The new Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/Loop has officially opened its doors. Owned by The Prime Group, the architecturally significant Chicago landmark is part of an extensive renovation program to restore the historic building to its original elegance.
The building, which also celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, is located right in the heart of Chicago’s central financial district.
“For many years, this building was the place where deals were made and history moved forward,” Hotel general manager, Tommie L. Van, exclusively told Illinois Real Estate Journal. “We are proud to continue that history by providing traditional hospitality in an extraordinary way to each guest who walks through our doors.”
The hotel will also offer a lobby bar and lounge, 7,500 square feet of meeting space, fitness center, business center, private meeting rooms and, like all Residence Inn hotels, a laundry facility for guests.
Holabird & Roche were the original architects of the building. The first 16 stories opened in 1915, and an additional five stories were added in 1922. The bell tower was added in 1925.
According to sources, the original bells of the tower are still in place, the largest of which is inscribed with “Leander” in memorandum of Leander McCormick, whose family commissioned the building to be built. All these additions were added as Chicago’s zoning laws were changed. The exterior is the only one in Chicago using Portuguese Gothic architecture.
“On behalf of the McCormick family descendants, I would like to congratulate the Prime Group and Marriott team on a tremendously successful renovation of the Roanoke Tower at 11 S. LaSalle Street.,” Sgt. M. McCormick Collier, told IREJ. “For over 100 years, our family thrived developing real estate throughout Chicago with profits obtained from the McCormick Reaper, the machine that revolutionised farming and helped make Chicago the capital of the grain trade. Now we are in a new era and the Prime Group has paid tribute to this legacy of American innovation with outstanding design and execution. The new Residence Inn is a wonderful and very much needed addition to Chicago’s main thoroughfare of industry. It will not only fill a need for extended housing but also help create more jobs and be a great source of revenue for the city. Well done Prime Group and Marriott, we extend a heartfelt congratulations.”
