Gold Key – Lobby Focused Service
The Highlights: When revenues for a Wicker Park gas station slowed, the owner decided to build an eight-story hotel. To entice guests and neighborhood residents, the design team crafted a lobby with an elevated indoor/outdoor space that showcases the city.
A seventh-floor glass wall slices through the building’s square-shaped footprint to orient the Chicago views, while a circular sculpture, dubbed the Interchange, visible beyond the host desk, creates an anchor point. The color palette is grounded in a black base and complemented by accents of umber, blue, and gray mixed with pops of cream, cyan, and ochre inspired by the Chicago flag.