The Newest Ace Hotel Opens in Chicago

On August 10th 2017, Ace cut the ribbon for the official grand opening of Ace Hotel Chicago. Located in the city’s West Loop neighbourhood, known for its vibrant cultural, food, art and design scene, the 159-room hotel offers event and public spaces along with a signature restaurant and rooftop bar.

Chicago-based architecture firm GREC Architects designed the building incorporating the spirit of the New Bauhaus in Chicago while preserving the existing Fulton Market landmark cheese factory façade on the south side of the building. GREC Architects also worked with Ace on the conversion of Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles.

For the interiors, Ace partnered with Los Angeles-based design studio Commune to bring to life a vision that pays homage to the city of Chicago by marrying mid-western craftsmanship with utilitarian design. Simple, straightforward and thoughtfully detailed materials evoke Mies Van Der Rohe’s work at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Simple coloration, hand-woven textiles, natural leather, wools, and linens were used to add a layer of warmth and texture to the clean lines. Each of the rooms are complemented by a unique piece of art on Ace Hotel Chicago letterhead stationary – each carefully stippled, painted or hand-drawn by a student of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a project curated by SAIC painting professor Dan Devening. Built-in plywood and linoleum furnishings juxtaposed with the polished steel are nods to the designs of Arne Jacobsen and Richard Neutra.

Commune also worked in concert with Chicago’s Volume Gallery and their artists for a series of works commissioned specifically for the hotel. Volume Gallery focuses on American design, with a strong emphasis placed on emerging, contemporary designers. Either playing with texture, light, and shadow, or engaging the framework of the city itself, the collection rewards those who are keen to examine the details and spans the entire hotel space.

With an impressive food and beverage program, Ace Hotel Chicago also announces the opening of Waydown. The rooftop/lounge area is located on the hotel’s seventh floor that boasts panoramic views of the downtown skyline. Those looking for a full dining experience can head to the hotel’s signature restaurant, City Mouse — a collaboration with Chef Jason Vincent and his team from the much-lauded Giant.

Ace Hotel Chicago is the newest member of the Ace family joining Seattle, Portland, New York, Palm Springs, Downtown LA, London, Pittsburgh and New Orleans.

See more Ace Hotels on Yellowtrace here.