CHICAGO—Oxford Capital Group, LLC announced plans to open “LondonHouse” at the corner of North Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive in the spring of 2016. This latest lifestyle hotel development from Oxford Capital Group, LLC will feature a 452-rooms within the historic Alfred S. Alschuler-designed London Guarantee & Accident Building, blended with a new 22-story architecturally synchronized modernist glass tower designed by Chicago’s Goettsch Partners.
LondonHouse and its 1920s contemporaries, the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, and 333 North Michigan Avenue, sit at the southern end of the Mag-Mile and are the oft photographed flanks of the North Michigan Avenue Bridge.
LondonHouse’s main entrance will be along East Wacker Drive within the new modernist glass tower, which will feature a gateway arrival lobby leading to the grand second floor check-in lobby and bar. LondonHouse will feature approximately 25,000 square feet of meeting and pre-function space comprised of a junior and grand ballroom, multiple board and meeting rooms, a destination spa, and fitness center. At the top of the hotel, the refurbished historic cupola and roof-top dining and outdoor event spaces will offer what Oxford believes will be Chicago’s only tri-level hotel rooftop.
The hotel’s namesake pays nod to both the name of the building, the London Guarantee Building, and the renowned jazz club, London House, long located within. London House was home to such notable artists as Ramsey Lewis, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Marian McPartland, Dave Brubeck, and many others.
Work began in the summer of 2013 on the preservation, refurbishment, and comprehensive redevelopment of 360 North Michigan Avenue. Work commenced on the new glass tower addition on Wacker Drive in December of 2014.
“As we said when we bought the building, Oxford and its entire development team feel a profound sense of responsibility to do right by this extraordinary building and site. At the same time, we are excited about the creative possibilities that this project represents,” said John W. Rutledge, founder, president, and CEO of Oxford Capital Group, LLC, the Chicago-based owner, developer, and manager. “We feel that carrying on the name LondonHouse is the perfect choice for this most unique hotel.”
The design scheme of LondonHouse, led by Simeone Deary Design Group, speaks to the building’s roots with the use of historic detail, while adopting the progressive thinking of the 1920s to create modern accents. The color palette will feature warm greys and crisp whites, punctuated by jewel tones and rich fumed eucalyptus woods. The guestroom design is inspired by the luxurious automobiles of that era. The hotel will be outfitted with modern furniture that pay homage to the opulence of the 1920s. The lines of the furniture will be contemporary, but embellished with classic touches.
Rutledge additionally noted, “Our goal as both developers and hoteliers is to distill the alchemy of the building’s unique history, prominent location, distinctive architecture, and interior design, and its host of desirable amenities into what matters the most in any hotel — creating a warm, inviting, and special environment for guests. Ultimately, it’s about giving the hotel a true soul that makes it feel like a home away from home.”
