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Chicago’s JW Marriott brings high style and chic renovation to the Windy City.
By Mary Scoviak
Lovingly refurbished historic details have long been a staple in London, Paris or Marrakech. DiLeonardo decided it was time to put an American spin on old style for the JW Marriott brand’s first Chicago hotel, in the former Continental & Commercial Bank building.
From the outset, it was clear that the project needed to steer a careful middle way between stuffy fidelity to the 1914 vintage structure and anarchic rethinking of the space. The design team wanted to keep the spacious feel and sense of scale of Daniel Burnham’s masterpiece. The next step was a rich modern color palette with clean shapes and lustrous restored touches.
The statement starts in the lobby, where the lounge nestles behind the grand staircase. Marble cladding and a black-and-white floor retain a traditional feel, while a glass-encased fountain and a fireplace add a more modern element. Brown and gold accents warm up the space and help humanize the scale. Despite the heavily Edwardian inflection of the space, the team wanted to create an environment that was conducive to thoroughly modern use. Communal wenge wood tables encourage today’s guests to mingle.
Moving up to the second-level ballroom, ornate chandeliers and 30-foot marble-clad columns pay tribute to Burnham’s vision. Groin vaulting tops off a plethora of Belle Époque detailing. The Burnham Ballroom features the building’s original dome, while the pre-function area at the end of the Grand Ballroom offers a glimpse of the hotel’s Italian restaurant, The Florentine.
The team wanted to explore a slightly more contemporary vein for the 125-seat venue, but they also wanted it to blend seamlessly with the rest of the hotel. Their solution was to pick up the rich textures and colors from the lobby and ballroom areas. The handcrafted walnut bar echoes the gold and brown lobby accents, while floor-to-ceiling frames culinary-themed displays topped with artwork around its perimeter.
Trying to strike the right note in a historic building is often a challenge for designers confronted with awkward spaces and low natural light levels, so the design team wanted to capitalize on the ten foot ceilings and lavish crown molding in the hotel’s 610 guestrooms. Continuing the lobby’s color palette gives the rooms a sense of modern luxury. Mostly white furniture lightens the mood and provides a fresh backdrop for the accent colors.
Ultimately, as more and more urban hotels tend to be conversion projects, deciding what to keep and what to reinvent will be a priority for all designers, wherever they are. The JW Marriott may be adding style to the Loop, but it’s the process that makes it hot. Travelers increasingly want the richness of historical architecture without the constraints.
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