WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Lee Bey says a proposed plan by a New York Times architecture critic to save the shuttered Prentice hospital falls flat as an architectural concept — but could have real unintended merit.

More than 60 architects, educators and historic preservationists are betting their famous names might help prevent demolition of the old Prentice Women’s Hospital.

A couple of days ago, I was inspired by a string of sultry summery days to do one of my favorite things: take a water taxi along the Chicago River.My trip was a short jaunt to the DuSable Bridge – at this stage they’re only running full routes on weekends. And it's no surprise why – at 2 p.m.

Jeanne Gang, who just won a MacArthur Genius Grant, talked the Aqua Tower, mushrooms and more when she appeared on The Interview Show last year. Proof that the quickest way to get a Genius Grant is to appear on the show!

Jeanne Gang is known for challenging the aesthetics and technical limits of ordinary building materials; her imagination can be seen at work on North Columbus Drive – in the oscillating concrete of the high-rise Aqua. The Chicago architect was named a 2011 MacArthur Fellow.

It was not so long ago that three young explorers embarked on a clandestine adventure to the summit of one of Chicago’s newest landmarks.In December of 2009 Aqua was still under construction.

Aqua Tower, the tall beauty with the undulating balconies has become an instant architectural celebrity since its completion in 2009; the subject of accolades, the winner of honors--and now the inspiration for Aqua, a string quartet musical piece written by New York composer Harold Meltzer