During the early noughties, Chicago’s iconic Motor Club building was facing a rather ignominious end to an illustrious story — having previously been home to the American Automobile Association’s headquarters — and looked set for demolition.
Hilton’s Hampton Inn subsidiary, with the help of the Gettys Group, changed all that and have finally completed a project to turn the building into an up-scale, downtown hotel in America’s third city.
Many of the historic elements of the building have been restored, including the silver-leafed plaster ornamentation of animals and floral motifs; and the centerpiece of the 33-foot-high lobby – John Warner Norton’s mural of popular road destinations.
A lot of the rooms have retained elements of the Art Deco history of the building, by featuring restored ceiling beams, leather doors, decorative plaster, maple panelling and herringbone maple floors.
All photos from hamptonsuiteschicago.com.
