Existing amenity spaces on top floors of Swissôtel will be demoed, moved with new layouts
CHICAGO – Chicago general contractor, Summit Design + Build, LLC, recently began work at Swissôtel Chicago, a 4-star hotel located at 323 East Wacker Drive near Chicago’s Lakeshore East. Summit Design + Build will be renovating amenity spaces on the 42nd and 43rd floors, totaling just over 13,200 square feet, while the hotel is fully operational.
Completed in 1989 and standing at 44-stories, Swissôtel Chicago is recognizable for its distinct triangular shape and is the only Swissôtel location in North America. The hotel started its first renovations in over five years with the restaurant and guest rooms in 2017. Summit Design + Build was selected to complete the remaining renovation work on the hotel’s 42nd and 43rd floors which currently house the pool, fitness center and ballroom. Work is beginning with the demolition of the pool on the 42nd floor. Summit’s scope of work also includes:
- the relocation and build-out of the fitness center from the 42nd to the 43rd floor,
- build-out of a new ballroom and meeting space with movable partition walls on the 42nd floor,
- installation of new windows on the 42nd floor,
- replacement of front entry revolving and sliding doors,
- creation of new 42nd floor stop for freight elevator, and
- renovation of lobby bathrooms to make ADA compliant.
When completed, the new 42nd floor ballroom will be clad in high-end finishes and custom millwork, including a custom chandelier that will extend the entire length of the ballroom, or roughly 150 feet. The new fitness center will also feature new bathrooms, a crossfit studio and juice bar, and unique finishes like dimensional felt ceiling clouds with drop pendant lighting, wood paneling and rubber flooring.
“The toughest part of this project will come into play with the high level of coordination and logistics required to work around hotel guests,” said Brian Sundermann, Project Executive, Summit Design + Build. “While we’ve done this type of hotel renovation before, each presents a new, unique challenge. This is a high-end hotel that will remain occupied and we have to replace front entry doors and windows 42 stories up. How do you do this without disrupting their stay? Think guest and tenant first. That’s how we continue to complete this type of project successfully.”
Swissôtel Chicago is operated by AccorHotels. Jones Lang LaSalle, Design One Studio and the Gettys Group are serving as the owner’s representative, project architect and interior designer respectively.
