Viceroy Chicago

Architecture
Located at the intersection of Cedar and State streets in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, the historic Cedar Hotel takes on a new identity as the first Viceroy property in the Midwest. The four-story brick-and-terra-cotta façade of the original Cedar Hotel is preserved and given fresh life, fronting a striking new 18-story glass hotel tower. Visitors enter an open, three-story lobby space with an adjacent restaurant, Somerset, from Chicago’s celebrated Boka Restaurant Group. Additional amenities include a ballroom and conference suite on level four, with access to a large outdoor terrace overlooking State Street. The rooftop lounge, Devereaux, also helmed by Boka Restaurant Group, offers an outdoor pool and landscaped terrace, with stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.

A unique image for the Viceroy emerges through the contrasting façades of the new tower and the historic building. The brick and terra cotta of the 1920s-era Cedar Hotel exemplifies the vintage character of a building façade as a two-dimensional arrangement of building elements and ornamentation. By contrast, the glass curtain wall of the new hotel tower is a taut, three-dimensional envelope. The distinctive “folding” geometry is inspired by the argyle-like pattern found in the historic brick façade below. The design solution creates “harmony through contrast” in which both the old and new are rich examples of their specific eras.

With 180 guest rooms and suites, the Viceroy Chicago is a reborn property at a high-profile intersection in one of Chicago’s most vibrant and rapidly changing neighborhoods. In combination with the hotel’s other amenities, the existing plaza is reactivated with outdoor dining that further complements the one-of-a-kind guest experience.

Interior Design
Interior design comes from award-winning luxury design firm TAL Studio. The hospitality specialist designed the entire hotel with unique features that resonate deep meaning. The lobby space is adorned with white marble, brass light fixtures, and a one-of-a-kind 30-foot art wall tableau towering over the lobby living room with inscribed quotes from French poet Marcel Proust. Inspired by the Flâneur, a French literary figure known for a free spirit and eye for exploration, principal designer Todd-Avery Lenahan, CEO and founder of TAL Studio, used the spirited character to create surprise-and-delight moments throughout the hotel. The tableau is dramatically lit each night, filled with the collection of Proust’s works and words that fill the living room with emanating conversations without ever having a word spoken.

Just beyond the library, large bronze reception desks welcome guests, positioned in front of a large painting depicting a Venetian carnival recital by South American Cubist artist Badi. The celebratory hues of this painting are seen throughout the hotel, appearing individually in the guestrooms and hallways to represent an artist’s palette before colors are incorporated into a larger painting.

Guest rooms host enlarged, luxurious bathrooms and closets, and a selection of suites offer expansive terraces with incredible views of the cityscape and Lake Michigan. Cubist figural artwork in the guestrooms are reproductions of Cubist artist Miette Brave. A distinct headboard wall is a digital reproduction of an original work produced by London artist Tim Modus. The display is inspired by the architectural elements and sculptural forms of the midcentury and serve as a nod to Chicago’s storied architectural history. Furnishings are midcentury inspired that recall the iconic, endearing and enduring period of Chicago’s architectural history.