[trvlr70]

Good one denizen467...Grand Hyatt would definitely be another great candidate for Aqua. Their Hyatt Suites concept failed here, (now the Omni Suites), but Grand Hyatt...you could be onto something. Location proximity to each other = synergy. Perhaps the HRC could do the laundry for the Grand Hyatt, as the space at Aqua was designed without hotel laundry facilities or a substantial kitchen. They were planning to use those at the Fairmont and then rolling them via the new pedway under Columbus Drive.

I can see that happening: Grand Hyatt Chicago at Millenium Park....or something along those lines.

[arenn]

I have to be honest, this building looks much uglier in person than it does in the renderings. The final product is not that good.

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

I have to be honest, this building looks much uglier in person than it does in the renderings. The final product is not that good.

I have to be honest: I don't agree.

[Alliance]

Likewise.

[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


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[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


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[EarlyBuyer]

Sorry guys-ImageShack isn't cooperating right now, I'll post sets 3-5 this afternoon.

[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


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[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


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[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


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[lawfin]

EB thanks

think you can capture one with aqua and it height in relation to top of aon

once again nice job

[denizen467]

Perhaps the HRC could do the laundry for the Grand Hyatt, as the space at Aqua was designed without hotel laundry facilities or a substantial kitchen. They were planning to use those at the Fairmont and then rolling them via the new pedway under Columbus Drive.
I used to wonder about that but never saw anything written about it so I assumed it would be a self-contained hotel operation. Wow, so room service was going to travel a couple hundred yards before reaching someone in Aqua? That is very interesting. Magellan really seems to have limited itself with this. But maybe at least a kitchen can be retrofitted into Aqua, with laundry handled via pedway (maybe a diagonal pedway from Aqua to Hyatt Regency...?).

[honte]

Wow Early, some of those are just fabulous. Your best post so far!

[andydie]

:previous: I agree with honte. Just got an Aqua-gasm:D

[wrab]

^ Aqualicious!

[NYC4Life]

Appears close to a top-out, if it hasn't already.

[honte]

^ Huh?

[JManc]

that is a great looking building.

[jc5680]

Appears close to a top-out, if it hasn't already.

There is still ~15 floors left.

[alsajano]

Great report, EB. Many thanks. :tup:

[EarlyBuyer]

I appreciate the compliments lawfin, honte, andy, wrabbit and alsajano!

[andydie]

Hello Friends and Aquafans,

made a Vol.2 of my EarlyBuyer Fast Timelapse Edition for you all to enjoy:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=9SiMkvOLcfs

Music: Jolly Harbour - The Beauty ( Martin Roth Deep Atmosphere Remix Edit )

[f4fwildcatpilot]

it looks like it's warping and about to fall over

[jjk1103]

There is still ~15 floors left.

....so a Jan 30, 2009 top out ?

[EarlyBuyer]

Great video update Andy, well done as always!

Thank you.

[harryc]

Nov 19 - from Wells bridge.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SS05gap4ZEI/AAAAAAAA_OE/z_Qoa1SrxCY/s800/P1150855_3_4.jpg

Nov 24 - from across the river.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SS05h9zsdTI/AAAAAAAA_OQ/9mVw042QPTs/s800/P1160389_90_91.jpg

[Jibba]

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SS05gap4ZEI/AAAAAAAA_OE/z_Qoa1SrxCY/s800/P1150855_3_4.jpg


Sweet shot. Man, if only Aqua were west of Park Millennium that view would be so much sweeter: Hotel 71, Carbide and Carbon, Aqua, etc. :slob:

[truedaniel]

Finally created an account so I can actually contribute to these posts rather than just look at pics.

harryc...sick photos brotha!

I must admit, I have been following this building for a while, what a unique and interesting way to simply curve balconies. This building is an instant icon in Chi-town!!

Cheers everyone!

[SolarWind]

November 18, 2008

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/1427/dsc0251ma7.jpg

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/4098/dsc0245yx6.jpg

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/7526/dsc0246is7.jpg

[harryc]

Great job capturing the base there :previous:

[cityofblindinglights]

i know this is not a great photo, but I was shocked this morning when I realized for the first time that I would be able to see this building from my window...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/3067543109_f4ccc6007a_b.jpg

[SolarWind]

November 18, 2008

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2760/dsc0263br3.jpg

http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/2668/dsc0248no6.jpg

[Jibba]

^Superb photos, SolarWind. The plastic wrapping on some of those balconies has me thinking: Aqua would look so sweet in the winter if there were some serious icicle formations. Not that that would be a good thing safety-wise, but it would sure look bad-ass.

