COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 105.
HOTELS WE COVET //
COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 105.
The landmark property has transformed in many ways since its
inception as Chicago’s elite men’s clubhouse. Due to the stock
market crash in 1929, the fancy Medinah Club had to close its
doors in 1933, in the decade after, the building went through
various incarnations and in 1944 the tower began its life as a
hotel. Property faced major change in 1961, when the second
tower had raised funded by the Sheraton.
Almost 60 years later (in 1988) the building was purchased by the
InterContinental Hotels and Resorts. The group spend twelve
long years restoring the property to its original appearance and
transforming the building into the most opulent hotel on The
Magnificent Mile. Medinah’s 1930 anniversary yearbook, “The
Scimitar”, donated by the former club member and filled with
Medina´s golden years’ original photos were used to duplicate
and restore entire rooms, right down to the detailing in drap-
eries and carpets. Due to this attention to the history, today,
each floor of the historic hotel in Chicago represents a myriad
of cultures and eras.
In 2013 the hotel´s Grand Tower had faced the complete ren-
ovation too. The designers and restorers had found the balance
between contemporary design, comfort and the historical 1929
Shriner’s memorabilia and architectural accents found through-
out the hotel. Nowadays InterContinental Chicago Magnificent
Mile Hotel occupies both towers, turned into multi-story build-
ings - the historic, originally Medinah Athletic Club, 42-story
tower also called “South Tower” and the new 28-story “North
Tower”, completed just north along Grand Avenue in 1961.
The magnificent Grand Ballroom is a two-story unique 7,695
square feet elliptical shape space, which can accommodate groups
of up to 600 people. Originally its walls and ceilings were deco-
rated with Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek style ornaments, in the
centre hung a luxurious Baccarat crystal chandelier, the largest in
North America. Grand Ballroom faced changes since its inception
it remained its glamorous atmosphere. Originally, its interior
was inspired by the extravagance of the French Renaissance, re-
calling the era of Louis XVI. Its crystal chandeliers and ornate
wood carvings created a high-society feel. The ballroom had over
4,500 square feet and hosted up to 500 people. Nowadays, the
luxurious Renaissance Ballroom is one of the most elegant Chi-
cago´s event spaces for a lavish wedding, or an exquisitely hosted
event. Nowadays InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
Hotel features 792 renewed guest rooms, including 75 lavishly
decorated suites. The guests can use the historic junior Olympic
size swimming pool, recognized as one of the best indoor pools
in the U.S. and included in Chicago’s major architectural tours.
The hotel is proudly sharing its heritage in 2017 social media
campaign #InsidetheICChicago. Moreover, InterContinental
Chicago Magnificent Mile administration has plans to invest
more in the main lobby and to exhibit the recently acquired Me-
dinah memorabilia. Celebrating 88 years on Michigan Avenue,
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile is definitely one of
Chicago’s most elegant and iconic buildings.
