Virgin Hotels Chicago
Virgin Hotels Chicago | |
---|---|
Former names | Old Dearborn Bank Building |
Alternative names | 203 North Wabash Avenue 54 East Lake Street |
General information | |
Status | Completed |
Location | 203 North Wabash, Chicago, Illinois |
Coordinates | 41°53′10″N 87°37′34″W / 41.8861°N 87.6260°W |
Completed | 1928 |
Owner | Virgin Hotels |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Rapp and Rapp |
Renovating team | |
Architect(s) | Booth Hansen |
Chicago Landmark | |
Designated | June 4, 2003 |
The Virgin Hotels Chicago (formerly Old Dearborn Bank Building or 203 North Wabash Avenue) is a historic building in the
Old Dearborn Bank Building
Situated at the intersection of East
The owners of the building defaulted on a $9 million loan from
Virgin Hotels Chicago
On October 24, 2011, Virgin Hotels, part of Virgin Group, purchased the building with the aim of opening it as their first hotel in 2013 with approximately 250 rooms.[7] The transaction was an all-cash deal that was valued at about $14 million.[1][8] The company hired The John Buck Company to renovate the building.[5][1] The lead architect for the renovation was Booth Hansen.[4] The co-designers for the interior renovation were Rockwell Group Europe and Virgin Hotels' in-house design team.[9] The purchase was part of Virgin Hotels' 2010 business plan to acquire distressed properties in North America cheaply during the property downturn.[10]
The building opened for business as a hotel on January 15, 2015.[11] The renovation took longer than planned due to the building's city landmark status, which required continuing coordination with the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Original features that were retained include a 1920s oak cigar bar, brass elevator lobby doors and a tiled ceiling.[8] The final layout of 250 rooms includes 40 single-room suites and 2 penthouse suites.[8] All rooms are pet friendly.[12]
Under the auspices of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, the renovation included brick, window and steel-frame replacement.[4] The focal point of the renovated building is the publicly accessible Commons Club on the second floor, with a contemporary-style bar, a full kitchen, a lounge area, curated books and local memorabilia. At the time of opening, four additional dining options were expected within three months.[8] The area was carved out of a former second-floor banking hall.[4]
The visitors use a mobile app, named Lucy, that the company describes as a "personal comfort assistant".[13] According to Mary Forgione of The Los Angeles Times, the app can order more pillows, handle room service orders, and serve as a remote control for both the television and the hotel's music library.[12] The website also suggests that the app can control room temperature, interface with the chat board, provide local knowledge, and coordinate your messages with hotel staff.[13]
When asked about the operation, Virgin's Richard Branson said "There won’t be hidden charges, and you won’t get charged $10 for a chocolate bar you know you can buy at a store for $2."[14] Branson has stated that the brand is geared toward the female business traveler.[15]
Reviews
Old Dearborn Bank Building 2007 Gallery
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Virgin Hotels Announces Purchase of Chicago Property" (Press release). Reuters. October 24, 2011. Archived from the original on January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ a b "Old Dearborn Bank Building". City of Chicago Dept. of Pl. and Devpmt., Landmarks Div. 2003. Archived from the original on May 9, 2007. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
- ^ a b "203 North Wabash". Emporis. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Kamin, Blair (January 25, 2015). "Virgin Hotel Chicago a stylish restoration of former bank building". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
- ^ a b Cancino, Alejandra and Blair Kamin (October 24, 2011). "Virgin hotels, developer Buck to turn old Rapp & Rapp office tower into hotel". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ Gallun, Alby (April 7, 2010). "Small firm snaps up East Loop office building". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "Virgin Hotels buys Old Dearborn Bank Building in East Loop". Chicago Tribune. October 24, 2011. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Briscoe, Tony (January 16, 2015). "Virgin Hotels opens its first hotel in Chicago's Loop". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ Bloomberg Business. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
- ^ Karmin, Craig (April 20, 2014). "Richard Branson's Virgin Hotels Are Slow to Launch: Entrepreneur Plans a Third U.S. Hotel, but First Is Unfinished". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ^ Galland, Zoe (January 15, 2015). "Here's what Virgin's 'female-friendly' Chicago hotel looks like". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ a b Forgione, Mary (January 20, 2015). "Virgin Hotels opens in Chicago, with a helpful app named Lucy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ a b "Meet Lucy: Your Personal Comfort Assistant". Virgin Hotels. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ Earle-Levine, Julie (January 13, 2015). "Richard Branson Enters the City Hotel Scene". The New York Times. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ Karmin, Craig (January 13, 2015). "Richard Branson Pitches Virgin Hotels as Female-Friendly: First Property to Open in Chicago; Safety Features, Well-Lit Vanities Court Women". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
External links
- Media related to Virgin Hotels Chicago at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website