visiting your backyard? trampling your flowers and what not?

spyguy · #**274** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 8:46 PM**

Why can't it be private? Other people can enjoy Harbor Park too you know.

VivaLFuego · #**275** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVictor1

why? what's wrong if it is private? there's a beautiful 6 acre landscape park 100' away for the public to enjoy. it's nice that the residents have a landscaped greenspace to themselves. do you want the public visiting your backyard? trampling your flowers and what not?

In the highrise I live in, we have lovely landscaped and well-maintained park space above our parking garage that we pay to maintain.

It's public (easily accessible up 4 stairs from street level), and I'm happy that it is, because I think it sets a good example of stewardship and making the city beautiful for all.

A lovely public greenspace would add to the cachet and allure of the building.

spyguy · #**276** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 9:16 PM**

What about the Fairmont hotel-condos (I assume hotel-condos)? Would paying guests appreciate the park being open to anyone? I certainly would not considering that there are tons of other landscaped areas and Harbor Park for the public, as well as the lakefront and Millennium Park/Grant Park at your fingertips.

Chicago Shawn · #**277** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 10:51 PM**

^Just north of the base. The station sits on the poduim of 303 East Wacker Drive, a Meisian Illinois Center building

Chi_Coruscant · #**278** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 11:39 PM**

Most of the heavy foot activity is on the intersection of Randolph St and Upper Columbus Dr. With the park on podium as for Aqua residnets only, the pedesterians walking on the Upper Columbus Dr would not able to see the existing LSE community and its existing park. Worse is that they have to go thru Harbor Drive (?), quite a long walk past BCBSIL building and 340OTP.

VivaLFuego · #**279** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 11:43 PM**

Will the top of the podium be above upper columbus? if its at street level, make that baby public.

Chi_Coruscant · #**280** Posted **Apr 4, 2006, 11:58 PM**

^^At the bottom of this image, if this street with cars is Upper Columbus Dr, the park on the podium is elevated above. So the answer is no.