citizenM continues its expansion in the U.S. with the launch of the citizenM Chicago Downtown. The 280-room hotel occupies 10 floors of a 47-story tower on Michigan Avenue that overlooks both Millennium Park and the Riverwalk. citizenM tasked Amsterdam studio Concrete and locally based bKL to craft a streamlined luxury experience that nods to the city throughout the design concept.
“The design for citizenM Chicago is the introduction of the first citizenM in Chicago, therefore the design needed to tick all the boxes that citizenM typically does: Lots of art, styling, fluffy living rooms, a large central bar, and outdoor areas for the business traveler to feel at home,” says Concrete associate and project architect Maarten de Geus. “The design of citizenM needed to be consistent and recognizable as a brand.”
These brand signatures abound from the curb, where passersby can admire a façade animated by an abstract work from local artist Nina Chanel Abney. The hotel’s 2,000-square-foot terrace and entrance walls are transformed into a vibrant, abstract homage to the city comprising colorful murals that contextualize the soaring ceiling of the terrace. A whimsical neon artwork from Dutch artist Daniel Van Straalen also punctuates the façade.
Interiors are characterized by contemporary artwork, as well as modern seating and distinctive black cabinets that are expected from citizenM. Artful nods to Chicago also make their way into guestrooms, where an eclectic mix of modern art, photography, and objets d’art by local talents instill a sense of place.
A trio of societyM meeting rooms, a 24-hour fitness center, and canteenM round out the onsite amenities.
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