Palmer House Hilton to Undergo Renovation

Design to Pay Omage to the Hotel's Architectural Heritage

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. October 14, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, April 3, 2007. Located in the heart of the Chicago Loop, the historic Palmer House Hilton, the longest operating hotel in North America, is soon to undergo a renovation to produce a more contemporary hotel experience. Renowned design firm ForrestPerkins has been commissioned for the renovation by Thor Equities L.L.C., the property's new owners. While staying true to the historic legacy of the Palmer House, the contemporary renovations will allow for the redesign of hotel guest rooms, bathrooms and corridors as part of the hotel's $150 million renovation, slated for completion the Fall of 2008.

ForrestPerkins provides interior architecture and design for luxury hotels, resorts and multi-family projects worldwide. George Scammell, ASID, IIDA, leads the ForrestPerkins' team responsible for this project, whose design approach will draw from The Palmer House's illustrious past while at the same time infusing a contemporary design aesthetic.

"It brings great joy to know that you are a part of a team that is preserving this Grande Dame's original and unique grandeur that is reflective of the "real Chicago". By maintaining a historical reference and adding a contemporary flair, we will provide a luxurious and progressive experience for today's guests", says ForrestPerkins' Vice President, George Scammell, ASID, IIDA.

Repositioning the spirit of Chicago's celebrated Palmer House Hotel, Thor Equities, LLC, selected the architectural firm Loebl Schlossman & Hackl to provide programming and designs that expand and re-image the building's retail components and enhance the hotel's historic interiors. Loebl Schlossman & Hackl's designs restore the hotel's historic entries and facade, which include its famous landmark-designated peacock gates. The firm is updating the building's retail facades and revitalizing the hotel's internal shopping arcade. To coordinate the entire restoration plan, the firm developed bridging designs to renovate the hotel's majestic lobby and ballrooms, conference spaces, and guestrooms to complement the Palmer House's preeminence as an attraction within Chicago's historic fabric. Loebl Schlossman & Hackl is also responsible for administrating the construction phase, which will last through 2008.

The Palmer House built by Potter Palmer as a wedding gift for his wife Bertha Palmer, in the late 19th century, has been a significant landmark in Chicago since its debut. One of twenty six Grand Palace Hotels in the world, the Palmer House was originally built in 1871 but was engulfed in flames shortly after opening on September 26 of that year. In less than 2 years the hotel was built bigger, better an boasted such features as the 1st vertical steam railroad "the elevator", Edison's new invention of the light bulb and Bell's communication device, the telephone, among the firsts. This hotel stayed in existence until 1923 when the present building was erected. The second hotel was raised in 2 sections and the present hotel was built in 2 sections. This architectural and construction feat allowed the Palmer House to never close it's doors and turn away guest, giving it the title of " the longest continuously operating hotel in North America". The present hotel is home to the internationally renowned Empire Room, which showcased only the biggest names from Broadway, Hollywood, radio and television. Appearing on the Empire Room's stage were such legendary performers as Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Sonny and Cher, among thousands of other show business luminaries.

ForrestPerkins, was a unanimous choice for this project. The firm's enviable list of clients include: J.W. Marriott San Antonio Resort & Spa and the Four Seasons Atlanta, among others. Every ForrestPerkins project resonates with the firm's hallmark style, which marries luxury, internal consistency, and strict attention to design details with the masterful use of color and scale. With the Palmer House, ForrestPerkins' intent is for the guest to have an entirely cohesive experience while staying at the hotel, engaging in both the historic and the contemporary advantages of the property,.

Renovations include the street level entrance lobby and arcade, the Grand Lobby, The Honore' Ballroom (named after Bertha Honore' Palmer), the State & Grand ballrooms, and multiple conference, meeting and banquet rooms. Of the1639 rooms and suites, ForrestPerkins is responsible for the re-design of the first phase: 805 standard guestrooms, 54 suites with adjoining rooms, the Penthouse Suite, and nine floors of guest corridors and elevator lobbies.

The famed peacock doors designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and the grandeur of the building's breathtaking lobby sets the tone for the guests as they move through the Empire Room and traditional ballrooms. The design of the guestroom corridors was conceptualized with the hotel's original structure in mind. With a nod to the main lobby doors, ForrestPerkins designed carpets for the corridors with a playful peacock print and decorated the walls with photographs of notable entertainers - all who have performed in the famed Empire Room. Throughout the entire journey from the lobby to the guestrooms, the hotel guest is constantly reminded that they are staying in one of Chicago's most historic and fabled locations.

In the standard guest rooms, rich shades of green and black, inspired by the original design of the Empire Room, dominate ForrestPerkins' design. Lavender, chocolate, gold, blush, and powder blue hues that appear throughout the suites are reminiscent of the colors used in the lobby's original Terrazzo floor and the pastel shaded ceiling. A striking oversized ebony headboard is at the helm of each guest bed and is offset by lavender, chocolate and sage green top-of-bed treatments.

As with all ForrestPerkins' projects, artwork is informed by the property's locale. Pieces displayed in the guest suites embody Chicago's rich history while also showcasing Chicago's contemporary local artists. Photography from the 1893 World's Fair and a bold lavender abstract damask are also inventive focal pieces in the room.

The guest bathrooms are handsome and polished. The over-scaled bathroom mirror framed with frosted glass floods light throughout the bathroom, and an ebony stained French Empire inspired vanity anchors the room while creating a beautiful contrast with the polished chrome faucets.