If you’re an aspiring or practicing female engineer or architect here’s a technical shero worth emulating. Architect Jeanne Gang and her team at Studio Gang Architects designed Aqua, just north of Millennium Park in Chicago.

Chicago Tribune writer Blair Kamin wrote a great story about her and the grand building in the Sunday Nov 8, 2009 edition. He mentions the artistry inherent in the architecture, not the least of which are “balconies stretched outward, by anywhere from 2 to 12 feet, to capture views that would not be available otherwise”. Her design took advantage of what Kamin referred to as the plasticity of concrete in order to achieve the design goal.

The environmental entities think highly of Aqua as well. It received a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. It also won an award from PETA. Since birds can see its curving balconies they are less likely to fly into the tower.

The artistic expression inherent in the design makes it live up to its name. It’s very wavelike. Gang’s team made the balconies deeper on the south side of the building than on the north to maximize shading. Thus the undulating wave pattern serves a practical purpose. They also applied optical illusion to full advantage by adding the balconies next to the living room spaces. This created the effect of extending the living room outward.

It’s a truly innovative building. If you get the opportunity head downtown and take a look at Aqua, Chicago’s newest eye popping residential sky scraper.