IHG has honored J/Brice Design International for its work on the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza Hotel, named Renovation of the Year. Jeffrey Ornstein, CEO and founder of J/Brice Design, and his team transformed the 531-room hotel to capture "the allure of Chicago’s heartbeat and soul," he says.
In the lobby, the design firm added different levels, a water feature, and movable furniture such as ottomans and backless upholstered pieces. "The sense of distinctive areas is enhanced by the unique oversize custom carpet design that gives the public space definition and directionality," Ornstein explains. "The carpet patterns are especially dramatic when seen from the balconies of the 10-story atrium."
J/Brice also took advantage of the hotel’s location atop Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. "The views are so vital that we actually played down the installation artwork to focus guest attention on the relationship of the property to its locale," Ornstein says. "The ebb and flow of Chicago, the movement of Lake Michigan, and the changing light patterns are far more kinetic and unique to the property than any painting or lithograph could ever be." Generous use of glass throughout the property further enhances the hotel’s vistas.
