|
|
Subscribe to our Travel Podcasts
Informative Press Releases for Travel
Press Release information you can use!
The following information is provided by the travel supplier or its public relations representative. The Traveler's Journal can accept no responsibility for the accuracy or validity of any material in this section.
THE LANGHAM, CHICAGO OPENS
09-10-2013
Iconic Mies van der Rohe Building Now Home to Chicago's Newest Luxury Hotel Chicago (September 10, 2013) -- Langham Hospitality Group's fourth U.S. property-The Langham, Chicago- officially opens today. Located in the last office building designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, known for developing the modern skyscraper, the 316-room hotel resides within the 52-story landmarked riverfront property at 330 N. Wabash in the heart of downtown Chicago just minutes from the loop business district and Michigan Avenue. Reflecting Langham's signature style and commitment to personalized, attentive service, this is the company's first purpose-built hotel in the United States. "After more than four years of planning and construction, we're delighted to be part of the Chicago community and bring our brand of European hospitality to this great city," said Langham Hospitality Group CEO Brett Butcher. "The Langham, Chicago was a labor of love for our Chairman, Dr. K.S. Lo, who is passionately committed to developing luxury hotels in heritage buildings. The opportunity to build our hotel within this landmark building was a great privilege." Other heritage properties Langham has invested in include The Langham, London, The Langham Huntington, Pasadena and The Langham, Boston. The Langham, Chicago will be the first hotel in the world to reside in a Mies van der Rohe designed building. Opened in 1971 as IBM's regional headquarters, the building was declared a Chicago Landmark in 2008 and entered into the National Register of Historic Places in March 2010. As the only Mies building to feature double-paned glass, now called thermopanes, it was on the forefront of the "green" movement. Featuring such Langham signature features as afternoon tea, a Club Lounge with dedicated butler service, Chuan Spa, based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, the hotel also provides some of the city's largest standard guest rooms starting at 516 sq. ft., a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant and lounge (Travelle), 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space and a fine art collection featuring works by such noted artists as Jaume Plensa, Jua Ming, Judy Ledgerwood and Chicago architectural photographers Hedrich Blessing. Architecture, Design, Art Given the building's iconic status, the conversion of 13 of its floors into a luxury hotel involved the work of six architects and designers. Notable is the involvement of Chicago-based architect Dirk Lohan of Lohan Anderson. The grandson of Mies van der Rohe, Lohan worked on the IBM building in the mid to late 1960's with his grandfather. Lohan has taken the historic ground-floor lobby level and fashioned the space into a hotel reception area, mindful not to disrupt its original travertine walls and granite floors. The sofa featured within this space is patterned after an original piece that Mies designed for his daughter in the late 1940s which was never commercially produced but remained in the family. Audio speakers hidden within lampshades will provide lobby music while the importance of fine art, another Mies penchant, will be conveyed through the installation of four significant pieces of art from David Klamen, Enoc Perez, Jaume Plensa and Virgino Ferrari. From the ground floor, a bank of eight elevators takes guests to the hotel's main reception. Featuring expansive 22 ft.-high floor-to-ceiling windows, the room is punctuated by two fireplaces, views of the Chicago River and an art installation featuring more than 500 glass-blown pebbles suspended from the ceiling and lit from above with LED lights. Chicago Architect of Record Goettsch Partners and London-based interior designer Richmond International, who previously worked on The Langham, London, created a space that marries the traditional aesthetics of the Langham brand within a Mies van der Rohe designed building. Focusing on clean lines, quality materials and precise detailing, The Langham, Chicago is a light and airy environment where the Chicago River and city's dynamic skyscrapers serve as the backdrop. [Back to Press Releases Main]
