Renaissance Chicago Downtown redesign
The Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel has officially announced the completion of its $32m renovation project that is set to energise the city with unique event experiences.
Completed March 2016, The final phase of the project focused on creating a new terrace top bar, new ballroom and an additional 4,000ft2 of meeting spaces. The design was completed by Gettys, an interiors firm in Chicago as well as architect of record HPA, and overseen by the renowned John Hardy Group.
“Carey Watermark envisioned a semi-circular rooftop bar that sits above the porte-cochere entrance to the hotel,” comments Eric Augur, senior project director, The John Hardy Group: “We managed the completion of this project on time and within budget while creating a new iconic experience for the city.”
The new terrace bar, Raised, will provide a welcome edition to the city of Chicago with unique design features, elements of glass, iron, greenery, fire pits, and reclaimed wood to fill the space, which comfortably seats 50 indoor, and 200 throughout the overall indoor and outdoor space, that also comprises of an additional event space, Urban Blue. The hotel is elevated three stories above street level, providing guests with a unique vantage point over the Chicago river.
This project also includes a new 3,000ft2 Looking Glass Ballroom that features floor-to-ceiling windows; in addition to the redesign and expansion of the existing Cloud Gate Ballroom, which has grown from 4,000 to 5,000ft2.
Phase I revamped the hotel’s lobby with a high-low design approach, pairing luxurious high-end finishes with raw, gritty, concrete and graffiti-inspired surfaces. Experimental works of art by homegrown artists are placed to intrigue; CTA bus-inspired windows from the early 1950s serve as a gateway into the chef’s display kitchen at Staytion Market and Bar; the hotel’s first floor dining concept. Meanwhile, located in the middle of the lobby, resides the Renaissance Navigator, situated at the communal Navigator Table – a unique twist on the traditional concierge desk.
Last year, The John Hardy Group completed the renovations of 520 guestrooms and 40 suites. The group is recognised as the leader in providing creative solutions to complex building challenges. The firm excels as a bridge between the ambition of its clients and project realisation, having managed more than $6 billion in development-related assignments encompassing 870 hospitality projects in 35 countries.
