Historic Venues in Chicago

From Historical Structures to Renovated Hotels

Chicago Athletic Association

The iconic Chicago skyline is no stranger to massive overhauls of its soaring real estate. The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 scorched the skyline at a critical time, when Chicago was becoming a sprawling metropolis. However, in the wake of destruction, the skyscraper was born. A brand-new metal framing system allowed for unprecedented heights unachievable with traditional masonry.

The wave of new buildings brought forth several Art Deco gems such as the Chicago Board of Trade Building and Civic Opera House. During a second wave of construction in the 1970s, Chicago led the way again, erecting some of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, such as John Hancock Center and Willis Tower, which remains the second tallest building in North America.

And now, Chicago is in the middle of a third property revamp—at least 11 historic properties are pegged for repurpose in the next few years. New life is being breathed into dozens of historic buildings around the downtown Loop. Hotel brands are reaping the benefits by scooping up this prime real estate and saving century-old landmarks from dilapidation.

“Over time, land has become more and more valuable, so this provides a venue for the hotel operator to come in, restore a building and really get a lot of good publicity from these reuse ideas and investments,” Miller says. “It’s often considered a win-win when historic structures can be repurposed into high-producing hotels.”

Virgin Hotels Chicago

Earlier this year, Virgin Hotels opened its first property near Millennium Park in the 27-story Old Dearborn Bank Building, built in 1928. Virgin Hotels Chicago has 250 ergonomically designed guest rooms, plus a mobile app for check-in and room control settings.

There’s also 2,300 sq. ft. of atypical meeting space, including mini-golf in the hallways and ping-pong meeting tables. However, the property retains its original aesthetics, including ornate brass elevator doors, mail chutes, a 1920s oak cigar bar and molded plaster ceilings throughout the lobby and dining areas.

Around the corner, the London Guarantee & Accident Building will be turned into LondonHouse Hotel in 2016. Hilton Worldwide announced the property will join its Curio Collection of upscale hotels. Its name pays homage to the famed London House jazz club located within its halls during the 1960s.

Designed in 1923 by Chicago architect Alfred Alschuler, the 22-story Beaux Arts landmark is one of four buildings that anchors Michigan Avenue Bridge. The semicircle tower will have stunning views of the Chicago River from its 452 guest rooms and 25,000 sq. ft. of event space. A unique feature is a limestone-adorned cupola at the pinnacle of the building. The domed structure will function as usable space, with 360-degree views.

Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago

Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago is one of the newest reuse projects, from a former 22-story office building built in 1927. The lifestyle brand opened its doors last month, with 257 guest rooms and 2,540 sq. ft. of meeting space. The structure is also the site of a back-alleyway cattle path cemented in place by an outdated 1844 property variance. Coincidentally, the infamous fire that nearly destroyed the city was believed to be the work of a cow that kicked over a lantern.

Last May, the long-awaited Chicago Athletic Association building officially opened as a Commune Hotels & Resorts property. Originally designed by Henry Ives Cobb, the architect behind several historical Chicago properties, it was built in 1893 with a Venetian Gothic facade. Years of restoration involved preservation of the main marble staircase, stained-glass windows and low-relief wood carvings. The new hotel has 241 upscale guest rooms and 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Miller notes that “large windows are a feature of many of these historic buildings and work well in these hotel rooms. They really make each one of the hotels a special experience because you’re staying in a historic building.”

The former Chicago Motor Club Building also reopened last May as a Hampton Inn with 143 guest rooms, but it is a far cry from chain-themed design: The 17-story building is a bastion of Art Deco splendor. After it was first completed in 1928, the site became headquarters of a prominent automobile association.

Art Deco elements such as a dizzying spiral staircase and a 29-foot-tall mural are showcased in the main entrance and lobby. The iconic painting by John Warner Norton is a colorful map of the original tenants’ favorite driving destinations—a celebration of American car culture and the open road.

“At the end of the day, there’s a great investment in the restoration of these historic facades and important features of their lobbies and corridors,” Miller says. “Oftentimes we get features back that have been lost before.”

Historic Meeting Venues

Chicago Union Station

Chicago has always been a top meeting destination, with its central location and two major travel hubs: O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). It’s also home to McCormick Place, the largest convention center in North America, with 2.6 million sq. ft. of exhibit space.

But if you dare to stray off the beaten path, there’s an abundance of venues with Old World charm. Surround your attendees with the works of legendary architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Daniel Burnham and dozens of others. Their neo-classical style makes for some awe-inspiring settings. It doesn’t get more “Chicago” than that.

Burnham once said, “Make no little plans, they have no magic to stir men’s blood.” It’s only fitting he designed a number of prominent landmarks, such as Chicago Union Station in 1925, a working railway hub that can be rented for events. The Beaux Arts-style Great Hall offers 20,000 sq. ft. of space, boasting 18 Corinthian columns, terracotta walls and a pink Tennessee marble floor beneath a five-story, barrel-vaulted ceiling. All the while, trains rumble below the station. The terminal is the third busiest in the United States, handling more than 120,000 passengers on an average weekday.

Navy Pier, Chicago

Navy Pier offers expansive meeting space amid its 150-foot Ferris wheel and unlimited waterfront entertainment. Its 1916 construction is reminiscent of a past era, when the pier was used during World War I to house regiments of soldiers, the Red Cross and Home Defense units. During its “Golden Age” in the 1930s, the pier held the World’s Fair—one of the most successful conventions in American history. Today, it remains a top meeting location, with more than 170,000 sq. ft. of venue space, including an 18,000-square-foot grand ballroom.

Many local attractions double as decadent venues for more intimate events. Enjoy 24-karat gold-leaf ceiling arches in Auditorium Theatre, which has over 6,000 sq. ft. of acoustically perfect space. The theater is often noted as one of the finest opera houses in the world. It originally adjoined a hotel when it was built in 1889 as one of the first multipurpose buildings. The Chicago Theatre, with its iconic signage, is another entertainment venue available for events. The 1920s landmark has 4,500 sq. ft. of lobby space modeled after the Royal Chapel at Versailles. Its two theaters can seat more than 3,800 attendees.

Chicago Cultural Center

According to Miller, one venue not to be missed is Chicago Cultural Center. Completed in 1897, it’s a beautiful space, with an opulent mother-of-pearl mosaic interior, a white marble staircase and the world’s largest stained-glass Tiffany dome. “It’s a space that takes your breath away,” he says. The five-story “People’s Palace” offers 15,000 sq. ft. of space available for rent. The center also has free public exhibitions and events and attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Summing Up

Chicago is chock-full of architectural gems and historical sites waiting to be restored, revealed and explored. The Chicago Architecture Foundation provides more than 85 different foot, bike, bus and boat tours of marvelous buildings and the stories behind them. This enduring city leads the way into the future while never forgetting its past.