[hawkeye view]

Great photos Harry, Solar, Early.
Here's something I really like, see how the glass reflects at night. It takes on a shimmer that befits its name :)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1661/img2169lh0.jpg (http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2169lh0.jpg)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/9791/img2170an6.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2170an6.jpg)

[the urban politician]

^ Stunning

[SolarWind]

November 18, 2008

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/4290/dsc0259gp2.jpg

[harryc]

Those are some stunning shots Hawkeye, and Solar you have found a great composition where I didn't see one, again.

[Chicago Shawn]

^Nice shot!!

[Ch.G, Ch.G]

^ Yeah, for real. Wow you guys. Also, that bus looks like a stretch Honda Element.

[EarlyBuyer]

Beautiful shots Solar and hawkeye! Nice work!

[Ordo_]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/3070392194_7982e11125_b.jpg

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[robhut]

Aqua is looking fantastic.
It actually looks better that the renders. I am extreamly satisfied.
Good for Aqua!!!

[harryc]

[
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/3069863271_204a1d4235_b.jpg


Nice - very nice.

[EarlyBuyer]

Outstanding debut photos Ordo!

[Fabb]

It actually looks better that the renders.

It does.
In some pictures, however, it doesn't even look real. It's like a computer-generated picture.

[Rilestone75]

Does anyone have an idea of what the height is right now or how much taller it is going to go?

[EarlyBuyer]

:previous:

The 68th floor has been started, which puts it at 652 feet with 170 feet to go until it reaches its final height of 822 feet.

[NYC4Life]

From the photos, the tower looks as tall as it will top out.

[EarlyBuyer]

Final units remaining available:

http://chicago.condo.com/BuildingDetails/AvailableUnits.aspx?ID=2859826

[Jibba]

From tonight:
http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6823/dsc056165630585lo2.jpg
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/226/dsc056195872126ar7.jpg

[Dr. Taco]

From the photos, the tower looks as tall as it will top out.

look at the page one render. There are to be about 25 floors above the transfer floors, and in these most recent pictures, there are only about 13 floors completed

[truedaniel]

Shoot, 822 ft in height for such a slender building is astonishing.

Cheers everyone!!!

[photoLith]

I think this could be one of my most favorite buildings in Chicago now. Its looking super awesome these days and it still has about 150 ft to go! wow

[kpexpress]

This building is so interesting! I think it is one of my favs now too.

[Beck4ABigChicago]

Final units remaining available:

http://chicago.condo.com/BuildingDetails/AvailableUnits.aspx?ID=2859826

One for as low as $447/ft....Amazing.

[NYC4Life]

I think this could be one of my most favorite buildings in Chicago now. Its looking super awesome these days and it still has about 150 ft to go! wow

This tower was primarily designed by a female architec by the name of Jeanne Gang, hence the sexiness of the tower :tup:

[EarlyBuyer]

EB thanks

think you can capture one with aqua and it height in relation to top of aon

once again nice job

Okay, here you go...

Photo taken by EarlyBuyer


http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/152/dsc0366hi2.jpg

[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/8792/dsc0368vl6.jpg


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[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


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[EarlyBuyer]

Photos taken by EarlyBuyer


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[lawfin]

Okay, here you go...

Photo taken by EarlyBuyer


http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/152/dsc0366hi2.jpg

Thanks....nice job....and that sucker is gettin' tall

[the urban politician]

^ Beautiful. I notice a lot of shadows over LSE's park. Should we be worried? Mr Downtown needs to post a shadow study ;)

[Jibba]

Well the park has hardly any trees, so something needs to provide some shade...

[Nowhereman1280]

^^^ You'd actually be surprised, I was down there late summer and was really impressed with how big some of the trees are down there. There are several areas where the trees are just slightly smaller than "mature" and make some nice forested areas.

[honte]

^ Beautiful. I notice a lot of shadows over LSE's park. Should we be worried?

Direct sunlight in parks makes dogs constipated.

[lawfin]

^ Beautiful. I notice a lot of shadows over LSE's park. Should we be worried? Mr Downtown needs to post a shadow study ;)
Classic.

Maybe he will post the statory history of allowable shadow to sunlight floor ratios as well as setback requirment for shadows from the nearest residential entrance

[Chitown]

^ Beautiful. I notice a lot of shadows over LSE's park. Should we be worried? Mr Downtown needs to post a shadow study ;)
Haha. It's almost disturbing that I get that reference.

[Jibba]

From tonight:
http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/4407/dsc056819505964xq7.jpg
http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/9650/dsc056849208403lq6.jpg

[harryc]

Dec 10
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SUVXUwc3ZKI/AAAAAAABAfs/GUmDtUeT28o/s800/P1180039.JPG

Dec 12
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SUVXWhRczpI/AAAAAAABAf4/o0qqJMheo4s/s800/P1180351.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SUVXYjkLCcI/AAAAAAABAgE/KO7gQx2pVtA/s800/P1180362.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SUVXaRDlWMI/AAAAAAABAgQ/9poOaHEKpXY/s800/P1180410.JPG
( Jibba - I will include the railing next time, nice touch)

[Jibba]

^Ha, looks like we had the same idea on that amazingly clear night.

