Already famous for being the tallest building ever designed by a woman (architect Jeanne Gang), Aqua’s eighty-story form does exude a sort of feminine charm, more organic and fluid than phallic like its neighbors. With its asymmetrical balconies creating a visual wave along its walls, Aqua manages to set a striking presence on the skyline without a hint of gimmickry, destined to become an icon in a city of architectural icons.
Fine Arts Building Act One: The Golden Age, A Building Reborn The building itself is actually 138 years old, opening its doors in 1885 as the Studebaker Brothers’ Lake Front Carriage Repository. But they quickly outgrew their showplace. When the Fine Arts Building reopened in October 1898, it had been staged as an artist-only space. The building was a hit. In its first few years, artists and crafters of every kind…
Fine Arts Building Staff Profile: A Job with Ups and Downs Press the doorbell-style button to call an elevator—a pleasingly mechanical BRRING!—and you’ll hear a soft rattle of chains as the car descends from above. Step inside, and the operator closes the heavy outer door with a crisp BANG, then lowers the rod that locks it in place. The elevator men (they are all men) navigate not by pressing buttons but…
