Virgin Hotel Chicago
McHugh transformed this former office building into the flagship Virgin Hotel. The 27-story landmarked Old Dearborn Bank Building at 203 North Wabash Avenue was completely gutted and reconfigured to include 250 guestrooms, meeting and event spaces, spa with fitness center, and several destination restaurants and bars.
The guest “chambers”, styled after a pied a terre, feature two areas separated by sliding doors: the dressing room that includes the entry way, closet, and bathroom; and a sleeping room with a custom, patent-pending Lounge Bed and a custom-designed work desk/dining table.
The hotel includes several restaurants and bars – the second-floor Commons Club features a unique oval-shaped bar and display kitchen; Miss Ricky’s, a 24-hour diner on the ground floor; Two Zero Three Coffee & Wine Bar at the Lake and Wabash corner; The Speakeasy on the 25thfloor, an intimate music venue; and the Rooftop Bar.
The building, constructed in 1928, is landmarked by the City of Chicago and was one of only two office buildings designed by the renowned architectural firm of Rapp & Rapp. The building’s exterior was painstakingly restored as well as an original marble staircase in the main entrance, the brass elevator doors, and the original coffered plaster banking hall ceiling that was uncovered during demolition.
