6 Stories

154 Guest Rooms

Parking for 274 Vehicles

158,820 SF Total

The original 154-room modern concrete structure with brick end walls was built in the early 1970’s.  During an early period under Holiday Inn the building was topped with a sheet metal mansard style roof and in the mid 1990’s, a three story “traditional” style guest room wing was added and the original building wrapped in matching EFIS. While adjacent to a major expressway near O’Hare International Airport, the hotel had almost no visibility due to its low laying site.

Given the need for a complete interior renovation and a stronger exterior presence on a limited budget, our economical approach was to somewhat restore the modern character of the original building and allow it to co-exist with the later addition, which was in relatively good condition.  The disparate styles are tied together with a new common color scheme. 

To increase visibility, we replaced the low mansard roof with a 25 foot tall superstructure clad in solid and perforated metal siding to conceal mechanical equipment, provide building “wall” surface for signage (A local signage ordinance requirement.), and add apparent height and volumetric interest to the building.  This structure extends past the expressway end of the building and to the ground providing semi-enclosed balconies for new suites.  A similar smaller volume conceals the main elevator bank at the opposite end of the building, and a secondary elevator lobby is screened from solar heat gain by a six story perforated metal screen.