Most skyscrapers will keep the chiller on the roof or in the basement. And that is enough to cool the entire building. The domestic air cooled condenser in most homes and small offices just don't scale.
The system in the article uses a pipe loop underground in place of an evaporator. This uses less water/energy but require a higher first cost and very specific location requirements which is why the cooling towers are still more popular.
Some systems will have a closed system using water or ammonia as the intermediary medium. The coolant is pumped to an air handler on each floor where it cools a condenser filled with refrigerant.
Most chillers are just a big empty box where water is poured over the coils. The evaporating effect cools the medium inside and vents as steam or water vapour.
The big empty box with water is an evaporative cooling tower used to cool the condenser side water.