March 29, 2008 - If you’ve had a chance to look at the progress of Aqua recently, then you’ll know that the tidal wave of undulating balconies has risen to the 24th floor. When architect Jeanne Gang’s design for the 82 story building was first unveiled to the public, there were those who doubted that the unconventional and daring high-rise would be able to stand up to the hype. Now that the tower is nearly a third of the way up, it is not only gaining height but fans as well.

The process to create those waving balconies was described in a recent Chicago Tribune article. The specifications for each balcony curve had to be programmed into a computerized surveying instrument so that the steel forms could be bent exactly right. The concrete was then pumped and poured to fill those forms and create each unique curve. Gang also allowed the balconies to extend 12 feet in some cases so that residents would be able to see beyond the restrictions of neighboring towers. This fancy bit of architecture only added 1.5 percent to the total construction budget.

Aqua is a mixed-use real estate project, with 268 condos, 476 apartments, 210 hotel rooms plus retail space and an 80,000 square foot deck outdoors. The most recent sales figures put the building at more than 90 percent sold, making it one of the more successful Pre Construction Condos in Chicago of late. The units that are still available range in price anywhere from the mid $600,000s to over $1.5 million. Construction should be complete in early 2010, with first deliveries possible in late 2009.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, March 29th, 2008 at 6:26 pm and is filed under Luxury Condos(t) , News(t) . You can leave a response.