CitizenM is set to open its first property in downtown Chicago on Sept. 21. The newly constructed hotel is situated between the Riverwalk and Millennium Park. The 280-room citizenM Chicago Downtown is part of the 47-story tower that also includes 289 residential units and 25,000 square feet of retail space.
“As one of the most important markets in the U.S., it was critical for citizenM to have a presence in Chicago,” citizenM Chief Marketing Officer Robin Chadha said in a statement. “The property will add a significant new tower and a pop of color to the world-famous Magnificent Mile, while the interiors were curated with a selection of artwork by Chicago natives to give the hotel an atmosphere that embodies the city.”
The property was designed by Chicago’s bKL in collaboration with citizenM’s longstanding architecture partner Concrete and Vitra, citizenM’s furniture partner. The citizenM Chicago Downtown has a 24/7 gym and three societyM meeting rooms, available for half- and full-day hires to both guests and the public.
The guestrooms have extra-large king beds and the room ambiance (the blinds, climate, the TV, and the lights with changeable colors) is controlled by an iPad or via the citizenM app.
Art-Centric
Chicago native Nina Chanel Abney was commissioned to update the building’s exterior 2,000-square-foot terrace and entrance walls into a gigantic abstract Chi-town tribute. Her work is inspired by the dynamics of the contemporary media landscape and addresses topics of race, gender and politics. Known for her paintings, prints and large-scale murals with layered compositions, her figural works feature colorful hard-edged geometric symbols and shapes.
The facade mural is the first piece of a larger portfolio that will give the new property an art collection that is distinct to Chicago. A whimsical neon piece entitled Ding Dong Your Opinion is Wrong by Dutch artist Daniel van Straalen will be showcased prominently in the bar area, while works by Muntean/Rosenblum, Yngve Holen, Rainer Fetting and others can be found throughout the hotel's shared spaces. The rooms and interiors also drew inspiration from the local community, filled with a mix of contemporary art, photography and objects by local artists.
The hotel also partnered with ArtLifting—a platform for artists that have traditionally been underrepresented in the contemporary art market—to curate a variety of pieces for the in-room art. The program offers artists who experience a variety of challenges, from disabilities to homelessness, the chance to secure their own income through the sale of original paintings, prints and products. The in-room artists include Alex Scott, Kenneth Williams, Sheila Smith and Ted Gram-Boarini.
In July, citizenM launched Citizens of the World, a global content series to celebrate the creative and diverse communities in each of the cities where citizenM is present. Spotlighting citizens across five pillars—art, business, culture, fashion and party— the series will showcase the global citizens who embody and represent their cities and connect across borders. CitizenM chose JC Rivera as the art citizen for Chicago Downtown, and Rivera's work will be featured throughout the guestrooms.