I just can’t seem to stop visiting Aqua lately! This time it was to meet up with some friends and fellow photographers. I rarely visit the same building this frequently in such a short span of time but it is one of Chicago’s best. Each time I go I think I’ve seen it all the ways I possibly can but when you factor in weather, time of day, my mood, it seems I can always come up with at least one new way to see this beautiful building!

By now you know Jeanne Gang, principal and founder of Studio Gang Architects, designed this beauty. The tallest building in the world designed by a woman, so glad it’s right here in Chicago!
Gang has cited the topography of the Great Lakes as inspiration for the design, the building is situated just west of Lake Michigan.  I definitely love how well she pulls inspiration from the building’s environment into her designs. The undulating balconies are reminiscent of waves or ripples in the water or sand and give the building a sculptural quality. The name, Aqua, also ties in with the nautical theme of the majority of the other buildings in Lake Shore East.
One more fun little fact, this is the first downtown Chicago building to combine offices, retail, condos, apartments and a hotel, the Radisson Blu Aqua, all in one building.
Because I like the color version too, here are a few.

And a whole bunch more here.