[EarlyBuyer]

Great shots jibba and harry!

[denizen467]

Direct sunlight in parks makes dogs constipated.
... which I think is a good thing, at least for us bipeds (or at least those who happen not to own quadrupeds).

[Jibba]

Tonight:
http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/8073/dsc057835285241vo6.jpg
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1963/dsc057927151828yc2.jpg
http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/9568/dsc057875294847sd6.jpg

[dawn.]

Okay, here you go...

Photo taken by EarlyBuyer


http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/152/dsc0366hi2.jpg

I'm going to start drooling.... Love this picture.

I saw Aqua this summer - it's looking great!

[harryc]

From the riverside.
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SUo06Gu1HmI/AAAAAAABAo8/LM8edJ-M4Ew/s800/P1180491.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SUo07rjlj1I/AAAAAAABApI/30r-CSnZgog/s720/P1180500.JPG

[EarlyBuyer]

Thanks harry, the second shot is my favorite.

[lawfin]

Did they jump the crane one more time in harryc's pic at Aqua versus EarlyBuyer Aqua AOn pic?

[harryc]

Did they jump the crane one more time in harryc's pic at Aqua versus EarlyBuyer Aqua AOn pic?

Yes

[lawfin]

Is aqua's height measured from an entrance on top of the podium...or is it measured from an entrance at park level at base of podium?

[cbotnyse]

how many more floors to go?

[Nowhereman1280]

Is aqua's height measured from an entrance on top of the podium...or is it measured from an entrance at park level at base of podium?

Measured from the entrance at the same level as Columbus...

[Ryan81]

how many more floors to go?

Based on the rendering, it looks like 10 or 11 more floors.

[Tom In Chicago]

Measured from the entrance at the same level as Columbus...

Currently it's measured from upper/upper Columbus, but I think the CTBUH might be making a case to measure it from the ground level. . . we'll see what happens. . .

[nomarandlee]

wrong thread.

[lawfin]

Currently it's measured from upper/upper Columbus, but I think the CTBUH might be making a case to measure it from the ground level. . . we'll see what happens. . .

Thanks, so if it went through it would add what about 50 ft?

[EarlyBuyer]

:previous:

The completed c.c.d. height will be 877 (rounded) ft.

[EarlyBuyer]

I don't think this article has been previously posted.

Aqua Making Waves In Chicago

"...Aqua, which has been designed to meet LEED certification, will feature five levels of enclosed parking and three levels of retail, hotel and amenity space on an eight-story base. The tower will feature 18 floors of hotel space, 30 floors of apartments and 25 stories of condominiums.

Aqua will measure 874 feet in height and although it is listed as an 82-story structure, it actually will rise 88 stories from ground level, with six levels of parking below the raised street level of Upper Columbus Drive. The building's eight-story base – which will be topped by an 80,000-square-foot terrace with gardens, gazebos, pools, hot tubs, walking/running track, and fire pit – will offer approximately 140,000 square feet per floor, while typical tower floors will be approximately 16,000 square feet.

The building's exterior is being composed with approximately 300,000 square feet of glass. “There are five different types of glass in the window system,” Bullard says..."


http://www.acppubs.com/TalkBack/Comments?talk_back_header_id=6570722&articleid=ca6614365&article_id=6614365

[EarlyBuyer]

Here's another article that I don't recall seeing previously posted here.

Site, Materials, and Form Flow Together in Studio Gang’s Aqua Tower

"...Gang isn’t talking about general platitudes of adjacent building stock, history, demographics, and economy. Aqua Tower’s every arc and curve of its terraces is an explicit reaction to the forms that surround it.

Each terrace is an extension of the 9-inch concrete floor slabs, which taper to 6 inches at the balconies’ edge. They were all poured in place on top of a table system and shaped by a flexible steel edge that can be reused to make different shapes. Gang and the tower’s builders are using a robotic survey tool that is able to load construction drawings and lay them out almost instantly. “At first, we were thinking they were going to come within a tolerance of 4-5 inches, but it’s really dead on,” she says. “We’ve found that there’s no variation between what was drawn and what gets laid out.”

Gang says this digital efficiency helped her stay on budget with the project’s developer, saving time and money for extra materials. The tower’s unique design brought Gang and her team another money-saving bonus. They found that they could save over a million dollars by forgoing the building’s sway dampening system, because the parallel terraces diffused horizontal wind loads..."


http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek08/1010/1010d_aqua.cfm

[Jibba]

The building's exterior is being composed with approximately 300,000 square feet of glass. “There are five different types of glass in the window system,” Bullard says..."

