Aqua (skyscraper), Chicago

It was nearly half a century later that Marina City finally met its match with the arrival of Aqua, Jeanne Gang鈥檚 shimmering high-rise wonder. Previously, the iconic 鈥渃orncobs鈥� ruled Chicago's riverfront for decades until Aqua, standing almost 860 feet tall and dripping with design flair, stole the glances and headlines alike. It鈥檚 bold, yes鈥攂ut it鈥檚 also award-winning bold, proudly holding the title of the tallest building designed by a woman-led team. Chicago, meet your new skyline showstopper!

Just like Marina City, Aqua mixes it all鈥攈omes, shops, a hotel, and offices鈥攂ut while Marina rolls with the curves, Aqua plays with layers. At first glance, it鈥檚 a rectangular tower. But then Gang pulls her architectural magic trick: 鈥渧ertical topography.鈥� That鈥檚 code for balconies that ripple, wave, jut, and recede across the fa莽ade like windblown water frozen in time.

One floor might sprout a sun-catching twelve-foot terrace. The next is a minimalist ledge, just two feet deep鈥攐r nothing at all. And where the balconies vanish, Gang slides in sleek, reflective glass 鈥減ools鈥� that mimic shimmering water tucked between the waves. On top, there's an 80,000-square-foot garden playground鈥攄esigned by Ted Wolff鈥攚ith actual water and greenery, just in case the metaphor wasn鈥檛 clear enough.

From afar, Aqua can disappear into the skyline, especially on grey Chicago days. But catch it in the right light, and the building pulses with movement. Try standing underneath one of its corners and look up鈥攜our brain might short-circuit trying to make sense of the constantly shifting geometry. It鈥檚 like watching the city breathe.

No two balconies here are the same. Truly brilliant in its water-like appearance, this building proves that in Chicago, architecture isn鈥檛 just built鈥攊t flows...

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Chicago. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Aqua (skyscraper)
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Loop District Architecture Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Chicago, Illinois

Create Your Own Walk in Chicago

Creating your own self-guided walk in Chicago is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Chicago Old Town Walking Tour

Settled in 1850 by German immigrants, Chicago鈥檚 Old Town neighborhood is a popular destination for locals and visitors who cater to the entertainment venues, restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and boutiques 鈥� all of which have turned an area once referred to as the 鈥淐abbage Patch鈥� into an attraction that rivals Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Magnificent Mile.

Start your Old Town walking... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Chicago Navy Pier Walking Tour

Additional to scenic views of the lake, the boats, and the city skyline, the Navy Pier offers a variety of attractions on the waterfront 鈥� for kids as well as adults 鈥� that draw nearly ten million people annually, making this Chicago's most visited spot. Yes, some may see it as a 鈥渢ourist trap鈥�, but it is worth the time and money to spend some time here, so take this self-guided walk... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles

Millennium and Grant Parks Walking Tour

The city of Chicago is renowned for its outdoor green spaces. One such 鈥渇orever free and open鈥� space, is called Grant Park and was established in 1844. In fact, upon foundation, it was called Lake Park, but was renamed in 1901 after the American Civil War General and United States President, Ulysses S. Grant.

Popularly referred to as 鈥淐hicago's front lawn,鈥� this lakefront park is... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles

University of Chicago Walking Tour

Founded in 1890, the University of Chicago is among the world鈥檚 most prestigious educational institutions. As of 2020, the University鈥檚 students, faculty and staff have included 100 Nobel laureates, giving it the fourth-most affiliated Nobel laureates of any university.

Set in the heart of Chicago鈥檚 famous eclectic neighborhood, Hyde Park, the campus is worth a visit as it offers a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles

The Magnificent Mile Walking Tour

The stretch of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Lake Shore Drive, otherwise known as the Magnificent Mile, is regarded as one of the world鈥檚 great avenues 鈥� or Chicago鈥檚 version of Fifth Avenue. Take this self-guided walk to explore its whole stretch and surrounding area, featuring a wide selection of amazing stores/malls, world-known museums, restaurants and spectacular... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles

Loop District Architecture Walking Tour

The Chicago Loop District鈥攅ssentially the city鈥檚 historic downtown鈥攈as long been a stage for architectural innovation and an open-air museum of American architecture.

The construction boom started after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which destroyed much of the central business district, gave architects a blank canvas to rebuild the city from the ground up. What followed was a surge of... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles

View all walking tours in Chicago, Illinois

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