CHICAGO | Aqua | 858 FT / 262 M | 87 FLOORS - Page 35

SimbyHeart · #**681** Posted **Sep 26, 2006, 8:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicubs111

everytime i look at the regatta I cant just figure out why they coulndt of just wrapped that thing compeltly in glass instead of that damn ugly growth on its side.

I also hate the fact that they made it like that, but regardless of their intentions, the city should force developers for better design.

I mean this is such a prominent location, and yet nobody seemed to care.I see the Regetta as an imcomplete design and poor attempt at a great opportunity wasted.

the urban politician · #**682** Posted **Sep 26, 2006, 9:40 PM**

^ It's going to be flanked by highrises on both sides. I don't see the big problem. Even those beautiful prewar, first school Chicago highrises have nice facades but dull, brick sides. Same concept, different materials..

If anything, it's that parking garage base fronting Wacker that's concerning aesthetically. What's going to be done to cover that? I guess we'll have to see.

Back to discussing Aqua..

neverdone · #**683** Posted **Sep 26, 2006, 10:05 PM**

that building looks wonderful, but I don't like the thick horizontal band of nothing halfway up. A tenant might get angry if the they condo is one where the deck terminates, and they are left with very little or no deck.

Steely Dan · #**684** Posted **Sep 26, 2006, 10:29 PM**

^ i have to imagine that the floor at the level of the horizontal band that you're talking about is a mechanical floor of some sort.

Atlas · #**685** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 12:05 AM**

This building is ugly and I agree it would look way better totaly covered in glass.

jjk1103 · #**686** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 2:45 AM**

....out of curiosity...when Aqua is complete will it be the last planned high rise in this complex (River East ?) .... I think everything else is supposed to be low rise town house construction ? ...am I correct ?

Steely Dan · #**687** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 2:51 AM**

^ nope. first off, aqua is part of lake shore east (LSE), not river east, and if the rumors that are trickling out are to be believd, we could see 3 more 80+ story buildings in the complex, along with a couple more 70-some floor towers and still more towers in the lower height ranges. with the slow down in the real estate market coming it's anybody's guess as to what will actually be built, but aqua is FAR from the last highrise planned for LSE.

jjk1103 · #**688** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 3:04 AM**

..........I'm reasonably familiar with the general lay of the land over there. I drive by quite frequently ? I know there is a vacant space next to Regatta along LSD............but where else is there room for more high rises ? ... i assume Mandarin is not part of the development ?

Adam186 · #**689** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 3:12 AM**

This should explain everything jjk1103:

kalmia · #**690** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 7:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam186

This should explain everything jjk1103:

Good map, but hard to read the text at that size.

What about the base of Aqua? That doesn't seem to be shown.

kalmia · #**691** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 7:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlas

This building is UGLY and I agree it would look way better totaly covered in glass.

I think it will have an interesting design. Wait to see what the balcony materials are.

BVictor1 · #**692** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 12:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalmia

Good map, but hard to read the text at that size.

What about the base of Aqua? That doesn't seem to be shown.

What are you talking about? The entire base of Aqua is shown. It looks like a giant piece of bread. You 2 sure you're familiar with the development/area?

Nowhereman1280 · #**693** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 2:07 PM**

Bvictor I believe he is referring to the big white thing shown at the base of Aqua in the picture. That is supposed to be parking or some other structure with a park (I'm assuming it will be private), outdoor pool, and other amentities on top. You can't see it as part of the outline because it looks like more park from directly above.

wrab · #**694** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 2:13 PM**

^^^
The park surrounding Aqua on the LSE map is the base - in other words, the park is a green roof on top of the base.

trvlr70 · #**695** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 2:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalmia

What about the base of Aqua? That doesn't seem to be shown.

Yeah it is....the base is the large square that Aqua sits in. Aqua is in the upper right corner.

neverdone · #**696** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 3:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

^ i have to imagine that the floor at the level of the horizontal band that you're talking about is a mechanical floor of some sort.

I hope it is not as obvious in the real building. Or maybe they can make the floor double height and add a fake bacony to it.

kalmia · #**697** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 9:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrabbit

^^^
The park surrounding Aqua on the LSE map is the base - in other words, the park is a green roof on top of the base.

that explains it

jjk1103 · #**698** Posted **Sep 27, 2006, 11:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam186

This should explain everything jjk1103:

.....I didn't realize that there was so much space along the river and along LSD ?! ...It doesn't look like much when you drive by the site !

CGII · #**699** Posted **Sep 28, 2006, 12:22 AM**

This is going to be the modern Marina City.

spyguy · #**700** Posted **Sep 28, 2006, 9:36 PM**

Strategic Hotels & Resorts to Acquire at Completion Hotel Development Space Adjacent to Fairmont Chicago Asset

CHICAGO, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: BEE) today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire at completion new hotel development space comprised of approximately 15 floors of the to-be-built Aqua Building for $82.4 million. The Company will purchase the space from Lakeshore East LLC, an affiliate of Magellan Development Group LLC. The Company will furnish and install hotel finishes upon Magellan's completion of the space.

The Aqua Building is an 82-story mixed use residential building in the 28- acre Lakeshore East development across North Columbus Drive and adjacent to the Company's Fairmont Chicago property. The hotel will consist of approximately 200 luxury suites averaging over 650 square feet each, a 20,000 square foot glazed ballroom with outdoor terrace space overlooking the award winning Lakeshore East Park, prefunction space, boardrooms and other general hotel support facilities. The building and hotel are expected to be completed by the end of 2009. The Company currently anticipates that the new hotel will be operated in conjunction with its existing Fairmont asset, to which it will be physically linked.

Laurence Geller, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Hotels & Resorts, commented, "We are proud to be a major player in the development of the Aqua Building. With its dramatic and innovative design, this property is destined to become a significant Chicago landmark. And with the addition of 200 luxury suites and approximately 30,000 square feet of unique meeting and prefunction space, the Aqua Building hotel development beautifully complements our Fairmont Hotel asset and builds overall portfolio value."