Thanks for posting these articles; they had a few bits of new and interesting information, particularly this part about the glass. I don't recall there even being a consensus as to whether or not there was variable types of glass composing the facade or not, but this tidbit certainly confirms the matter. Although, I wonder what "five different types" specifically refers to: reflectivity? thickness? material composition? size? No matter the specifics, I am pretty certain that the different types account for the unique reflection patterns of the facade that add another dimension to the the visual texture, a dimension that helps reinforce the aesthetic mission.

[honte]

^ Yeah, I enjoyed the articles too; hadn't seen them before.

The five types of glass, I would suppose are one type for base / retail, and two each for clear and spandrel, depending on high- or low-reflectance. It's very easy to end up with many types of glass on a job. Although 5 is somewhat unusual for a residential high rise, it's not hard to get to that point or even much more complicated, depending on the complexity of the project.

[Vito Corleone]

Thanks, so if it went through it would add what about 50 ft?

Here are the latest height figures taken from an e-mail I received from Studio Gang:

To top of parapet around mechanical penthouse:
873' 0" - measured from CCD
867' 0" - measured from Lower Columbus Drive
858' 4" - measured from East Park sidewalk level at parkhomes
819' 4" - measured from sidewalk level on Upper Columbus Drive (main entance)

[wrab]

Thanks, EarlyBuyer, for the interesting articles. On the second, from AIArchitect: .....Gang started the design of the glass-walled building in downtown Chicago a few blocks from Lake Michigan and the Chicago River with a decision to extend the volume of the building outward in a handful of places to provide better views—to “bump out,” as she says, areas across several floors to see through the thicket of high rises in the city..... http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek08/1010/1010d_aqua.cfm So the concept started with and was driven by the view corridors. I knew before that this was an important part of the program, but hadn't appreciated just how central.

BTW, I get the impression that Gang doesn't particularly care for the "Aqua" moniker.

---

Here are the latest height figures taken from an e-mail I received from Studio Gang.....

Excellent sourcing!

[TorancisOMP]

[[

[Tom In Chicago]

Here are the latest height figures taken from an e-mail I received from Studio Gang:

To top of parapet around mechanical penthouse:
873' 0" - measured from CCD
867' 0" - measured from Lower Columbus Drive
858' 4" - measured from East Park sidewalk level at parkhomes
819' 4" - measured from sidewalk level on Upper Columbus Drive (main entance)

So what are you guys thinking? 858'?

[ChicagoChicago]

^ Yeah, I enjoyed the articles too; hadn't seen them before.

The five types of glass, I would suppose are one type for base / retail, and two each for clear and spandrel, depending on high- or low-reflectance. It's very easy to end up with many types of glass on a job. Although 5 is somewhat unusual for a residential high rise, it's not hard to get to that point or even much more complicated, depending on the complexity of the project.
Actually, my sources show 6 types of glass, not including the sliding doors. They are listed as:

Vision Glass, non-reflective (N, S, E)
Vision Glass, reflective (S, E)
Vision Glass, green (W)
Spandrel Glass, non-reflective (N, S, E) standard color frit
Spandrel Glass, non-reflective (W) standard green frit
Spandrel Glass, reflective (S, E)

All windows are 1”. Two 1/4” thick sheets sandwiching ½ insulating layer.

[honte]

^ Strange, I didn't see anything different about the west glazing. Perhaps it's just for the area around the Columbus Drive frontage (along the lines of my first speculation)?

[harryc]

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SVGQCu72-uI/AAAAAAABA04/KxURbbIE36o/s800/P1180665.JPG

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SVGQAf7YgjI/AAAAAAABA0s/W7eZZY-vSnw/s800/P1180662.JPG

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_8TC_VUmf9Fw/SVGP-bWnlDI/AAAAAAABA0g/2wi_v3ssNa8/s800/P1180659.JPG

[denizen467]

So what are you guys thinking? 858'?
If you apply the Sears Tower logic (Wacker rather than Franklin), is it possible to use this figure? (Not that I agree with the Sears Tower logic.)

[EarlyBuyer]

Thanks harryc for the update on the canopy/running path extension. Definitely a photography subject rich building!

[Tom In Chicago]

If you apply the Sears Tower logic (Wacker rather than Franklin), is it possible to use this figure? (Not that I agree with the Sears Tower logic.)

Sears Tower "logic" as it's currently being applied by the CTBUH and Emporis is that the building height (1,450' 7") is measured from the Franklin Street side (lowest) of the building to the top of the mechanical penthouse roofplate. . .

What I'm suggesting is that the park-homes along the east side (lowest) are part of the complex and therefore should be counted in the absolute height of the building when considering an "official" height. . . so yeah. . . 858' would be my recommendation based on the figures Gang sent over. . .

. . .