News

Oct 08, 2023

Chicago’s theWit Hotel Unveils Captivating New Design Concept.

The redesign of theWit ushers in a new era. Each year hundreds of hotels undergo

The redesign of theWit ushers in a new era.

Each year hundreds of hotels undergo a transformation process that includes renovation and redesign, a creative process aimed at imparting freshness and style into the property. The renovation often includes expansion as well in order to meet the needs of an uptick in travelers. Some transformations stand out among the rest such as Chicago's theWit, whose recent renovation unveiled luxuriously appointed spaces infused with character and sophistication.

Completing its top-to-bottom renovation, theWit, a Hilton Hotel, debuted a completely reimagined hotel with a captivating new design concept and elegant new amenities for an elevated, entirely new guest experience. The transformation ushers in a new era for the upscale hotel, with upgraded spaces that are replete with clever and imaginative touches, creating a gallery-like atmosphere inspired by the home of a fictional worldly collector.

Upgraded spaces are replete with clever and imaginative touches.

"We are thrilled to unleash the new vision of theWit," says Scott Greenberg, owner of theWit. "Years in the making, this redesign introduces a new level of luxury with personality and panache that are unique to theWit and Chicago. Our reimagined hotel will not only delight guests with a new opulence, it will wow them with an experience that is at the same time both exuberant and sumptuous."

Conceptualized by Jackie Koo of KOO Architecture, Chicago, the redesign has transformed theWit into a destination unto itself, where vibrantly colored objects are layered on a backdrop of warm rich colors and plush textures, perfectly fusing playfulness and sophistication.

"Poised at the gateway to the Theater District, theWit's redesign draws from the city's energy to offer guests vibrant new spaces with worldly touches," explains Koo. "The design was inspired by a fictional world traveler who collected objects and pieces of art, and the spaces instill a joyful yet luxurious feel."

Greenberg says, "I was reading an article about a New York City collector devoted to radical Italian design which inspired the renovation of the hotel. The vision for the renovation was always intended to transform theWit, in a timeless style, into a luxurious modern experience, yet to allow the energy and personality that the hotel has always been known for to still shine through."

He adds, "The same holds true for the dramatic contrast in each hotel room. The base tones and materials in each room are black and warm tones, including a beautiful marble vanity and artfully designed plumbing fixtures. Yet the room is like no other, with several unusual and colorful, one-of-a-kind lamp sculptures and a male torso bust in each room."

All furnishings and finishes were replaced with custom-designed pieces.

The redesign of theWit started with the lobby. "We wanted to create a big impact as soon as you walk in the door and we achieved this by adding fantastical two-story sculptures that frame the double height space anchored by a round sofa that serves as the focal point for florals," says Koo. "The custom lobby rugs evoke the artist's hand. This motif is repeated throughout the design including in the guest rooms which were completely rethought. All furnishings and finishes were replaced with custom-designed elevated pieces in luxurious materials that are complemented by vivid light fixtures that engage in a dialog with each other."

Guests arriving at theWit enter a soaring, light-infused lobby, where the boldly colored, sculptural, 38-foot-tall columns and a 12-foot live floral installation are framed by floor-to-ceiling windows and set a dramatic tone. The vibrant columns and floral display are paired with warm-colored sculptural furnishings, a sophisticated white natural marble front desk, and black tiled floors, allowing the modern primitive textures and objects to shine through.

Rooms feature a soothing palette of warm earth tones.

The hotel's 310 redesigned guest rooms and suites feature a soothing palette of warm earth tones with pops of color, all accented with original artwork and channeling the ambiance of a collector's home. High-design accents such as origami-like light fixtures, a blue Memphis design-inspired floor lamp and lipstick-red-trimmed mirrors capture attention, alongside polished stone and travertine finishes. Furnishings with modern forms depict architectural remnants, and each room features a mannequin-inspired torso sculpture. Throughout the halls, guests can find modern gallery-style artwork, choreographed alongside carpets with designs to resemble scribbles from the hand of an artist.

Each room boasts premium bath amenities.

Beyond the distinctive design elements, theWit's new guest rooms afford guests comfort with lavish Centium Satin bed linens, ultra-soft Lynova terry towels and premium bath amenities by Italian-made Five Wits. High-touch services such as new nightly turndown are complemented by high-tech features, including 65-inch flat-screen televisions in the suites. All guest rooms now feature an Amazon Echo, offering innovative integration for concierge services, hotel information, in-room dining requests and guest services on demand.

A mecca for entertainment and dining, theWit is located steps from the Riverwalk and the Chicago Theater. The hotel's spirited design reflects its vibrant atmosphere and lively food and beverage experiences, including the signature tavern-style restaurant, State and Lake Chicago Tavern , serving bistro-style cuisine in a warm and inviting gastro-pub atmosphere. Set 27 stories high, ROOF on theWit boasts a chic aesthetic, offering a lively nightlife and brunch scene, rotating Djs and a retractable rooftop, making it a year-round destination for sweeping views of the city.

A dynamic hotel providing a cultural crossroads in the center of it all, in addition to attracting leisure guests to the heart of Chicago, theWit provides a premier destination for business, weddings and other events. Conveniently located on State Street at the intersection of the business and entertainment districts, theWit's 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space includes impressive meeting rooms, executive boardrooms and a ballroom, each with advanced technology, fully integrated audio and video capabilities along with floor-to-ceiling views of the cityscape and some of the city's most celebrated sights.

The hotel's spa and fitness center overlooks the skyline.

The hotel's spa and fitness center provides a tranquil wellness escape featuring panoramic city views and resort-caliber amenities. At Spa@theWit guests can retreat to an urban oasis and find restorative and results-driven spa treatments, from massages and facials to body wraps and nail services.

Koo says, "We have never done a design like this and aimed to represent a new vision of luxury that is uniquely theWit."