Dezeen Magazine

Pleated glass tower tops Viceroy Chicago hotel by Goettsch Partners

Chicago architecture firm Goettsch Partners has rebuilt the facade of the 1920s Cedar Hotel, and added a glass tower with a folded front to create more accommodation.

Viceroy Chicago by Goettsch Partners

To create the new Viceroy Chicago hotel, Goettsch Partners demolished the historic building but reconstructed its red brick and ornate terracotta facade so it appears the same from the street.

Viceroy Chicago by Goettsch Partners

The studio also designed an 18-storey tower that rises above the four-storey rectangular portion and has a completely different visual identity.

A curtain of angular glass panels form a pleated appearance, which is loosely based on the original brickwork.

Viceroy Chicago by Goettsch Partners

"The distinctive 'folding' geometry is inspired by the argyle-like pattern found in the historic brick façade below," said a statement from Goettsch Partners.

A new rooftop terrace was also created on the top of the brick structure, where the tower is set back.

The new hotel spans 150,000 square feet (13,935 square metres), with interiors designed by hospitality specialists TAL Studio.

Along with 180 bedrooms, the hotel has a 5,000-square-foot (464-square-metre) meeting and event space, and a 2,200-square-foot (204-square-metre) ballroom.

Viceroy Chicago by Goettsch Partners

A triple-height lobby atrium is furnished with marble floors, brass light fixtures, and decorative pieces that reference the French poet Marcel Proust, while an outdoor dining area and terrace overlook the street.

A large reception desk is clad in bronze and rests in front of a large painting that depicts a Venetian carnival recital by South American cubist artist Badi. In another room, there is a colourfully patterned wall – a digital reproduction of art by London artist Tim Modus.

Viceroy Chicago by Goettsch Partners

"The display is inspired by the architectural elements and sculptural forms of the midcentury, and serve as a nod to Chicago's storied architectural history," said Goettsch Partners.

The hotel is topped with a rooftop pool, and cocktail lounge that has views across the city skyline and the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

Viceroy Chicago by Goettsch Partners

It is one of the latest to open in the city, joining the recently completed Ace Hotel by Los Angeles studio Commune Design that features colourful modernist furnishings.

Photography is by James Steinkamp and Christian Horan.

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Viceroy Chicago by Goettsch Partners
Viceroy Chicago by Goettsch Partners