Aeria Living

Luxury elevated in every senses.

Project overview

Nova Urban Properties commissioned Nolta Studio to design a luxury residential tower in Chicago that would set a new benchmark for high-rise living in the city. The client sought a building that could compete on the world stage — architecturally distinctive, technically ambitious, and refined in every detail — while remaining grounded in the civic character of its surroundings. The result is a tower that balances urban presence with a strong sense of permanence. Its silhouette was conceived to contribute meaningfully to the evolving skyline.

Objective

To design a luxury residential tower that reconciles architectural ambition with genuine liveability — where height and density become opportunities for spatial quality rather than compromises against it. The project was envisioned as a landmark that earns its place on the Chicago skyline through precision, not gesture.

Scope

• Design a 56,800 sq ft luxury residential tower in Chicago, IL, encompassing architecture and structural engineering.

• Develop a range of high-specification residential typologies from full-floor apartments to penthouse levels.

• Deliver a building that performs structurally at the highest level while maintaining architectural coherence. Every system was carefully integrated to support efficiency and design clarity.

Design approach and execution

Concept and vision

Aeria Living was conceived as a vertical expression of calm — a tower that rises with confidence but never with aggression. Chicago's architectural heritage informed the building's structural honesty: the frame is legible, the materiality is deliberate, and nothing is applied that does not have a reason to be there. At ground level the building opens generously to the city; above, it draws inward to protect and frame the lives of its residents.

‍Design philosophy: A tower as a precisely engineered act of restraint — structure made visible, excess made unnecessary. Designed with a focus on clarity, efficiency, and lasting performance.

‍Key features: Expressed steel and glass facade, double-height lobby with city views, thermally broken curtain wall system, and full-floor penthouse levels. Integrated sustainability measures and high-performance glazing improve energy efficiency while maintaining a refined architectural presence. The tower combines technical precision with a calm and enduring visual identity.

Execution

Phase 1: Urban context & tower strategy‍

An in-depth analysis of Chicago's wind conditions, solar angles, and street grid shaped the tower's orientation and massing — ensuring structural efficiency and residential comfort informed the design from the earliest stage.

Phase 2: Architectural & structural development‍

Nolta Studio worked in close collaboration with structural engineers to develop a facade and core system that pushed the tower's slenderness to its technical limit, freeing interior floor plates for open, column-free living spaces.

Phase 3: Interior detailing‍

Residential interiors were designed as a continuation of the building's architectural logic — open plans, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and a material palette of honed stone, brushed metal, and pale oak that recedes to let the city views take precedence. Every space was composed to feel refined, spacious, and quietly understated.

Phase 4: Construction & completion‍

Completed in 2025 over 22 months, Aeria Living stands as one of Nolta Studio's most technically demanding projects to date — a building where architecture, structure, and interior design were developed as a single discipline throughout.

Results and reflection

Aeria Living redefines what a luxury residential tower can be in Chicago — not a statement of excess, but a demonstration of what rigorous thinking and precise execution produce when applied at height. The project affirms Nolta Studio's capacity to work across scale, complexity, and discipline without ever losing sight of the people who will call it home.