Aparium Hotel Group names GM of Chicago's St. Jane hotel

Becker Ventures, with Chicago-based Aparium Hotel Group, officially repositioned the Carbide & Carbon building located at 230 N. Michigan Ave as St. Jane Chicago, slated to open spring 2018.

Bob Shelley will lead the property when it opens next spring. This independent hotel will honor the gold-leaf tower known as the Carbide & Carbon building. Originally built in 1929, the building’s shape is that of a vintage green champagne bottle, as the Carbide & Carbon building’s design was inspired as a response to Prohibition.

Located in the former Hard Rock Hotel in the heart of downtown Chicago, the converted 363-key hotel will be the common ground for uncommon people embracing the arts and culture that defines Chicago. The hotel is named in honor of Jane Addams, an activist and the first American woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize. With the opening of St. Jane, Aparium Hotel Group and Becker Ventures aim to create a major differentiator in a market saturated with luxury, boutique and lifestyle hotels, striving to fill a niche that the community and travelers are seeking.

“Through our programming, we will celebrate and cater to the collective power of Chicago’s spirit and culture, making St. Jane the most authentic expression of our city for locals and visitors alike,” Kevin Robinson, co-founder and COO of Aparium Hotel Group, said in a statement. “Uncommon people thrive in an environment that caters to their unique needs. Spaces like our 24th floor will be an excellent example of this as a place where guests and locals alike will feel perfectly comfortable spending their entire day.”

“We present environments and experiences that make every new day a chance to learn, explore, and allow for impromptu collaboration, deep individual concentration, and a round of cocktails once work is done. At St. Jane, we are dedicated to ensuring that this vision thrives,” Mario Tricoci, co-founder and CEO of Aparium Hotel Group, said in a statement.

“Chicago deserves this beauty, and the Carbide & Carbon building deserves to be as impressive on the inside as much as it’s inspiring on the outside,” Carrie Meghie, principal at Becker Ventures, said in a statement. “The hotel will also be a deeply-rooted member of Chicago’s philanthropic community through giving back, and supporting local causes through sales and the hosting of charity events and meaningful donations.”

The hotel is being designed in partnership with Simeone Deary Design Group and Booth Hansen architects. Guestrooms will include views of the Chicago skyline, as well as unique local amenities and artwork from Chicago the city and beyond. The Tower at St. Jane, located on floors 25 and above will include 33 premium suites. Guests of The Tower will be afforded access to an indoor/outdoor 24th floor lounge.

St. Jane will host multiple drinking and dining outlets in addition to the 24th floor lounge, including a full-service restaurant, market café, cocktail bar and 11,000 square feet of meeting and event space.