Originally designed by Marshall and Fox in 1911, this 12-story office building sat vacant and in major disrepair after a failed redevelopment attempt. The Hotel Julian redevelopment plan sought to save the existing building, restore the ornate terracotta façade, add five floors, and integrate new with old to create a 218 key boutique hotel.
To meet the program requirements and achieve enough keys to make this building’s small footprint work as a hotel, five-floors were added to the existing structure, clad in a faceted glass curtainwall which extends downward within the framework of the original clay-arch tile structure and terracotta façade. The chamfered form of the glazing was inspired by the building’s rosette details and as a planning response to providing 4-hotel rooms within a three-bay facade. The two-story base, defined by three terracotta portals framing a folding glass wall, opens the restaurant (complete with mural of Benjamin Marshall) and lobby to Michigan Avenue, providing connectivity to the streetscape.
The Michigan Avenue wall is an iconic part of what makes Chicago such a special place. It is full of beautiful examples of historic architecture and terracotta buildings. The Hotel Julian project saved this iconic Benjamin Marshall building from the wrecking ball and transformed it into a unique addition to the Chicago skyline and Michigan Avenue streetscape.
