Mies van der Rohe building in Chicago is transformed into luxury Langham Hotel
Today marks the official opening of The Langham, Chicago at the IBM Building designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The second tallest of Mies van der Rohe’s buildings, the IBM Building was completed in 1972, shortly after the architect's death, and now sits proudly between the Marina City development by Bertrand Goldberg and Trump Tower by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
In total The Langham, Chicago offers 316 rooms (268 guest rooms and 48 suites) from $475 per night, with guests able to enjoy a range of luxurious spa amenities and dining experiences. The rooms have been decorated by British firm Richmond International, the interiors of the Travelle restaurant and bar are the work of The Rockwell Group, and Mies van der Rohe’s grandson Dirk Lohan is responsible for transforming the ground floor lobby.
Initiated in London in 1865, the Langham brand has become synonymous with opulence and exceptional service. The Langham, Chicago draws on the brand's quintessentially British heritage in the service it provides, with afternoon tea - Tiffin at The Langham - served every day in the Pavilion, overlooking the nearby Chicago River. A statement from the hotel reads: “Since 1865, The Langham has built a legacy based on luxurious comfort and service innovation and The Langham, Chicago proudly continues this tradition in one of the great American cities.”
Alongside its private rooms and suites The Langham, Chicago offers 15,000 sq ft of event space, including: the 4,840 sq ft Devonshire Ballroom; the 2,610 sq ft Cambridge room; 8 function rooms for 20-100 guests, 4 corporate boardrooms; and a fully-equipped cinema suite.
Guests are also welcome to use the sumptuous facilities of the Chuan Spa which operates under the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. A 67ft swimming pool and fitness suite are supported by an assortment of relaxation amenities, such as the Herbal Sauna, Oriental Steam Room, Himalayan Salt Stone Sauna, Experience Showers and heated relaxation recliners.
The hotel takes up the first 13 floors of this 52-storey anodised aluminium and tinted-glass tower, with offices occupying the floors above. IBM - after which the building was named - moved out of the tower in 2006. The architecture firm Perkins + Will currently has its Chicago offices in the IBM Building.
source : worldarchitecturenews.com