Posted by admin | April 8, 2010 | No Comments » |
Along with being the Emporis Skyscraper of the Year and the 5th tallest building constructed in the world in 2009, Aqua is also garnering awards for its eco-friendly design. The LEED-seeking building not only houses pet-friendly residences — it was also built with a particular consciousness toward Chicago’s migratory bird populations and is being awarded for looking out for the birds! The PETA Proggy Award recognizes animal-friendly achievements in commerce and culture and was awarded to Aqua this past year.
Protecting Chicago’s Birds
Chicago hosts a huge migratory bird population during different parts of the year along with its native bird species. With skyscrapers rising up right at the shore of the Lake, many of which are complete with large panes of architectural glass, the city skyline is sadly responsible for thousands of bird deaths every year. As many as five million birds of 250 species fly through Chicago. They can be confused by the large windows and by the city lights at night.
According to PETA, “Collisions with windows are among the most common human-related killers of migrating birds in North America — each year, they cause the deaths of more than 34 million birds in urban areas alone.”
Aqua’s design is better for birds than the other modern glass-box structures you might see around the city. Bird-deflecting elements of the building include the undulating exterior created by each floor’s distinct floor plan and balconies, which make the building easier for birds to see the building both during the day and at night. Aqua also reduces the number of bird collisions with the fencing around its terrace — the pickets are spaced 4 inches apart and the glass is dot-etched or fritted to be highly visible for the bird population.
PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk bestowed the award on the leading firm in Aqua’s design, Studio/Gang, with the following words: “The American architect Louis Sullivan coined the phrase ‘form follows function.’ In the Aqua Tower, form follows compassion.”
