Aqua Tower
Concrete balconies ripple outward up to 12 feet — no two floors share the same edge.
Coming soon on iOS — be first to walk Chicago offline.
Jeanne Gang's first skyscraper — and when it opened, the tallest building in the world designed by a woman — turns a former rail yard between the Chicago River and Lake Michigan into something that looks more geological than architectural. The irregular concrete slabs were deliberately shaped to push views outward toward nearby landmarks.
What to look for
- Balconies cantilevering as far as 12 ft beyond the building face, giving the tower its wave-like silhouette
- The undulating facade of irregularly shaped concrete floor slabs, inspired by the striated limestone outcroppings of the Great Lakes region
- The rooftop terrace level featuring gardens, gazebos, pools, and a running track atop the building's 80-story base
Address is 225 North Columbus Drive, Lakeshore East — the facade reads best from street level or from across the Chicago River.
Aqua Tower is one of 37 sights worth the detour in Chicago, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Chicago pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Chicago
- Willis TowerIt held the world's tallest title for nearly 25 years after opening in 1973 — and the Skydeck is still the highest observation deck in the United States.
- Art Institute of ChicagoFour paintings you've seen your whole life — Nighthawks, La Grande Jatte, The Old Guitarist, American Gothic — hang in the same building.
- John Hancock Center (875 N Michigan Ave)A moving platform pivots you 30 degrees outward over the Magnificent Mile — 1,128 feet of nothing beneath your feet.
- Aon CenterWhen it opened in 1973 as "Big Stan," this 83-floor tower was the fourth-tallest building on Earth — and clad entirely in marble.
- United CenterThe Bulls hardwood floor is literally assembled over the Blackhawks ice and taken apart game by game — two teams, one frozen surface, shared by puzzle.
- Soldier FieldThe NFL's oldest stadium lost its National Historic Landmark status because of the renovation meant to save it.