Gold Coast hotel undergoes major renovation, rebrands to former name
CHICAGO – Chicago general contractor, Summit Design + Build, LLC, recently completed the major renovation and rebrand of the former Hotel Indigo Chicago Downtown. The renovation updated the nearly century old hotel with contemporary design features and high-end finishes throughout the guest rooms, lobby, spa, restaurant and amenity areas.
The 13-story hotel located at 1244 N. Dearborn Parkway was built in 1923 and had been known as Hotel Indigo since 2005, when it was purchased by InterContinental Hotels. The current owners, Interwest Capital, purchased the property in 2016 and set forth with plans to update and rebrand the hotel, which has assumed its original name of Claridge House Hotel.
The process of renovating and updating the hotel started with Summit taking over guest rooms in segments of five floors, utilizing a single floor as a buffer to limit noise disruptions and for plumbing work. Working top down, the guest rooms were completed followed by the lobby, with the back dining area being completed first and the reception, bar and elevators completed last.
The updated lobby first welcomes guests to the new mid-century modern spaces, with muted, neutral colors and a custom tile inlay with the hotel’s new name and logo. Summit installed a new bar with mirrored TV, all new bar equipment and custom rotating shelves for day to night beverage service change. The lounge features a new electric fireplace, Venetian plaster ceilings, operable folding windows to create indoor/outdoor space, custom reception desk with management office and a custom art piece featuring project team inspired travel and Chicago photos. Past the reception desk and elevator lobby, the updated restaurant and dining area rounds out the first floor with two feature walls with antique mirrors and custom wallpaper and cabinetry.
The hotel’s 165 guest rooms also received cosmetic upgrades during the renovation, including two rooms that had previously been used to mock up designs. These upgrades included new paint and wallpaper, new carpet and luxury vinyl tile flooring, high-end, brass light fixtures, new shower fixtures, glass shower doors and lighted mirrors. All of the corridors were also updated with new wallpaper, paint, carpet and custom light fixtures. The installation of a new exterior canopy completed the renovation. The renovation totaled just over 59,000 square feet.
Hirsch Associates served as the project architect and The Gettys Group served as the interior designer for the Claridge House Hotel renovation. Cooper Riley provided owner representative services. Oxford Capital Group is the hotel operator.
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