Aqua Tower model

Studio Gang’s 82-story Aqua Tower is among Chicago’s most important tall buildings of the 2000s. The tower’s urban context helped determine its undulating exterior, resulting in unique concrete balconies designed to give residents views of specific Chicago landmarks, control solar exposure, and create sight lines between neighbors that can encourage socializing and a sense of community. Evoking the flow of wind, water, and topography, the building was designed and constructed with a combination of digital and analogue techniques to create mass-produced, yet custom-made, forms. Aqua Tower fuses Studio Gang’s rigorous research process with a dedication to strong architectural expression.