Afternoon Scene - Window Washing

I watched a pretty intricate window washing process going on at the Aqua building.

There's a guy on a little platform that moves up and down the building.

The horizontal boom moves him in and out according to the width of the balconies. He then reaches out and washes each window by hand.

Very impressive.

Aqua

I know I've posted photos of the 80-story "Aqua" building before, but today I was out there on my lunch break, the sun was shining, and I took some more photos. It really is impressive -- but only if you're up close to it like this where the rippling balconies have this effect. If you're standing more than a couple of blocks away, it's actually a very non-descript building. (As non-descript as 80-story buildings can be, anyway.)

Note: Each balcony does have a railing but they're designed in such a way that they "disappear" which is pretty cool.

Aqua

The new 80-story condo building called “Aqua” sits right across the street from my workplace. I am just fascinated by it. You can't see it, but each of those balconies do have railings. They were designed to be invisible.

Also, this building just won the 2009 Skyscraper of the Year Award.

Deservedly so.

Morning Scene - Aqua

The 81-story building called "Aqua" is now complete and being occupied. I think it's simply stunning.

Years from now, I hope it doesn't become a silly example of early 21st-century architecture when architects were getting carried away with letting computers design complex structures.

But it probably will.

Morning Scene - Aqua

I continue to be utterly amazed by this building called "Aqua" that's shooting up across the street from my workplace. It still has a way to go before it tops out at 83 stories.

It's hard to see, but all those balconies do have railings. They were designed in such a way so that the railings sort of disappear.

This will truly become a landmark in Chicago.

Morning Scene - Aqua

The "Aqua" building across the street from my workplace has got to be the most unique structure I've ever seen.

Soon, these undulating balconies will rise 80 stories tall.

If ever a building was to be called "sexy" this would be the one.

Morning Scene - Aqua

Across the street from my workplace is the construction site for the new building called “Aqua”. This soon-to-be 87 story structure is just about the most unique building I’ve ever seen; certainly in Chicago. Each balcony has a different design, thus giving the whole structure an undulating effect.

It will be a combination of retail stores, offices and condominiums. The architect is Jeanne Gang.

Here’s what it will look like when completed.

Aqua

Chicago is definitely experiencing a condo-building boom.

Besides the 92-story Trump tower, the 150-story Chicago Spire, the 87-story condo building called Aqua is also shooting toward the skies of the Windy City.

It’s being built right across the street from my workplace and going up so fast that I just now noticed the darn thing.

Here are some snaps.
The balconies on this thing are so incredibly unique. Each floor has a different configuration of balconies so that, when complete, they’ll give the entire building an undulating effect.

SO. . . VERY. . . COOL!!!

Here's what it'll look like when completed:

I cannot imagine the complexity of the mathematical equations those balconies must require in order to specify their dimensions.

Get this - - the designer/architect is a woman, Jeanne Gang.

I thought only boys could build things.

I so wish I could have cheated off her tests during high school algebra. I’ll bet she could make those quadratic equations just sing.

Yes, the Aqua building is definitely unique.

But I still love my goofy Marina Towers with all its retro appeal and wouldn’t trade it for anything.