Conrad Chicago Wins GCFD Hotel Redevelopment of the Year Award

Last week, Conrad Chicago, a project that Epstein served as the architect of record as well as civil, MEP/FP, and structural engineer, won the Hotel Redevelopment of the Year Award at the 30th Annual Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner. Working with a team of designers that included Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR) and the Puccini Group, Epstein was responsible for leading the design team and helping the developer, Gellar Investment Company, &, contractor, Clayco Construction, convert the upper 13 floors of the commercial office building at 101 East Erie into a 5-star Conrad Chicago hotel.

The GCFD Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards Dinner, held this year at the Hilton Chicago, brings together Chicagos top architects, brokers, developers, property managers, interior contractors and design professionals to both celebrate the outstanding achievements in all facets of the industry and to support the Greater Chicago Food Depository. And, best of all, so far, this event has raised more than $1,450,000 to fight hunger and its root causes in Chicago!

For Conrad Chicago, Epstein's designers and engineers coordinated the lobby design, guest rooms and public spaces created by PYR, while Epstein designed all of Hilton's Operational Spaces under the Conrad flag and brand standards. The Conrad by Hilton program included a 289 key hotel with public spaces on the ground floor and levels 8-20. Hotel operational functions occupied the 2nd basement level. Multiple food and beverage venues were developed by the Puccini Group. Typical guest rooms are located on levels 8-18 with a fitness center on level 8. Meeting rooms occupied level 19. Level 20 was conceived as an amenity level with Hotel check-in, Bar/Lounge, and kitchen supporting a 3-meal signature restaurant. This hotel also features a visually impressive spiral stair case and atrium that connects levels 18 & 19, and a rooftop terrace/restaurant that provides unique panoramic views down Michigan Avenue.

Congratulations go out to Geller Investment, Clayco, our design partners, PYR & Puccini for a job well done!

And, lastly, special thanks for the tremendous effort of our design and engineering team that included; David Scott, AIA, Joe Bouley, PE, Jeffrey McQuiston, Paul Valente, CPD, Yan Weng, PE, Maxie Suero, Tom Suarez, PE, SE, Raveesh Varma, PE, SE, Stu White, PE, John Robertson, AIA, Melissa Gibson, AIA, CSI, Jacob Soerens, Laura Rebbe, AIA, Martin Barenbaum, PE, Randy Buescher, AIA, Jay Reddy, LEED AP, Mario Roman, Dave Hilty, PE, Lori Chandler, AIA, Jenn Pisano, Anthony Dary and Judy Sells!