Aqua Tower / Studio Gang

Architects: Studio Gang
Year: 2009
Area: 1,900,000 ft²
Photographs: Hedrich Blessing, Studio Gang Architects
Manufacturers: Endicott, Trespa, EFCO, Formply, Interstate Brick, Jeld-Wen, Otis, Prairie, Toto, Tubelite, Viracon
Client: Magellan Development Group LLC
Type: Office, Residential
Sustainability: LEED-NC Certified
City: Chicago
Country: United States

Aqua Tower, an 82-story mixed-use skyscraper by Studio Gang in Chicago, is a landmark addition to the city’s skyline, reflecting the evolution of skyscraper architecture since 1885. Rising 250 meters (819 feet), its sculptural façade, inspired by the striated limestone formations of the Great Lakes, extends views and enhances solar shading. Despite its fluid exterior, the structure maintains a rational framework aligned with Mies van der Rohe’s modernist legacy. Introduced in a 2009 AIA Convention lecture by Jeanne Gang, the tower includes hotel rooms, rental units, condominiums, office space, and underground parking, with an eight-story base featuring gardens, pools, and recreational areas.

Chicago’s skyline serves as a timeline of skyscraper history, beginning in 1885 with the Home Insurance Building. The Aqua Tower by Studio Gang stands out along this timeline, not only for its height of 250 meters but also for its sculptural form. The design draws inspiration from the striated limestone outcroppings found in the Great Lakes region. However, this sinuous shape is not merely a formal gesture but also a strategic approach to extending views and optimizing solar shading. The plans reveal a rational structure that aligns with Mies van der Rohe’s architectural legacy in the city.

Studio Gang was introduced to a wider audience through a lecture by Jeanne Gang at the 2009 AIA Convention, where her work left a strong impression.

The Aqua Tower is an 82-story mixed-use residential skyscraper, standing 250 meters (819 feet) tall. It includes 215 hotel rooms on floors 1-18, 476 rental residential units on floors 19-52, and 263 condominium units and penthouses on floors 53-80. The tower also features retail and office space, spanning 55,000 square feet (5,100 m²), along with six levels of underground parking. Its eight-story base, covering 140,000 square feet (13,000 m²), incorporates an 82,550-square-foot (7,669 m²) terrace with gardens, gazebos, pools, hot tubs, a walking/running track, and a fire pit.